Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AW series 4 with or without cellular?

D

Dualvansmommy

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 31, 2014
90
12
After having different models of Fitbit watch for past 5 years, I'm now wanting apple watch primarily for the heart sensor. During my annual physical few months ago, it was discovered I have a heart murmur and followup determined its not serious or an issue, but something to keep an eye on every year now.

So here I am now. I can't decide whether wifi or cellular versions though, I go out for my runs daily and hit my Orange theory gym 2-3x a week and need to be without my phone physically for those times. I used to get text or call notifications on my versa Fitbit which was important if my kids school called me or my boss from work on an important work issue.

Will the wifi AW version work for me if I can get notifications with my phone in car at parking lot?
 
Dualvansmommy said:
Will the wifi AW version work for me if I can get notifications with my phone in car at parking lot?
Click to expand...

I can’t work this out...what do you mean?

But...it sounds like you will need the cellular version if you won’t have your phone with you, and you need to be in contact.
 
StumpyBloke said:
I can’t work this out...what do you mean?

But...it sounds like you will need the cellular version if you won’t have your phone with you, and you need to be in contact.
Click to expand...

I mean for whenever I'm at the gym, I often leave my phone in the car. Does the wifi capacity reach far enough for notifications to appear on my watch? or does the phone need to be physically closer for wifi to work?
 
Dualvansmommy said:
I mean for whenever I'm at the gym, I often leave my phone in the car. Does the wifi capacity reach far enough for notifications to appear on my watch? or does the phone need to be physically closer for wifi to work?
Click to expand...

Your phone needs to be in Bluetooth range of your watch (tiny range), or both devices on the same wireless network. You need the cellular version.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter K.
That’s why I love playing hockey. No phone, no watch, no need to worry about being connected.
The do not disturb is my favorite function.
 
Significant1 said:
I don't think it has to be same WiFi, as long as they both have internet access.
Click to expand...

Actually yeah I think you’re right. With the introduction of watchOS 5 you can connect to a 2.4GHz wireless network directly on the watch...good catch!

But: I don’t think you would still get phone calls unless WiFi calling is enabled for the watch.
 
Last edited:
if there's wifi at the gym, your watch can connect to that
Your phone would connect to cellular from the car (notifications will forward, even though the 2 aren't directly connected.)

--one big exception to that... if the wifi has a sign in web page where you have to click on something (with or without a password) the watch can't connect at all. (you see this in public spaces or hotels.) A lot of times, the page might just have a check box to agree to terms of service.

if it's just a wifi name (with or without a password) then you're ok

In prior versions, you could not enter a wifi password on the watch, you had to join on the phone, and it would sync the password to the watch for future use. now it will let you type in a password directly on the watch.
It does still sync passwords from your phone, so your watch will join any 2.4Ghz network your phone has joined (with the web page exception mentioned above)

Your watch will always use the lowest power connection. from lowest to highest its..
bluetooth to your phone.
wifi
cellular.


I have T-mobile USA, and even with my phone powered down, it can still make and receive phone calls on my non-cellular watch, using my home wifi. (either using the speaker on the watch, or my bluetooth headphones)
I'm not sure how SMS texts will work without the phone connected somewhere.
and obviously app based notifications need your phone to be on and connected somewhere.
(phone calls without the phone on may vary depending on your carrier.)
 
Since you have a good portion of your time not carrying your phone, cellular version is definitely your choice. Oh, Apple promotes cellular version a lot. Having a cellular in your watch can come in handy from time to time.
 
Shirasaki said:
Since you have a good portion of your time not carrying your phone, cellular version is definitely your choice. Oh, Apple promotes cellular version a lot. Having a cellular in your watch can come in handy from time to time.
Click to expand...

Is there a known time frame when Apple promotes cellular version? And how significant is it? If it’s only 25 dolllars less with the promotion, I’m likely to just buy straight as it is. But if it’s 50 or more then I can wait a bit.
 
Dualvansmommy said:
Is there a known time frame when Apple promotes cellular version? And how significant is it? If it’s only 25 dolllars less with the promotion, I’m likely to just buy straight as it is. But if it’s 50 or more then I can wait a bit.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the confusion. What I am saying is Apple only has wifi version in their lowest Apple Watch Sports model. If you buy, say, a stainless steel watch, it will come with cellular only. Oh, my bad. This thing exists quite a while. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back