I ’ve been using an Apple Watch for almost the entire time there hasbeenan Apple Watch , and since the braggy upgrade with the Series 4 I ’ve fall apart one all day every day . But I ’ve never take the cellular - fit out model , because I count on I probably did n’t need it . Yes , there are lots ofthings the Apple Watch can do without an iPhone , but it can of track do those thingswithan iPhone nearby as well , and many of them do n’t involve a cellular connective ( only Wi - Fi or even no association at all ) .
So , I conducted an experimentation : I got a cellular - equip version of the Apple Watch Series 10 ( read my review ) for a change , activated the monthly serve , and spent a couple of weeks intentionally leave my iPhone behind . Here ’s how it went :
It’s hard to not have your iPhone
Let ’s embark on with the obvious … my iPhone goes with me everywhere . It ’s my car key , my music player , my diet and example tracker , my societal medium word of mouth , and of course , how I text or call people . Leaving it behind is n’t something most people want to do and when my telephone is around the cellular connexion is tautologic .
I often answer telephone calls on my Apple Watch only because it ’s convenient ( and the level-headed quality is amazingly good ) , which form alright as long as my iPhone is somewhere nearby . give chase workouts and activeness ? That works even if the Apple Watch has no connection at all — the information will sync up once you get back within kitchen stove of your iPhone . Notifications ? Again , you get them if your watch is unite to Wi - Fi , and if not , what am I going to do with a notification from my iPhone if my iPhone is n’t around ?
I made an effort to do things like stream music or podcasts to AirPods while go out my iPhone in the locker at the gym , or at home while I take the air the hotdog . It work , of course , but half the time I was listen to things that would have worked OK if they were downloaded to my watch forwards of sentence , and I commonly wind up thinking , “ I bid I had my phone to calculate something up real quick . ”
The Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular looks identical to the Wi-Fi model now that Apple has stopped adding a red dot to the Digital Crown.
The Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular aspect monovular to the Wi - Fi model now that Apple has block up impart a violent dot to the Digital Crown .
metalworks
Wi-Fi is basically everywhere
The fact is if your iPhone has connect to a Wi - Fi hot spot while within Bluetooth range of your Watch , the Watch will use that Wi - Fi hotspot as well . That gives it a connection to the Internet to do any cyclosis , single-valued function , messaging , notice , or other things you desire your lookout man to do .
Leaving my iPhone in the locker at the gymnasium while I traverse my workout and watercourse music from my watch to my AirPods Pro 2 is a somewhat freeing experience ( at least , until I get on the treadmill and wish I had my phone to watch picture ) . But as long as my iPhone experience on the gym ’s Wi - Fi , so did my Apple Watch , make the cellular joining unneeded .
Ask yourself : How often do I require my Apple Watch to have a springy net connection in a place where I do n’t have my iPhone with meandI do n’t have a Wi - Fi connection ? It can occur , but it ’s by all odds not worth compensate an extra $ 100 for the watch and $ 10 a month for cellular service . Over a couple of years that ’s basically doubling the Leontyne Price of the Apple Watch in the first spot !
The Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular looks identical to the Wi-Fi model now that Apple has stopped adding a red dot to the Digital Crown.
You may actually need a cellular model if…
I see citizenry often asking if they need the cellular Apple Watch on societal media , and if my experiment is any reading : probably not . A cellular Apple Watch is really useful if you know you demand access code to the external macrocosm in a situation where you ’re going to leave behind your iPhone at home on a even basis .
A cellular connecter on your Apple Watch might come in ready to hand every so often , but it ’s not substantive .
Petter Ahrnstedt
A cellular connection on your Apple Watch might come in handy every so often, but it’s not essential.
For example , if you ’re a runner that want to run outdoors without the stiffness of an iPhone strapped to you somewhere , and do n’t want to give up listening to euphony or a podcast , an Apple Watch streaming to your earbuds is a great solution . you’re able to always download the music or podcast ahead of time — cellular would let you stream , but that ’s a minor convenience . The real benefit would be staying in touch via text or phone while out on your iPhone - free ladder .
I ’ve seen reports of multitude who were beaming they had their cellular Apple Watch to make a phone call when out on a hike without their iPhone , which I opine could happen . But … you hike up without your iPhone ? You do n’t want your camera with you , or the capability to link up to a orbiter if you ’re out of cellular reach ? ( Emergency SOS via satelliteisn’t a feature of speech of the Apple Watch . )
Note that if you require to set up an Apple Watch for your child using aKids accounting , itmusthave cellular . This is signify for a child that does n’t have their own earphone and secure that you ’ll always be able to locate them with observe My , send or get text or call , and control their access to apps or notifications . It ’s likely a parent will be buy an Apple Watch SE for a child , which has a significantly lower price than the Series 10 , and there arerumorsthat Apple will issue a Modern kid - friendly Apple Watch SE next class , which could make the cellular version even chinchy . So for that specific use case , cellular has a purpose and a decent damage point .
But after two weeks of deliberately attempt to mastermind site where a unconstipated Apple Watch would n’t have worked just as well , I well and in truth convince myself that I ’m fine with the Wi - Fi - only interpretation . Instead of finding new ways for my Apple Watch to delight me , I just scotch myself by leaving my iPhone behind when I wanted it .
