New Apple Watch 5G Feature Missing in Multiple Countries at Launch

[whataniceday]

5G comes in different variants of 5G depending on the frequency range:
• Low band (700–900 MHz) → long range, good indoors, but not that fast.
• Mid band → balance between speed and coverage (most common).
• High band (mmWave, 24–40 GHz) → extremely high speed, but short range.
These frequencies are not supported in all countries.

 

[iSam21]

The Apple Watch Cellular has different hardware versions for different markets. There are at least two and maybe three variants, each with different modem configurations. I only know this because I moved countries and dived into the reasons I couldn’t get my cellular version to work in my new country. Apparently, the device is too small to hold a modem that can cover all the bases (like the phone can).

So, maybe a regulatory or commercial issue, but could also be a hardware limitation pending development of the required modem.

 

[baconcat_8964]

Two of three Chinese carriers that Apple listed are not currently offering eSIM for both Apple Watch and phones.

 

[TokyoKiller]

I know in Canada, Bell and Telus currently don't allow non-phones and tablets to access the 5G network. Other IoT devices and smartwatches are limited to LTE.

I don't think this applies to Rogers, though? I'm pretty confident I've seen in the past in promotions that they say smartwatches can use the 5G network if hardware allows. They also did announce at the start of June that they were beginning the rollout of 5G RedCap, but didn't specify where/how long until it's widely available.

This could be a case where the hardware can do it, but carriers need to catch up.

My M4 iPad Pro is connected to 5G+ on Bell Mobility

 

[svish]

More carriers will be supporting it in the coming months. Anyway good to know about the initial list of carriers supporting it and that the carrier that I want is supporting it.

 

[verdi1987]

Probably because those are tiny markets? Look at the list of supported countries. They're all big markets. Canada is tiny. A single Chinese megacity exceeds the population of Australia.

UAE’s population is only 10 million, far less than both Canada and Australia.

 

[verdi1987]

"Apple does not have separate Apple Watch models for different countries (except for China)"

A US-purchsed Apple Watch with cellular does not work in Europe, or vice-versa, and trust me, I've tried, so this isn't true.

Which model? The Ultra 2 has three models (US/CA, China, everywhere else), but the Series 10 just has 2 (China and everywhere else).

 

[patjem]

I see my country, the Netherlands is still without 5G support at this moment on the Apple Watch. And also 2 of the 3 carriers lack international roaming on the AW. Which is pretty odd.

 

[richinaus]

UAE’s population is only 10 million, far less than both Canada and Australia.

You’re reacting to just another uninformed post. They are not ‘tiny’ markets at all for Apple.

 

[Mikeske]

Why would the watch have 5g in Canada when the hearing aid option for Air Pod Pro 2 still isn't available?

Hearing aid functional ability is because your government health department has not approved it. Most likely it is still pending so I would be complaining to your government

 

[Lunarman25]

Why would you need 5G on your watch?

 

[lurkkr]

thank you. literally logged in to Macrumors after x years to ask the "640k is enough" question: why would anyone want 5G signal, which travels less and penetrates buildings worse, [so] requires more infrastructure...for your watch? Regulations around what you can call 5G in countries maybe, or carrier too hard bucket (see 640k question)?

 

[JPack]

UAE’s population is only 10 million, far less than both Canada and Australia.

Market size is more than just population. It’s about reach.

UAE is very well known for luxury shopping. Dubai airport is the world’s busiest for international passengers. You have visitors from Gulf countries all the way to India visiting buying iPhones and Watches.

It’s the same reason why Hong Kong is on the list. Local population is 7 million but everyone in Asia visits HK to buy stuff.

 

[escargot3]

Probably because those are tiny markets? Look at the list of supported countries. They're all big markets. Canada is tiny. A single Chinese megacity exceeds the population of Australia.

That’s false. Australia and Canada are far larger in population than Singapore, Switzerland and UAE.

 

[JPack]

That’s false. Australia and Canada are far larger in population than Singapore, Switzerland and UAE.

Market size is more than just population. See above.

 

[AppleMango]

Any info about Germany? I can’t figure it out.

 

[br403]

Any info about Germany? I can’t figure it out.

The Telekom T was on the slide on Tuesday, so I guess it should work for Telekom customers.

 

[richinaus]

Market size is more than just population. See above.

Can you provide facts to back up your comments. Nope - here’s one for you - iPhone is 57% market share in Australia.

 

[Nozgog]

The Telekom T was on the slide on Tuesday, so I guess it should work for Telekom customers.

Yes but how would I check once it arrives? Does Apple Watch also have a field test mode like iPhone?

 

[Gengar]

A lot of these carriers probably do not support RedCap or 5G standalone.

 

[sflagel]

Not for me, and I don’t think they deliberately throttle, probably just network congestion in certain locations.

Apparently a 5G RedCap connection requires lower power which can only be good.

The info is buried, but it is there. If you go to the EE App, “Manage”, scroll down, and then click on “see what’s included in your plan” you can verify if your download speed is capped at 100 Mbps.

 

[AnInanimateCarbonRod]

My M4 iPad Pro is connected to 5G+ on Bell Mobility

Yeah, phones and tablets are allowed to use 5G on Bell. Not smartwatches or other IoT devices at present.

 

[br403]

Yes but how would I check once it arrives? Does Apple Watch also have a field test mode like iPhone?

Maybe it will show it on the watch, I don´t know.

 

[JPack]

Can you provide facts to back up your comments. Nope - here’s one for you - iPhone is 57% market share in Australia.

Not sure where you came up with that number.

Dubai Airports sees no long-term impact from Middle East turmoil as traffic hits record in first half

Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest air travel hub, attracted a record 46 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, up 2.3% from a year earlier, as recent travel disruptions due to conflict in the Middle East proved short-lived, it said on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[ACDeag]

In the UK, EE throttles 5G connections down to 4G speeds. Overall, it is therefore actually worse than 4G.

They don’t as a rule. There are speed caps on some plans (10mbps/100mbps), but I am on one without a cap and can get way faster than 4G in some places where 5G Stand Alone (SA) is. 5G non-stand alone does use 4G tech in the background which means it can’t get to full speed but that is being replaced by 5GSA