Do You Need LTE Support on Your Smartwatch? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Smart Watches & Wearables 160 160 people found this article helpful
Do You Need LTE Support on Your Smartwatch?
An in-depth look at the specifics of LTE support
By Sarah Silbert Sarah Silbert Writer Bard College Sarah Lawrence College Sarah Lawrence is a consumer technology writer whose work has appeared in Fortune and MIT Technology Review. She's also a previous senior editor at Engadget. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 20, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart Watches & Wearables Eco Tech Electric Vehicles Working From Home Headphones & Ear Buds Smart Home Smart Watches & Wearables Travel Tech Connected Car Tech iPods & MP3 Players Cellular connectivity is a sought-after smartwatch capability. An embedded LTE radio helps smartwatches stay connected in more places, even if Bluetooth and Wi-Fi aren't working well or if a connected smartphone isn't within range. The two major players in LTE-connected smartwatch platforms are Apple, with the Apple Watch running watchOS, and a broader vendor ecosystem reliant on the Google Wear. LTE Smartwatch Technology
Smartwatches that include an LTE radio connect to cellular networks automatically. These devices use apps and receive and send messages, even if your phone is far away. In addition to requiring an LTE radio, a smartwatch must connect to the same carrier as the phone. Because the radio, antenna, and battery are smaller in a smartwatch than in a smartphone, you may find that a wrist device doesn't perform as well in marginal cellular connections. Elias Villagran / Flickr Carriers generally provision LTE-capable smartwatches with a separate data plan and a dedicated phone number, which subordinates to the primary phone number for your account. When someone calls your smartphone, your smartwatch may also ring, and you can place or accept voice calls through its onboard microphone and speakers. Depending on the vendor, you can pair an LTE-enabled smartwatch with wireless earphones. Pairing an Apple Watch with Apple AirPods, for example, lets you play music and conduct phone conversations using the AirPods rather than the Watch's microphone and speakers. Carriers also usually charge extra for the voice-and-data component of an LTE-enabled smartwatch, so expect your monthly bill to increase. Are LTE Smartwatches Worth It
Smartwatches come in two variants: devices that include an LTE radio, and devices that rely solely on a Bluetooth tether to a connected smartphone. The main benefit of the more expensive LTE variant is portability. If you plan to be in places or situations where you need to be connected for messaging or music but can't keep your smartphone handy–for example, while hiking or jogging–an LTE-enabled smartwatch makes sense. If you rarely have your smartphone out of your line of sight, the extra features of the LTE-enabled smartwatch likely won't be worth the extra cost for the device and the monthly carrier fees. LTE Smartwatch Options
You can choose a smartwatch from two major ecosystems—the Apple watchOS and Google Wear. Devices With watchOS
At present, watchOS is only available on the Apple Watch series of devices released by Apple, Inc. It's hard-linked with the iOS smartphone operating system and the iPadOS tablet operating system. Because of its deep vertical integration, the Apple Watch series of devices pairs perfectly with other Apple hardware, and the platform has nearly 38% of the smartwatch market in North America. Apple, Inc. Apple releases both LTE and non-LTE versions of the Apple Watch, with a $100 price difference. Devices With Wear
The Google-developed Wear is a multi-platform smartwatch operating environment optimized for voice commands and swiping. Wear devices ship in several models by a variety of manufacturers, and they work with both Android and iOS phones and tablets. Hinterhaus Productions / DigitalVision / Getty Images Other Smartwatches
A land-grab for wrists erupted across many manufacturers. Although many vendors have developed proprietary operating environments and unique devices over the years—think of Fitbit or Pebble or Samsung's home-grown option–a growing push has come to incorporate LTE capability to free athletes, in particular, from having to carry a smartphone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Wearables Like Google’s Pixel Watch Should Embrace Fashion and Style What Is a Smartwatch and What Do They Do? What Is Crash Detection on iPhone and Apple Watch? Is an Apple Watch Worth It? Apple Watch: Everything You Need to Know The Complete Guide to the Wear Operating System Google Pixel Watch: Release Date, Price, Specs, and News Wear OS vs. watchOS: Which Is the Better Software? Can You Change Your Smartwatch Strap? Expert Tested: The 9 Best Smartwatches in 2022 The 6 Best Cheap Smartwatches, Tested by Lifewire The 7 Best Samsung Smartwatches of 2022 The Meta Watch Is Dead: Here's What It Would've Been Apple Watch GPS vs. Cellular Apple Watch The 9 Best Smartwatches for Women of 2022 Skagen Falster 3 Review: A Tech-Savvy Smartwatch with Classic Style Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies