Potential Apple Watch Buyer
Can you get GPS and play Spotify playlists on the Apple Watch series 3 without having your phone nearby?
Spotify does not really support the Apple Watch at all. At most, they provide an app that acts as a remote control for the iPhone Spotify app. That is the total extent Spotify does anything with the Apple Watch.
There are hacks to get offline Spotify music on the Apple Watch
Spotify Offline
https://www.wareable.com/apple/how-to-use-spotify-on-apple-watch-6609
NOTE: One of the articles is slightly out of date, as watchOS 6 does allow 3rd party streaming; Pandora is offering Apple Watch LTE streaming, off-line playlists and Siri integration on the Apple Watch. Plus Apple Music supports the Apple Watch.
Pandora and Apple Music support the Apple Watch with steaming, offline music, and Siri integration.
Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on your Apple Watch
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204691
Add music to Apple Watch
https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/add-music-apd483798d11/watchos
Play music on Apple Watch
https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/play-music-apd70768b20b/watchos
Apple Music
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204691
https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/play-music-apd70768b20b/watchos
Pandora Streaming
You will need an iPhone 6s, SE (1 or 2), 7 or newer, running iOS 13 or newer.
The GPS only Apple Watch can do Everything the cellular model can do as long as your iPhone is nearby, where nearby is somewhere in the same 3-4 bedroom home (assuming typical wood frame construction). And of course when the iPhone is with you when you leave the house.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205547
The Cellular Apple Watch allows you to leave your iPhone at home while you go for a walk, run, bike ride, etc...
The Cellular Apple Watch shares the iPhone's phone number. This requires the iPhone cellular carrier to support the Apple Watch. The iPhone carrier charges a monthly fee for this service. In the U.S. the fee is $10 per month added to your iPhone bill.
iPhone Cellular Carriers that support the Apple Watch, which models, the radio frequencies each model uses, and the country where they offer service:
https://www.apple.com/watch/cellular
Your carrier Must be listed by name in the above link. NVMO's that piggy back on another carriers network, unless explicitly mentioned, do not support the Apple Watch.
