Cellular S4 customers getting screwed

[mjr1000]

by Apple and by their cellular carriers. First, Apple is charging $100 more for the exact same watch plus a cellular modem (which probably costs $2). For the S3 release, original pricing for the cellular model was $70 more than GPS alone BUT the cellular model also came with more storage (16 GB vs 8) and a ceramic back (vs composite). Plus that $2 modem.

Then come the carriers. They charge $10/month (for US carriers), which gets closer to $15 with fees and taxes, to use data and cellular service for a phone plan you are already paying for.

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

I ordered a GSS 42mm for because I wanted cellular. I want to be able to go for walks without my phone and keep in touch. I also want to be able to leave my phone in my vehicle when I don't have to bring it.

Its a personal choice. I've had a S0 since day one, my two issues have been I always had to bring my phone (walks/runs) to be accurate with GPS, and to be connected.

 

[mjr1000]

my two issues have been I always had to bring my phone (walks/runs) to be accurate with GPS, and to be connected.

This is a good response. It is worth it to you to buy some freedom from your phone, and I didn't know the GPS tracking wasn't especially accurate. Was that an S0 issue or does it persist with later series?

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

This is a good response. It is worth it to you to buy some freedom from your phone, and I didn't know the GPS tracking wasn't especially accurate. Was that an S0 issue or does it persist with later series?

S0 didn't have gps at all. That's why.

 

[ryanmp]

Anyone on T-Mobile with the Apple Watch cellular?

I noticed they limited the speed to 512kbps and wanted to see if this causes issues for anyone... particuarly for streaming music

 

[mjr1000]

S0 didn't have gps at all.

That'll do it.

 

[bbates123]

Like JT2002TJ said...to be away from your phone and still receive calls, messages, etc., especially walks and runs, etc,.

 

[Newtons Apple]

by Apple and by their cellular carriers. First, Apple is charging $100 more for the exact same watch plus a cellular modem (which probably costs $2). For the S3 release, original pricing for the cellular model was $70 more than GPS alone BUT the cellular model also came with more storage (16 GB vs 8) and a ceramic back (vs composite). Plus that $2 modem.

Then come the carriers. They charge $10/month (for US carriers), which gets closer to $15 with fees and taxes, to use data and cellular service for a phone plan you are already paying for.

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

If you want the space black stainless you do not have any choice. I will not use the cellular but like I said if you want Black Stainless . . . .

 

[RonFromOregon]

Even without activating service, you still have access to 911. That's a comfort at least.

 

[gsmornot]

I look forward to the point where the watch is part just having a phone plan. I use so little data but I guess that is not the point.

 

[Broken Hope]

Cellular only costs £5 a month here with the first 3 months for free and I'm buying a cellular watch because I often go for long walks and hate dragging my phone a long with me, sometimes it's nice to cut back on technology for a bit, but being able to still make and receive emergency calls and receive notifications will be useful. Also I was always going to get a SS model so I couldn't avoid cellular anyway.

 

[drober30]

by Apple and by their cellular carriers. First, Apple is charging $100 more for the exact same watch plus a cellular modem (which probably costs $2). For the S3 release, original pricing for the cellular model was $70 more than GPS alone BUT the cellular model also came with more storage (16 GB vs 8) and a ceramic back (vs composite). Plus that $2 modem.

Then come the carriers. They charge $10/month (for US carriers), which gets closer to $15 with fees and taxes, to use data and cellular service for a phone plan you are already paying for.

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

I agree, I would never personally use my watch as a cellular phone (intentionally leave my phone in car or home) It drives me crazy when people talk on their speakerphone like no one else is around, I'm like what an idiot...

 

[geoelectric]

I agree, I would never personally use my watch as a cellular phone (intentionally leave my phone in car or home) It drives me crazy when people talk on their speakerphone like no one else is around, I'm like what an idiot...

I plan on using mine with AirPods, which I already carry around in my pocket, for the odd phone call and music/audiobook streaming. I went cellular because I also grabbed an Xs Max and suspect I’ll have instances where keeping the phablet in my pants pocket will be inconvenient. I might want to stow it in favor of using the watch for walk-around.

 

[barjam]

I agree, I would never personally use my watch as a cellular phone (intentionally leave my phone in car or home) It drives me crazy when people talk on their speakerphone like no one else is around, I'm like what an idiot...

I use it all the time with bt headphones and using the watch as a speakerphone isn't all that loud. It isn't ideal but for quick calls it is fine.
[doublepost=1536955768][/doublepost]

by Apple and by their cellular carriers. First, Apple is charging $100 more for the exact same watch plus a cellular modem (which probably costs $2). For the S3 release, original pricing for the cellular model was $70 more than GPS alone BUT the cellular model also came with more storage (16 GB vs 8) and a ceramic back (vs composite). Plus that $2 modem.

Then come the carriers. They charge $10/month (for US carriers), which gets closer to $15 with fees and taxes, to use data and cellular service for a phone plan you are already paying for.

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

Running, biking, walking, quick runs to the store, evenings out with my wife where I don't even want the temptation to mess with my phone, etc.

When I was younger and in school or new to the workforce 15 bucks would be a big deal so I get the argument but these days 15 dollars is irrelevant. Having a phone on my watch is novel/fun enough to justify the price to me.

 

[caligurl]

I bought SS because I wanted the shiny finish. I never cared for the aluminum silver version. Unfortunately I got stuck paying the apple tax/premium of the cellular version because they didn't see fit to give us a gps only version in SS. I won't be activating the cellular. I always have my phone with me so no need to spend even more money!

 

[steelo3232]

I love mine for the weekends when I'm outside you know.... doing things... Its nice to be able to leave the phone at home wear mesh shorts or sweats and not have to worry about a 1,200 phone meeting its demise falling to the ground. It's also awesome to be able to go for walks, runs, side by side rides etc. and not lug a phone around and still take a call or get a text that I may need to respond to (kids at home) etc... frankly, I would never have an apple watch anymore that didn't have cellular... the real villains are the carriers who used the apple watch cellular version as an excuse and way to milk us out of 10.00 additional dollars a month.

 

[Dormammu]

Even without activating service, you still have access to 911. That's a comfort at least.

Is this confirmed? I've been wondering this for some time.
If the watch is connected to the phone by WiFi or BT your watch can SOS via your phone.

With a GPS+CELLULAR apple watch ... what happens if you don't have a cellular plan, and your phone isn't connected by WiFi or BT? If I went for a walk at night, and fell, and my watch detected it ... would I be able to SOS with my watch alone with no cell activated?

 

[Deguello]

Can someone please tell me why they are purchasing and activating a cellular Apple Watch? Serious responses please. Thank you.

I want to be able to do cardio and lift weights without having to carry my phone with me, but still be able to be in contact if necessary.

 

[sniffies]

Does the Walkie-Talkie feature work on non-cellular Apple Watches?

 

[WLS]

Its a pricing game for sure but if you want access to the stainless steel case and sapphire face then they got you. If it helps any you do not have to have an active carrier but you can still use it for 911 calls in case you run into trouble and your phone is taken away or if you've fallen and can't reach your phone.
[doublepost=1536962697][/doublepost]

Is this confirmed? I've been wondering this for some time.
If the watch is connected to the phone by WiFi or BT your watch can SOS via your phone.

With a GPS+CELLULAR apple watch ... what happens if you don't have a cellular plan, and your phone isn't connected by WiFi or BT? If I went for a walk at night, and fell, and my watch detected it ... would I be able to SOS with my watch alone with no cell activated?

as long as you call 911 yes.

 

[Dormammu]

[doublepost=1536962697][/doublepost]
as long as you call 911 yes.

Super, thank you! Very good to know.

 

[Dmal99]

I have heart issues and suffer from afib. The heart features sold me on the upgrade from my cellular s3, which i got because I leave my phone at home somtimes by accident.

Now that I can take ECG readings and it can detecit afib, I can lessen my frivolous trips to the ER. I can now tell when I am in afib, which doesn’t require an ED trip, and I can also tell if what im feeling are just heart PVCs, which are not dangerous and everyone gets them, but has fooled me 3 times to going to the ED and wasting hours of my life.

 

[urbancity]

An off topic question:

For those with an LTE Apple Watch and activated cell service, do you get WhatsApp notifications when away from your phone?

 

[betabeta]

I'm so used to getting $crewed by Apple, I would feel let down if I wasn't I stopped upgrading at 6s Plus, don't need anything better, love it. So I "think" I saved a TON of money over the last 3 years, but they still found a way to separate my money form my wallet, so good for them.

We have years of screwing ahead of us on the Apple Watch, they most likely already have a thinner version in the lab that has cameras, earpods that take BP, but they have a road map.... I'm looking forwarding to getting screwed by again and again.

I would rather pay a little more to a company like Apple then buy a cheap deal on a product that's ugly and uninspired, and you don't feel good about using. Like hey I got this great deal on my new Fiesta ST sports car, and your buddy says yeah I got totally screwed buying this Tesla Roadster, for some reason I think he is fine with that. It's all relative.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Anyone on T-Mobile with the Apple Watch cellular?

I noticed they limited the speed to 512kbps and wanted to see if this causes issues for anyone... particuarly for streaming music

No. It doesn’t. But you aren’t limited to the 512kbps. I believe that was eliminated or you could upgrade to 4G speeds last year because of the uproar it caused.