Apple Watch Cellular vs. GPS

You can do just about everything with a GPS only Apple Watch so long as you have your iPhone with you. Without it, there are a few things you cannot do obviously, but if you keep the iPhone with you, then it won't matter. You can also purchase the GPS+Cellular but not activate the cellular if you wish too. Then at some point if you wish to activate the cellular, you can. I have a GPS+Cellular and I have the cellular activated. It costs me $10/month with AT&T. It is a little wasteful, but I spend that much on coffee in a couple of days, so I just watch it. But to be honest, I could count on one hand the number of times I've used the cellular on the Watch because I forgot the iPhone. It seems it is more so I can say I have it. I'm just one of those tech geeks that has to have it all. 😜

I have a Series 4 GPS only model. I always have my iPhone with me, or nearby. I can do Everything my Wife's cellular Apple Watch can do.

Actually, I do a little bit better, because we live in a weak cell signal area, and my iPhone picks up the weaker signals better than the Apple Watch.

I just cannot leave my iPhone behind, and that only happens by mistake, and very rarely at that, as it is generally always in my pocket, unless I'm using it, or it is charging.

NOTE: Even the Cellular mode uses the iPhone if it is in range, as using the Apple Watch cellular radio cost more battery power and shortens the time between charges. leaving the phone at home, while you go off to work, shortens the Apple Watch day significantly, and it will need a charge sooner than when you go to bed at night

Apple Watch battery is rated for 18 Hours between charges (the reality varies depending on how new the battery is, how often the Apple Watch is used to make phone calls, how many hours are spent exercising such that the GPS is tracking your movement, the amount of time spent listening music stored on the Apple Watch vs streaming music over the cellular connection, etc...

A GPS uses satellites to triangulate your location.

That option works; however, a cellular signal provides a much cleaner, more precise, accurate and solid experience by far!

The choice is yours to make! 😉