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LTE in Apple Watch Series 3 Models Only Works in Country of Purchase
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I don’t know where you’re getting your statistics from but 67 million people travelled internationally from the US in 2016 which puts the percentage around 21% if my math is right
I like the optimism of "yet" - I'm not sure we'll see an SS3 without LTE, which makes me torn between "downgrading" to a sport (and running bets on how long it takes me to scratch the face) or doing nothing (which is my preference right now).
Agreed, and I certainly hope you're right.
Re the roaming limitation, that was published as soon the AW3 info was posted after the Keynote, it's really not news IMHO, but I guess is useful to make others aware
Sounds like folks are making a mountain out of a molehill.
1. Country of origin. The vast majority of US customers won't care.
2. One hour talk time. No one goes anywhere without his/her smartphone these days -- but the Series 3 allows you to have phone access in special situations: jogging; accidentally forget iPhone at home while completing short-duration errand; etc.
1. Country of origin. The vast majority of US customers won't care.
2. One hour talk time. No one goes anywhere without his/her smartphone these days -- but the Series 3 allows you to have phone access in special situations: jogging; accidentally forget iPhone at home while completing short-duration errand; etc.
That's correct!
For instance, in Spain Apple is just gonna sell the non-LTE version. Neither Stainless steel nor ceramic model (W.Edition). Furthermore, the standart version has composite on the back instead of ceramic (like Series 1)
Ahhhh Mac Rumors, the place where an inconvenience related to a feature that didn't even exist a week ago is now an epic failure.
Series 2 is no longer for sale. The Series 3, even without LTE, is SIGNIFICANTLY faster according to the reviews.
And the feature is hardly useless for its intended audience. I just bought one. Why? I go on long runs. I no longer have to carry my phone. If I get injured, I have emergency phone calling and GPS tracking. I can also stream music and send quick messages.
This feature was never intended to replace your phone. It was meant for fitness buffs to be able to leave their phone behind when running or swimming or even just leave it in the locker at the gym. The battery drain in and of itself is too significant to make it useful for much more than that.
This news is problematic for... people who travel regularly and want to use their watch untethered in multiple countries. Which, if you're reading these comments, is apparently half the people who post here, lol.
Series 2 is no longer for sale. The Series 3, even without LTE, is SIGNIFICANTLY faster according to the reviews.
And the feature is hardly useless for its intended audience. I just bought one. Why? I go on long runs. I no longer have to carry my phone. If I get injured, I have emergency phone calling and GPS tracking. I can also stream music and send quick messages.
This feature was never intended to replace your phone. It was meant for fitness buffs to be able to leave their phone behind when running or swimming or even just leave it in the locker at the gym. The battery drain in and of itself is too significant to make it useful for much more than that.
This news is problematic for... people who travel regularly and want to use their watch untethered in multiple countries. Which, if you're reading these comments, is apparently half the people who post here, lol.
Preorder cancelled.
This basically makes the Apple Watch useless for me. I travel between the US and Germany all the time.
This basically makes the Apple Watch useless for me. I travel between the US and Germany all the time.
OK who’s going to be talking to their watch for an hour?
A worryingly number of americans don't realize Apple sells it products to other countries, and people of other countries do tend to travel regularly ! ;-)
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Actually, it may not be entirely true that the Apple Watch Series 3 will work only in its specific country of purchase. Based on the Apple LTE bands document that the original post linked to, there appear to be three model groups of Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) — one for U.S./Canada/Puerto Rico, one for Australia, Japan, and the EU Countries, and one for China. Barring any artificial restrictions such as carrier locking, it seems likely that an Apple Watch purchased in the U.S. (A1860/A1861) could be used in Canada, and an Apple Watch purchased in the U.K. (A1889/A1891) could be used in France or any of the other EU countries where it's currently supported.
Yep, it is amazing that they have been able to get this much cellular support in the Watch. Apple needs two things to really deliver the cellular based Apple Watch we all want. That includes a far better battery and far more capable electronics.
The major problem with cellular support is battery power as generating a half watt of RF power can really kill such a small battery.
I mean, I can understand the block on roaming, from the carrier side... But what's the problem if you move country and switch carrier...
This must logically be the same process as if you switch carrier within the same country. Otherwise this just appears completely arbitrary.
This must logically be the same process as if you switch carrier within the same country. Otherwise this just appears completely arbitrary.
And you’re going to have all these situations where you don’t have your phone with you? What are you doing now?