Thinking about buying new LTE model to can leave iPhone at home

[joscejrod]

Hi,

Now I have GPS model 4 and with new model 7 around the corner I’m thinking about e LTE
.
I‘d really like to leave iPhone (max size model) at home in workouts, visit to the beach, etc. Those situations that you don’t need the bigger screen to consume media or write a lot, but you want to be connected in case of emergency or you have to pay something.

Anyone knows a limitation of this use? Maybe Apple Pay requires iPhone near and to use whatsapp if you can recommend me a good dedicated app for watch that can show images o answer in specific groups or individuals…

Thanks for your advice!

 

[BigBlur]

Apple Pay doesn't require a cellular connection, nor does your phone need to be nearby to use it. I use Apple Pay quite a bit on my Series 2 watch (non-cellular) when my phone has been left behind. You should be able to do the same with your current watch.

As for messaging, Messages or Telegram are probably the best apps out there right now. WhatsApp does not have an official app for the watch.

 

[akidokraja]

There are some limitations to this. Battery life will be significantly diminished. Whatsup will not work due to not having a dedicated app. Signal strength is weaker than the iPhone (probably due to smaller antennas). But it is ok for a quick run or maybe few hours at the beach.

 

[perezr10]

The Apple Watch is great for leaving your iPhone behind in those situations. I go for a daily 1 hour run with just my watch. But I lose about 20% of my battery in that 1 hour (Also streaming music via cellular).

 

[weeesss]

Due to a foot issue, I no longer run which was the reason I got LTE. I always bring my phone while biking and hiking. if I upgrade from the 6 to the 7, I will probably still keep LTE for those times I don't want to bring my phone, or i forget to grab it when I run out. I did find it eats battery life when streaming music while running.

 

[Itinj24]

I’ve had LTE on my Apple Watch since it was introduced. Not so I can purposely leave my phone behind but mainly as a comms back up in case my phone dies. I only seriously needed it once in that situation but boy was it ever a life saver. Involved my iPhone bricking out of the blue, wife stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, and the kids needing to be picked up from school. Had I not had LTE on my watch, I would’ve missed that extremely important call. The way I see it, it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have. The iPhone was warranty replaced by Apple later that evening. Some kind of power module failure.

 

[ardsar]

Watchchat 2 for whatsapp works well on the watch and works over lte without the phone

 

[deeddawg]

What you describe is exactly what's great with a cellular watch - you can leave the phone behind for those situations.

I don't use whatsapp so can help there.

As @perezr10 mentions, battery usage during a workout with GPS on does burn up the battery, especially if you're also streaming music over LTE. The usage is substantially less when you're not in a workout (GPS off) and not streaming music over LTE (play locally stored content to your bluetooth headphones or airpods).

EDIT - wanted to mention that you don't *have* to carry a cellular plan on an LTE capable watch. So you can get it and try it, then drop the plan if you don't see any value to it. You then still have the emergency capabilities @chabig mentions in the next post.

Also if you buy one of the stainless steel (or higher) models, they're all LTE capable anyway.

 

[chabig]

I think the LTE Watch is worthwhile for it's emergency use, even if you don't activate the cellular. If you find yourself in a situation where you need emergency services, and your phone isn't around or within reach (e.g., car crash, fall, phone in another room, etc.) having a way to call emergency services might save your life. And if you are unconscious, the Watch's fall detection can call automatically. Furthermore, since the Watch has GPS and knows what country you're in, it always dials the right emergency number.