Is the Apple Watch with Cellular worth it?

Question

Level 7

29,299 points

Is the Apple Watch with Cellular worth it?

So I'm clearly going to get the Series 4 and will be ordering Friday. But before that, I need to decide if I should get cellular with it or not. My series 3 did not have it because I heard such bad things about (mostly that it was so limited in what it could do and it ate up battery like nothing else). Truthfully, I rarely have an issue having my phone with me -- there are perhaps a few hours a week when I take a walk that it would be nice not to carry it, but otherwise...

So what are folks thoughts here? I could really use advice, particularly from those of you who went that route.

Posted on Sep 12, 2018 11:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Sep 12, 2018 11:32 AM in response to Mike Kelley

I will tell you that I have had the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular from release. First off, I can tell you that it does not eat battery like nothing else. I use my device a great deal with mail and text, and it will last me two days. I honestly got the cellular version for the heck of it. Like you, I rarely am without my phone. There are a limited number of carriers that support it, and for AT&T, which I'm a customer of, there is an additional $10/month fee to activate the cellular. I can count on one hand the number of times that I've not had my phone with me and have used the watch with cellular, and one of them was my original test after purchasing the watch.

If you think you won't use it that much, you are probably right. There are a few restrictions to what you can do without the phone nearby, or at least turned on and connected. Might want to look into that. How to use your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby - Apple Support

If I had it to do over, not sure I would go cellular, since it was really just the novelty of having it that made my buy it. But if the only thing stopping you is battery life, that was not my experience.

Reply

Answer 2

Mike Kelley Author

Level 7

29,299 points

Sep 12, 2018 11:50 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Yeah I looked but the site was rather poorly laid out -- it seemed to imply you could, but there were a lot of things inbetween it and Siri.

I guess worse comes to worst I'll just pay a little more for the watch (because I can always cancel the $10 a month cellular fee Verizon will charge -- already talked with them). Now comes the MUCH harder decision of which one to get -- I've always had the aluminum ones, but the stainless is now calling to me <g>.

Reply

Answer 3

Mike Kelley Author

Level 7

29,299 points

Sep 12, 2018 11:33 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks, that was helpful. Can you use Siri without your phone? (On cellular, not wi-fi). That's one thing I do a lot but, of course, I'm always within my iPhone. But I use Siri to send text or make calls and without it would definitely be a deal breaker.

Reply

Answer 4

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Sep 12, 2018 11:46 AM in response to Mike Kelley

I don't use SIri much on the Watch, but I do use the dictation for my text messages. Problem is, I've always had the phone with me, so I cannot answer that. The link I provided has info on what you can do without the phone, see what it says.

Reply

Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Sep 12, 2018 12:57 PM in response to Mike Kelley

Well, again, I've had the stainless steel for both the original, and the Series 3. I like the fact the screen is a little more scratch resistant. Good luck with your choice.

Reply

Is the Apple Watch with Cellular worth it?

Similar questions