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Cellwatches
In September 2017 Apple announced Apple Watch Series 3, available in two models; cellular Apple Watches being marketed as GPS+Cellular, while Watches lacking cellular capabilities are marketed as simply GPS. [1] Until August 2020, all Apple Watches required, during initial setup, that the owner have an iPhone in order to complete the setup of the Watch.[2]
Starting September 2020, Apple introduced an exception that allows cellular models (GPS+cellular models) to be purchased and used by someone who doesn't own an iPhone. The Watch owner must be part of a Family Group, and their family member must own an iPhone. Wi-Fi watches (GPS models) are not eligible to be set up for a family member.
If the watch is to be used for offline-only/wifi only purposes, then the family iPhone does not need to have an active carrier plan.
In most countries, setting up a cellular plan on watch requires that the Watch carrier be the same as the family iPhone carrier. The only countries where Apple does not force watches to be 'carrier paired' are: US, UK, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland—in these countries the watch can have not only its own phone number but also its own independent cellular plan directly with Truphone (available in six countries), Telekom (in Germany), or, in Switzerland, Sunrise or Swisscom.
Contents
Stand alone cellwatches
The following models are capable of "family setup" since September 2020, provided the model is GPS+cellular (GPS-only models are not permitted to use family setup):
| year | initial price (USD) |
Display | ECG | int'l emer- gency calling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | S4 | 40mm: $499 44mm: $529 |
yes | no | |
| 2019 | S5 | 40mm: $499 44mm: $529 |
Always On |
yes | yes |
| 2020 | S6 | 40mm: $499 44mm: $529 |
Always On |
yes | yes |
| SE | 40mm: $329 44mm: $359 |
no | yes | ||
| 2021 | S7 | 41mm: $499 45mm: $529 |
Always On |
yes | yes |
| 2022 | S8 | 41mm: $499 45mm: $529 |
Always On |
yes | yes |
| U | 49mm: $799 | Always On |
yes | yes |
Cellular plans for standalone cellwatches
Truphone
https://go.truphone.com/select-plan
Truphone was selected by Apple as the first multi-country carrier to offer cellular plans for standalone Apple Watches. Truphone offers this service in the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Poland
- Spain
- Australia (family iPhone must also be on Truphone)
Local Carriers
apple.com/watch/cellular/#table-family-setup
bold indicates that the carrier allows the watch on their network even if the associated iPhone is not on that carrier
Americas:
- Canada: Bell, Telus
- United States: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular, C Spire
Europe
- United Kingdom: EE
- Norway: Telia
- Germany: Telekom
- Switzerland: Sunrise, Swisscom
- Spain: Movistar
Asia and Middle East
- Bahrain: Batelco
- Japan: au
- Thailand: AIS, dtac, TrueMove
- Singapore: Starhub
- Taiwan: Chungwa, Taiwan Mobile, FarEasTone
- Hong Kong: 1O1O, csl, SmarTone
- China: China Unicom, China Telecom(in 7 cities)
References
- ^ archived version of apple.com/watch/compare from October 2017
- ^ "Apple has restricted their smartwatch users to using the same mobile service they have in their iPhones... The Family Setup service also prevents users from using a standard eSIM QR code" https://www.esim.net/helpdesk/samsung-beat-apple-in-the-race-to-introduce-standard-esim-services-on-smartwatches/
