Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) Model A1861 cellular problem in India

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Level 1

8 points

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) Model A1861 cellular problem in India

I am having Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) Model A1861 which I had bought from USA but I live in India. Earlier Cellular model was not available in India so I brought it from USA. But now here in India Airtel & Jio (Telecom Operators) have started selling this watch in India but what problem I'm facing is that my watch is displaying that cellular feature is not available in this region & I found that in India Model A1891 is being sold. But both models (mine & that selling in India) have LTE Band 5 in common & Jio works on LTE Band 5 so if I use Jio Sim then will my cellular Feature start working?

Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 4.3, GPS + Cellular

Posted on May 13, 2018 1:18 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Sridhar.Reddy.Devireddy

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2018 7:00 AM in response to Hemakshu

I’m exactly in the same situation. Bought A1861 from US and soon realised it isn’t working in India. I spoke with Airtel and Apple customer folks and learnt that it’s not supported in India. The only models Supported in India are A1889 and A1891. Jio isn’t an exception either...

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

180,534 points

May 13, 2018 1:45 AM in response to Hemakshu

you can't add your own sim they use an electronic sim called eSIM something which your carrier has to support read http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/what-is-an-e-sim-2926904

and go "help me carrier you're my only home" on the phone talking to the carrier you wish to use

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Answer 3

Branta_uk

Level 7

32,892 points

May 14, 2018 4:51 AM in response to Hemakshu

It is unlikely your watch will have acceptable connectivity because it needs to support ALL the bands available to the carrier. There is also another problem, Jio will probably be unable to offer support because your watch offers frequency bands which are illegal in India, and it has regulatory approval from FCC for use in USA but that model will not be approved by the Indian regulator.

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Answer 4

Hemakshu Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2018 8:04 AM in response to Branta_uk

Ohh......so it won’t work in India. Anyways thank you so much for replying and guiding me.

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Answer 5

Hemakshu Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2018 8:05 AM in response to Sridhar.Reddy.Devireddy

Yes...! So sad to hear that!!

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Answer 6

Hemakshu Author

Level 1

8 points

May 13, 2018 1:53 AM in response to Rudegar

Yes yes I know that no physical sim can be installed, it’s an e-sim technology. Here in India 2 telecom carriers Airtel & Jio supports e-sim technology for Apple Watch Series 3. My Model A1861 (purchased from USA) & model A1891 (selling in India) both have LTE Band 5 in common so Jio supports LTE Band 5 whereas Airtel doesn’t. And I’m currently using Airtel as my Carrier. So I’m asking that if I switch to Jio (which has LTE Band 5) and my watch is also compatible to it then will the cellular feature start working or not?

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Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) Model A1861 cellular problem in India

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