Using cellular service while overseas

[mystery hill]

I haven’t seen any prepaid cellular plans that can be used with the Apple Watch, and it doesn’t support international roaming.

The only way to use the watch without WiFi, or tethering to another device, would be to sign up for a postpaid plan when taking an overseas trip.

Has anyone here done that, or do you just treat it as a WiFi-only accessory while overseas?

 

[akash.nu]

Apple Watch doesn’t work with any international setup except staying connected to your phone which may have an international connection.

 

[mystery hill]

Apple Watch doesn’t work with any international setup

Yes, I know that.

You can take out a postpaid cellular plan for your iPhone and Apple Watch while overseas. You can then use the watch without needing a phone, just like you normally would in your home country.

 

[akash.nu]

Yes, I know that.

You can take out a postpaid cellular plan for your iPhone and Apple Watch while overseas. You can then use the watch without needing a phone, just like you normally would in your home country.

Are you sure about it? Apple Watch doesn’t connect to a cellular network overseas even if you take a connection on your phone as far as I know. At least that has been my experience across Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

[mystery hill]

Are you sure about it?

Yes.

Apple Watch - Carriers

Apple Watch with cellular. Go with just your watch — make calls, get messages, stream music. See if Apple Watch works with networks in your country.

www.apple.com

To cover the LTE and UMTS bands used around the world, there are two separate cellular models for Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE. They have been optimized for use in the country of purchase, and not all models work in all countries or regions. There is no single model that supports cellular service worldwide.

 

[akash.nu]

Yes.

Apple Watch - Carriers

Apple Watch with cellular. Go with just your watch — make calls, get messages, stream music. See if Apple Watch works with networks in your country.

www.apple.com

Exactly! So as per that statement from Apple, your watch only works in the country of purchase, not in other countries.

 

[mystery hill]

At least that has been my experience across Europe, Asia and Australia.

Did you sign up for a postpaid phone plan and add an Apple Watch cellular plan when in those countries?

It depends on which of the two models you have as both have different LTE bands. See the link I posted above to check the country availability.

 

[akash.nu]

Did you sign up for a postpaid phone plan and add an Apple Watch cellular plan when in those countries?

It depends on which of the two models you have as both have different LTE bands. See the link I posted above to check the country availability.

No, we get unlimited access to our plans throughout Europe and added some extra bolt on to get cellular connection in Asia and Australia. Also I use a virtual SIM card as my main connection. But if the phone can connect to all the networks without having to get a dedicated new physical or virtual SIM card, I’d assume the watch would work as well since it’s the same radio technology.

 

[mystery hill]

Exactly! So as per that statement from Apple, your watch only works in the country of purchase, not in other countries.

They say that it won’t work in all countries, not that it will only work in the country of purchase.

You can buy a cellular Apple Watch in Portugal and gift it to someone in Vietnam, and they will be able to add a cellular plan (if their carrier supports Watch)

 

[mystery hill]

But if the phone can connect to all the networks without having to get a dedicated new physical or virtual SIM card, I’d assume the watch would work as well since it’s the same radio technology.

No, the Watch’s cellular service doesn’t work the same way. You need to take out a phone plan in the country you’re visiting and add a cellular plan for the watch.

 

[akash.nu]

They say that it won’t work in all countries, not that it will only work in the country of purchase.

You can buy a cellular Apple Watch in Portugal and gift it to someone in Vietnam, and they will be able to add a cellular plan (if their carrier supports Watch)

This is new information to me. I’m definitely going to try it out once we are allowed to travel.

Do you know how the watch connects to a different network when it can only have one virtual connection?

 

[akash.nu]

No, the Watch’s cellular service doesn’t work the same way. You need to take out a phone plan in the country you’re visiting and add a cellular plan for the watch.

I see, so you mean since I actually didn’t take out a different connection in the countries I was in, the watch didn’t work as well?! Hmm that makes sense.

 

[mystery hill]

I see, so you mean since I actually didn’t take out a different connection in the countries I was in, the watch didn’t work as well?! Hmm

that makes sense.

Yes, you would need to take out a phone plan from a carrier in the country you're in and then attach a cellular plan for the watch.

 

[akash.nu]

Yes, you would need to take out a phone plan from a carrier in the country you're in and then attach a cellular plan for the watch.

Yeah I get it now. That’s probably not something I’d ever need, so this is just going to be a watch connected to my phone setup when I’m outside of the country.

 

[mystery hill]

Do you know how the watch connects to a different network when it can only have one virtual connection?

​

When overseas it will won't connect to your existing European service because no Apple Watch currently supports international roaming.

You can set up multiple cellular plans on the watch, but only one will be active. See the link below for more info.

Use Dual SIM with Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models​

If you set up multiple cellular plans using Dual SIM on your compatible iPhone, you can add both plans to your Apple Watch. Then you can choose which one your watch uses when it connects to cellular networks.

You can add up to five cellular plans to your Apple Watch. However, your Apple Watch can only connect to one at a time. If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, check with your company or carrier to see if they support this feature. Pre-paid accounts and some older accounts aren’t currently supported.

 

[sjinsjca]

It's complicated.

From Watch 5 on, the Watch has had the ability to contact emergency services in most countries. The Watch does not need to be activated on its own cell plan in order for this feature to work.

So the capability to connect is there. What's missing is the contractual framework for enabling international roaming for the Watch. When the user chooses to activate the Watch, it goes on an inexpensive, accessory-oriented optional plan that is tied to the user's cell account.

Currently, the Watch is not treated like a stand-alone device on par with a cell phone.

The unavailability of conventional international roaming is more a service- and contractual-framework issue than it is a technical issue. As the smartwatch phenomenon continues to snowball and the devices start to replace (rather than supplement) our cell phones, that will change.