I’ve been deciding which Apple Watch to get. That's been a fun exploration. Fitness functions, podcasts, weather, etc. would be good to have. Would particularly like the emergency calling function.
That’s why I'm focusing on a cellular Watch and exploring cell phone options.
An EKG function would be good, too. A Watch with that would be the 7, which is pricey.
Suddenly, though, I realized that the BIGGEST cost would be for the cell phone service!
Here's the rub. Our phones are now on low-cost prepaid plans, $8/month. (One essentially costs $0 as we can text message donations of accumulated funds to our favorite charities.) My iPhone is attached to a non-Watch carrier. We make very few cell phone calls — and even fewer during the pandemic.
If I understand things correctly, I’d need to have a regular cell phone plan (postpaid) with the iPhone and, then, might have to add a dedicated Watch plan, too.
I've been staggered by how quickly all this adds up. The cheapest cell phone plans I've found are something like $30/month for TWO phone lines — that is, $60 per month! I rummaged AT&T's site for a while and finally found a $65 per month (!) starter plan for a SINGLE line! Verizon's is $70 per month. And, that's not including monthly fees, taxes, etc.
Then, the Watch cell plan added would be another $10 plus line fees and taxes, which could run another $5-7. People often write about $10/month extra for the Watch, but it's more like $15-17. So, I’m up to $80+ a month just to get the Watch's cellular functions working.
Even if I don't set up a Watch plan — supposedly emergency calling should still work — we're still talking a HUGE monthly cost — not just the $65, but fees and taxes to boot. So, say $70+ per month. $840 per year. Or, about $2,500+ over three years! Add in $620 for a Watch 7 plus Apple Care and we're looking at over three grand!!
Besides which, Apple has a big disclaimer about emergency calling from the Watch without prior activation and configuration.
It seems like the Watch is a great proposition if you already have a family cell phone plan but, otherwise, it's an outrageously expensive proposition.
I'm hoping you all can correct my misunderstandings or point me to a cheaper approach to all this! I'd really like to get a Watch, but this cell phone plan biz is now the big obstacle!
That’s why I'm focusing on a cellular Watch and exploring cell phone options.
An EKG function would be good, too. A Watch with that would be the 7, which is pricey.
Suddenly, though, I realized that the BIGGEST cost would be for the cell phone service!
Here's the rub. Our phones are now on low-cost prepaid plans, $8/month. (One essentially costs $0 as we can text message donations of accumulated funds to our favorite charities.) My iPhone is attached to a non-Watch carrier. We make very few cell phone calls — and even fewer during the pandemic.
If I understand things correctly, I’d need to have a regular cell phone plan (postpaid) with the iPhone and, then, might have to add a dedicated Watch plan, too.
I've been staggered by how quickly all this adds up. The cheapest cell phone plans I've found are something like $30/month for TWO phone lines — that is, $60 per month! I rummaged AT&T's site for a while and finally found a $65 per month (!) starter plan for a SINGLE line! Verizon's is $70 per month. And, that's not including monthly fees, taxes, etc.
Then, the Watch cell plan added would be another $10 plus line fees and taxes, which could run another $5-7. People often write about $10/month extra for the Watch, but it's more like $15-17. So, I’m up to $80+ a month just to get the Watch's cellular functions working.
Even if I don't set up a Watch plan — supposedly emergency calling should still work — we're still talking a HUGE monthly cost — not just the $65, but fees and taxes to boot. So, say $70+ per month. $840 per year. Or, about $2,500+ over three years! Add in $620 for a Watch 7 plus Apple Care and we're looking at over three grand!!
Besides which, Apple has a big disclaimer about emergency calling from the Watch without prior activation and configuration.
“Some cellular networks may not accept an emergency call from your Apple Watch Series 5, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, or Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) if your Apple Watch isn’t activated, if it isn’t compatible with or configured to operate on a particular cellular network, or if isn’t set up for cellular service.” https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/make-an-emergency-phone-call-apd4ea933124/watchos
It seems like the Watch is a great proposition if you already have a family cell phone plan but, otherwise, it's an outrageously expensive proposition.
I'm hoping you all can correct my misunderstandings or point me to a cheaper approach to all this! I'd really like to get a Watch, but this cell phone plan biz is now the big obstacle!
Last edited:
