Should I Get Cell Service?

[Alameda]

I have a GPS+Cellular AppleWatch Series 4. I bought it with cellular because of a close out sale price and it came in stainless and it’s great.

I couldn’t add cellular service to the watch because my employer paid for my cell service. But not I’ve switched to a personal T-Mobile account, I think and they only charge $5 a month to activate my watch.

I don’t go running or biking without my phone, so is there any reason why I’d want cell service on my watch? Please convince me whether I should or not.

Current Thinking:
Pros:
* I can do it
* It’s only $5 more a month
* It’s cool
* It’s what Dick Tracy would do

Cons:
* I can’t think of any way I’ll use this
* It’s $5 more a month
* Dick Tracy is like 1930’s

 

[xraydoc]

It’s handy if you forget your phone or you feel like going out without it.

I occasionally go places where I cannot take my phone (camera restrictions), so having cellular on my watch is very handy.

I also sometimes run outside — usually I’m on the treadmill, but it’s very nice not to have the phone when running outdoors and still be able to receive texts from my wife or summon help if I fall.

But if you always have your phone with you, then there’s probably not a great reason.

Then again, $5 is not a lot for peace of mind in an emergency.

 

[nburwell]

Although there are very few times that I leave the house without my iPhone, it is nice knowing that I can still receive/send texts and make calls via my AW if need be.

The few times that I don't take my phone with me are if I'm running a quick errand to the grocery store or something where I'm not going to be gone too long. The $5/month price that T-Mobile charges for cellular on my AW is certainly easier to swallow. If it was more expensive, I don't think I would have added it to our plan.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I've had my cellular Series 4 since soon after product launch. I figured I'd try it for a while without activating cellular, but would activate it eventually. I've never activated. I'm so rarely out of the house without my iPhone that it's never been a significant issue. (Now, I did have the first generation Watch before that, so the habit of always carrying my iPhone when wearing Watch is deeply ingrained, and the habit of always carrying my cell phone when I go out long predates the introduction of iPhone.)

In another recent post I calculated that, at $10/month, and because those few times I have been out of the house without my iPhone have never been for more than a half-hour (usually a short walk to a local shop)... my cost would be about $40 per half-hour incident. My missed calls/texts aren't that valuable to me (ymmv). Sure, it seems pretty cheap when you say "$5 or $10/month, just in case I forget my iPhone," and if you leave the iPhone behind more frequently than I do, then that per half-hour/per hour cost will drop substantially.

 

[aue123]

i just got my SS7 today and activated cellular for the first time. i figure, i’d rather have the watch and not the 13 pro max in my pocket if i go snowboarding, or theme parks, or water parks.. having the wallet on the wrist is a game changer. sure i could take the phone.. but hey! now i won’t have to worry about my phone falling out of my pocket. ?‍♂️

 

[Itinj24]

I won’t be without it. Great emergency backup in case you lose your phone or the battery dies. That bailed me out big time once. I’ll gladly pay for the peace of mind. Always better to have and not need than to need and not have.

 

[CMoore515]

With me having a disability I won't go without it. I always have my phone but what if there comes a time when I'm out and about, my phone dies and I need to call a family member or emergency services? It's too big of a convenience, even at $10 through my carrier.

 

[mavis]

In Japan it's $3.00 a month, so I've had it on my AW for years, even though I very rarely use it. If it were $10, I wouldn't. I use it very infrequently.

 

[babalougots]

I use it for outdoor biking and longer walks and also working out indoors at health club.

 

[ssledoux]

I have it because I live on property, and often go out to the barn without my phone. Even if I have the phone, I usually set it down to feed and tend to the animals. I like having the fall detection option, and I like that I could use my watch to make an emergency call if I were to get hurt out there.

It's also nice if I want to go for a walk, run into a store without my purse/phone. Especially around this time of year I appreciate being able to have a cc in my pocket (or on my watch app for those places that'll accept it), and not have anything on me that's easily grabbed. Sucks to have to think about things like that, but it's reality.

 

[jjudson]

If Tuco takes your phone and locks you in a car trunk, you can still call for help…

 

[chanerz]

Going for a jog and not having to bring your cell is a plus. I only pay $7 a month on my ATT Apple watch plan.

 

[getrealbro]

The Apple Watch w/Cellular use case can be quite different for people who live on larger parcels of land. Most of their property, including out-buildings and even their mail box, is usually out of range of their WiFi. So having the flexibility of making/answering calls, 911 etc., without having to carry their iPhone with them, is worth a little each month.

And it’s nice to have an AW w/cellular when you bump into one of these on the way to your mailbox

GetRealBro

 

[webkit]

Everyone's circumstances can be different. I'd suggest you try it for a month without cell service and then decide.

 

[Chargerdan]

I just activated cellular on my watch recently. I have the cellular versions of the 3 and 5 but just felt that this was the right time to turn it on. The main reason is that now I have the 13 Pro Max and it has a much bigger feel than the XS Max I had prior. When running, and walking, I could really feel the phone moving around and at times it felt like the phone was going to come out of my pocket. It's also nice not having to carry the phone with me everywhere.

With T-Mobile's $5/month plan I felt that was a fair price for the amount of time I'm away from my phone. Plus it's a true $5 since the taxes and fees are included.

If you don't go anywhere without your phone you really don't need to activate service. But if you do, or you want to explore the ability to, go out without your phone you may want to give it a try.