Apple Watch Series 4 w/ Cellular - Phone Required?

[CodeSpyder]

I'm sorry if this has been answered before. My son is special and I was thinking about getting him an Apple
Watch Series 4 / cellular. But he doesn't have an iPhone and I feel he'll lose the phone, but not the watch.

 

[mollyc]

Yes all watch models require a phone for setup and updating.

However with the cellular version the phone could be kept at home and the watch would still work.

 

[gnomeisland]

Just bear in mind that the battery life can drop off a cliff without a phone close by.

For example, I took only my watch on a day trip where reception wasn't great. The battery died within a few hours because the watch seems to try hard/constantly to find a cellular connection. Went to the same location with my phone in my pocket and the watch lasted all day with plenty of battery to spare because the iPhone, which is a more mature cellular device with a much bigger battery, did the hunting and the watch stuck to bluetooth.

 

[CodeSpyder]

Yes all watch models require a phone for setup and updating.

However with the cellular version the phone could be kept at home and the watch would still work.

Thanks