The extra money for cell phone won’t be worth it for some.
Choosing the best Apple Watch isn’t just about choosing colors and bands. You also need to consider whether you need an Apple Watch GPS or a GPS + Cellular. Whichever one you choose, you’ll have the same key features as the Apple Watch. Both can monitor your health and track your workouts. But choosing an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular gives you a few extra benefits. For example, maybe you’d like to do more without having to worry about carrying your iPhone around with you. If this is on your mind, chances are an Apple Watch with cellular capabilities is the right choice for you.
Choosing between an Apple Watch GPS and GPS + Cellular
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The Apple Watch builds on the iPhone by design, and there’s no real way to use it without one. But the Series 3 introduced cellular connectivity to the Apple Watch. This was the missing piece to make it more independent from the iPhone. Apple Watch automatically connects to your phone’s SIM card. No complex setup is required.
A cellular Apple Watch gives you just about everything, from the GPS version. The difference is that you can do all the Apple Watch things without having to carry around your iPhone. Send and receive messages, answer calls, check notifications, stream music. All of this can be done directly from your Apple Watch over 4G or 5G (if you have a Series 11 or later). Having an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular gives you the freedom to leave the house more often without your phone.
Parents can even set up an Apple Watch for a child using a cellular model. By doing so, your kids can use all the great features of the Apple Watch without you having to give them an iPhone. It’s a nifty solution to help your kids stay in touch without exposing them to the distractions of TikTok.
Some points to keep in mind
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Choosing an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular also comes with some trade-offs, the most obvious being price. In short, you’ll pay more for an Apple Watch with cellular connectivity. Upgrading to a cellular model costs an additional $100 for base Apple Watch models. The premium titanium models and the Ultra feature a built-in cellular system. Your carrier may also charge you fees.
Then there’s the battery issue. Using cellular connectivity on Apple Watch drains the battery much faster. It’s really intended for situations where you’ll be away from your iPhone for a short period of time. Don’t think you can go all day without your iPhone: the battery probably won’t last that long. Still, if you’re interested, an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular is definitely worth the extra money.
