When my Apple Watch Ultra arrives, I will stop carrying my iPhone all the time and more often just wear my Ultra and use with my AirPods. How about you?
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My Ultra will unchain me from my iPhone
- Thread starter coolbreeze2
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I like the idea but I'm not sure I'm ready to go phoneless. May start trying it for short trips and see how it goes.
I hope you reply to this thread and let us know how it goes. As someone else mentioned in the thread, I do this quite often now, but there's no way I could do it full time. There are still some pretty significant limitations to the watch. (reading attachments, moving appointments, texting (although I'm using a 5, so the new swipe ability of the 7 & higher may limit that), sending emails, etc are still much easier on the phone, but the watch is great for times when I don't need to do anything really hard on the phone.
It's more first party vs third party apps. Pretty much all the Apple built-in functions work perfectly fine without a direct connection to your iPhone. Some third party apps won't work over a cellular connection (this is pretty common with messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp).
This is a list of everything you can do with just the cellular watch: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205547
Been doing that for a few years now for runs, rides, and general around the house and property.
Enjoy the new paradigm of not having to have your phone with you every where you go.
(TMobile base cellular watch plan is $5/mo)
Posted this in another thread, but why ultra over the 8? It doesn't seem to have many advantages?
I was going to buy it to replace my iPhone on most days. What I am trying to figure out, is if the small amount of increased pixels (~7-8%), 1.8% larger screen, and then 2000 nits (2x) brighter display, will actually make much difference in daily use. Probably you would need to see it in person. I am disappointed that the screen isn't much bigger/they didnt release many features that would help replace an iPhone.
As I understand it, you also do need the bluetooth headphones
I was going to buy it to replace my iPhone on most days. What I am trying to figure out, is if the small amount of increased pixels (~7-8%), 1.8% larger screen, and then 2000 nits (2x) brighter display, will actually make much difference in daily use. Probably you would need to see it in person. I am disappointed that the screen isn't much bigger/they didnt release many features that would help replace an iPhone.
As I understand it, you also do need the bluetooth headphones
I’ve tried just going to get packages from the mailroom and still end up bringing it sometimes. Well… most of the time. That might be more of a not wanting to make eye contact in the elevator situation though lol.
As someone else mentioned, around the house it’s great. So great that when I don’t have my watch on I forget to check (or don’t hear) my phone. Last weekend I missed a whole slew of jokes in the sibling chat lol.
To answer the question exactly though: if I leave my building with only my watch it'll probably be by accident; but I’ll be relieved to at least have my watch.
I want to do this but I can’t find a plan will cellular watch service that isn’t ridiculously priced.
I pay $5/mo for my apple watch plan on T-Mobile (US). That’s inclusive of all fees / taxes and is zero commitment.
Seems pretty reasonable, yes?
In my area TMO service on my iPhone 13pro is better than I ever had on ATT. Faster and more coverage
Shop around. YMMV of course.
I added mine on Verizon for $5 as well. I thought it would be way more.
Watch cell service costs have definitely improved in the past couple years. Used to be a lot higher but have become much more reasonable. $5/mo for service all the times I leave my phone behind is worth it - bike rides, runs, kayaking, neighborhood walks, dog walks, yard work beyond WiFi range, yada yada yada.
I leave my phone behind when going to the gym every day, and sometimes when running errands. With cellular on the watch I have all my music, messaging and phone calls right there. Paired with AirPods Max can't complain!
I've been using S5 since it came out - ordered an Ultra but it's not really going to change the way I carry my phone - as any sports/extreme terrain I go to I need my phone to take photos for Instagram lol
I've been using S5 since it came out - ordered an Ultra but it's not really going to change the way I carry my phone - as any sports/extreme terrain I go to I need my phone to take photos for Instagram lol
Dunno how it works elsewhere but where I am, only three providers offer Watch connectivity. It’s $5 extra, no biggie, but with the restricted competition these providers only allow it on certain plans and even then, finding out something as basic as which plans those are is a nightmare if you’re not already a customer who bought your phone and watch through them. All up, if you can get through that minefield, it ends up being a minimum of $600/y just for the privilege of giving them another $60/y so you use your Apple Watch to make/ receive calls. I pay $120/y for my mobile plan with a provider that isn’t one of the big three so I’d have to switch. So for basic Watch connectivity, it’s an extra $540/y. All so I can have the ability to not use my phone.
So, no, not really reasonable IMO.
The Ultra won't unchain me from my iPhone full-time but a lot of times. With the Ultra I can make calls, send/receive texts, exercise, check health reports, get directions, check weather, check various acct balances, read notifications, listen to Apple Music, etc. Surfing the internet and opening attachments I do not do on the Watch. The tasks that I do perform on the Watch are a significant amount of activity for me. In the past I was not totally satisfied with the Watch because the screen was not large enough and the battery life was not long enough for me to leave my iPhone behind. I believe the Ultra solves that problem with its 49mm display and much longer battery life.
Verizon charges me $10 for Watch connectivity. I guess only new customers are being charge $5? I need to check into that.
Verizon charges me $10 for Watch connectivity. I guess only new customers are being charge $5? I need to check into that.
Their 5G Get More and 5G Do More plans offer 50% off connected device plans, so it's only $5/month. Same with the new One Unlimited for iPhone plan.
We share the same 🧠, I will be leaving my iPhone at home and only carry the AWU and my iPad Pro 12.9 5G 2TB 😂😂
Sounds pretty awful. Watch connectivity has been available on the plans I'd have chosen anyway whether or not I wanted watch connectivity, and I haven't bought any of my phones or watches through either of the two carriers I've had over the years I've had an apple watch. So for me there's been no minefield, nightmare, or extra costs.
I was specifically referring to @coolbreeze2 enjoying the new (to @coolbreeze2) paradigm as indicated by the statement "When my Apple Watch Ultra arrives, I will stop carrying my iPhone all the time".
I’m doing my first 10k in Disney in November and I’m super excited (yet nervous) to leave my phone and just use my watch…. especially because I just ordered the 14 pro max and that thing would be huge to carry around while running.