Apple Watch cellular

[anxious_ant]

Just got myself the new Apple Watch Ultra and I must say I am very impressed. My last Apple Watch was a series 1 and I was really disappointed with the watch, as the battery life is abysmal.

The new watch comes with cellular and if I add the plan with my current provider it will cost me extra £5 a month.

I’ve never had a watch with cellular option before so not sure if it’s worth the extra 5 quid? If I am out I normally have my phone with me. Probably the only time I would need the cellular functionality it when reception is poor on my phone, but as I am with same network not sure if that makes any difference.

Thoughts folks?

[B9]

I have the cellular, assuming O2 for the £5 per month as that what mine is?

You can make calls, use Apple Pay and play Spotify on the go. Despite being 5G it's still a little slower than I would've liked.

I primarily take advantage of cellular when I'm going for a run. It's certainly not a replacement for the phone as features/apps still leave a lot to be desired

The O2 £5 per month is also only a 30 day contract, so try it! If you don't like it, or find that you're not using it - it only cost you a fiver

Calls, music etc only work over headphones/AirPods by the way so you'll need to take them with you

Edited by B9 on Friday 25th November 11:51

[James6112]

I’ve had the iwatch 5 cellular since launch
£2.50 on my plan..
Has proved to be pretty useful. Mostly use when out running etc.
When i upgrade i’ll go for cellular again

[Cybertronian]

B9 said:

I have the cellular, assuming O2 for the £5 per month as that what mine is?

You can make calls, use Apple Pay and play Spotify on the go. Despite being 5G it's still a little slower than I would've liked.

I primarily take advantage of cellular when I'm going for a run. It's certainly not a replacement for the phone as features/apps still leave a lot to be desired

The O2 £5 per month is also only a 30 day contract, so try it! If you don't like it, or find that you're not using it - it only cost you a fiver

Calls, music etc only work over headphones/AirPods by the way so you'll need to take them with you

Edited by B9 on Friday 25th November 11:51

Apple Pay works with or without cellular, regardless of whether your iPhone is nearby or not.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205547

[anxious_ant]

B9 said:

I have the cellular, assuming O2 for the £5 per month as that what mine is?

You can make calls, use Apple Pay and play Spotify on the go. Despite being 5G it's still a little slower than I would've liked.

I primarily take advantage of cellular when I'm going for a run. It's certainly not a replacement for the phone as features/apps still leave a lot to be desired

The O2 £5 per month is also only a 30 day contract, so try it! If you don't like it, or find that you're not using it - it only cost you a fiver

Calls, music etc only work over headphones/AirPods by the way so you'll need to take them with you

Edited by B9 on Friday 25th November 11:51

Yes, I am with O2 and it’s indeed a fiver per month. Didn’t realise it’s a 30 day rolling contract, might give it a go.

I mostly have my phone on me most of the time. I don’t go for runs much but do like to hike when there is a chance. Perhaps having a backup device that makes calls is useful.

I’m guessing it’s a new number? So can someone call my watch directly?

[robsa]

anxious_ant said:

Just got myself the new Apple Watch Ultra and I must say I am very impressed. My last Apple Watch was a series 1 and I was really disappointed with the watch, as the battery life is abysmal.

The new watch comes with cellular and if I add the plan with my current provider it will cost me extra £5 a month.

I’ve never had a watch with cellular option before so not sure if it’s worth the extra 5 quid? If I am out I normally have my phone with me. Probably the only time I would need the cellular functionality it when reception is poor on my phone, but as I am with same network not sure if that makes any difference.

Thoughts folks?

I got the Ultra myself mainly for the battery, but the more accurate GPS is great too for when running. As the watch has the mobile data capability, I'd say it's well worth having. I've had mine since it came out and absolutely love it.

[anxious_ant]

robsa said:

I got the Ultra myself mainly for the battery, but the more accurate GPS is great too for when running. As the watch has the mobile data capability, I'd say it's well worth having. I've had mine since it came out and absolutely love it.

Yes the battery life is amazing for what it offers.
I use mine mainly for health / sleep tracking and now with added bonus of a smartwatch. Glad I got the trail band as it’s really comfy.

Might activate the £5 plan and see how I get on. 30 day rolling contract so can cancel if not required.

[anxious_ant]

So getting the contract added on was a breeze through via the Watch app on the phone. However, the O2 data plan is stuck at "activating" for over 30 minutes now. I've tried restarting the Watch app but still the same. On the watch it's showing cellular as not activated.

Is it just a case of waiting?

edit: Just went on O2 help page and apparently it takes up to 24 hours or longer to activate. I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait

Edited by anxious_ant on Friday 25th November 17:31

[James6112]

anxious_ant said:

…..
I’m guessing it’s a new number? So can someone call my watch directly?

Mines on Vodafone. Watch & phone have the same number.

[somouk]

I have the cellular but because I rarely leave my phone out of range of it I've used the grand total of 0 data on it in 12 months. Won't be bothering again.

[anxious_ant]

I’ve got the cellular plan activated with O2. So far so good but we shall see.

Sorry for going off topic but so far I find the Apple Watch Ultra health tracking function very good compared to my previous Fitbit. Sleep tracking is more accurate and normal move/stand tracking seems to be very accurate. I know it’s expense but so far feels like it’s worth every penny.

[e-honda]

I'm trying it on a pixel watch. Its £7 a month on EE and i am struggling to find it in any way useful.
The only time I think it would be useful would be if my phone was stolen, I could use it to ensure its locked and to locate it, but unfortunately although there is a locate function on the pixel it is limited to making it ring, it cannot lock it or track it on maps.
The only time I am deliberately without my phone is when I have to go into a shop and leave my phone in the car as a wifi hotspot for my son's tablet, but then the only thing i need my watch for is to pay which doesn't need an active data connection.
If i could use the watch as a hotspot and leave it in the car that would be idea, but probably empty the battery pretty quick.

[babelfish]

e-honda said:

I'm trying it on a pixel watch. Its £7 a month on EE and i am struggling to find it in any way useful.

Cancel it and save yourself £7 a month then

[e-honda]

babelfish said:

Cancel it and save yourself £7 a month then

I've only had it active for 3 weeks, I am going to give notice next week if it doesn't become useful

[PF62]

The main benefit for me is using the watch in the gym to listen to podcasts and music without needing to carry a phone (streaming from the watch is easier than syncing to it).

But now when going out in the evening or to lunch I usually leave the phone behind, as it’s one less thing to carry and with the watch I am contactable, can pay with it, etc.

[BERGS2]

PF62 said:

The main benefit for me is using the watch in the gym to listen to podcasts and music without needing to carry a phone (streaming from the watch is easier than syncing to it).

But now when going out in the evening or to lunch I usually leave the phone behind, as it’s one less thing to carry and with the watch I am contactable, can pay with it, etc.

Interesting -

Am just trying to work out if the extra £100 on vitaility upfront for the watch is worth it - I'm guessing yes, on the basis of that.

out on the bike without phone

pop to the shops without phone

as you say, one less thing to have to carry....

anyone else got a view on the 8 or 8 Cellular?

Cheers!

[Bungleaio]

I found it annoying with the notifications. I'd find that I'd pay too much attention to it rather than like I do with my phone when I put it on the side and ignore it.

My 8 none cellular is on ebay now and I've gone back to wearing a standard watch.

[PF62]

Bungleaio said:

I found it annoying with the notifications. I'd find that I'd pay too much attention to it rather than like I do with my phone when I put it on the side and ignore it.

Just change the notification settings in the Watch app on the phone to stop those you don’t want appearing on the watch (they still appear on the phone as normal).

[Bungleaio]

But then it just turns into a watch that you have to charge each day. I gave it a try but they just aren't for me, I've had my old dumb watch on for the past two weeks and I've not missed it, on the contrary I've enjoyed not having to charge it.

[PF62]

Bungleaio said:

But then it just turns into a watch that you have to charge each day.

A little hyperbole there.

Selectively turning off the notifications of the apps you don’t want to see doesn’t turn it into an ordinary dumb watch.