Smartwatches with LTE network support

Smartwatches with LTE support or cellular support allow you to make or receive calls directly from the smartwatch. You do not need the paired smartphone for making or answering phone calls. This feature may look primitive or a basic requirement for the smartwatches in 2022. Surprisingly, not many smartwatches have this feature as of now. Cellular support requires an eSIM por embedded SIM functionality to connect to the cellular network or the LTE network for handling incoming or making outgoing calls.

Unfortunately, not may smartwatches support the LTE or cellular network models. Below are a few smartwatches that are compatible with the LTE networks or the cellular networks.

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Apple Watch 7

Apple Watch 7 has a cellular model that will work on the LTE or cellular networks. To make the cellular connection work, you will need to do the following in the United States:

In the United States, Apple Watch 7 model number A2475 for 41 mm watch and model number A2477 for the 45 mm watch are supported for LTE or cellular connections. Apple Watch 7 has different models numbers for cellular connections across different countries. These watch models are optimized for cellular connectivity in the United States.

Apple Watch 7 supports LTE and UMTS bands. You will need to check with your carrier network about the availability of LTE network or the UMTS bands for a cellular connection. As of now, Apple Watch 7 can work with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Bluegrass, Carolina West, Cellcom, Spectrum, Xfinity and C Spire.

Your smartwatch will need a separate cellular plan that will be billed for the cellular connection through the Apple watch 7.

And, it will need to connect to the same service provider network that is used by your iPhone. Your watch will try to use the most optimized connection. It can connect over WIFI, or a cellular connection to perform its basic tasks.

The GPS+Cellular model of Apple Watch 7 in the United States starts at a cost of $499. The costs will vary depending on the screen size and the type of band on the watch.

One of the biggest advantages of cellular connection on the Apple Watch is the ability of the watch to call emergency services in the event of fall detection.

Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular

Apple Watch SE has a cellular model that starts at $329. It can work with LTE and cellular networks. You will need to buy US specific model of Apple Watch SE for the US cellular networks.

Apple Watch SE models 2353 and 2354 will work in the United States. Apple Watch SE 2353 is the 40 mm model and 2354 is the 44 mm Apple Watch SE model for the US.

You will need a valid cellular plan from your service provider to make the LTE or cellular connections to work on the smartwatch. The service provider needs to be same across your iPhone and the Apple Watch SE.

As of now, the supported network providers in the United States include AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Bluegrass, Carolina West, Cellcom, Spectrum, Xfinity and C Spire.

Like the Apple Watch 7, Apple Watch SE can make emergency calls in the event of a fall detection. This could be considered one of the most useful features of the Apple Watch SE’s cellular connectivity.

Garmin Forerunner 945

Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 7 provide cellular connectivity right off the watch. However, both watch models do not work with the Android mobile operating system. Garmin Forerunner 945 fills in the gaps. It can work with Android and iOS mobile operating systems. So, it works seamlessly with the Android phones and iPhones. Forerunner 945 is the only Garmin watch that has LTE connectivity and allows you to connect to service provider network with a valid plan. Forerunner 945 LTE costs a little over $650, and is one of the highest rated sports and fitness watches.

Garmin Forerunner LTE is provided as a service subscription by the company. You pay a monthly subscription price to Garmin and Garmin works with the network carriers in the background. The network carriers may change from one country to other. The quality of services offered will also vary depending upon the network carriers in service for the region.

It may be a good idea to check Garmin’s network service coverage for your specific areas before taking a Garmin Forerunner 945.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 LTE

The Samsung Watch 4 LTE model comes with support for Android mobile operating system. It has the ability to connect to the cellular networks. Galaxy watch 4 has multiple models that support the LTE or cellular connections. The following models of Samsung Watch 4 support LTE:

Samsung Watch 4 LTE 40 mm
Samsung Watch 4 LTE 42 mm
Samsung Watch 4 LTE 46 mm

Samsung Watch 4 uses an embedded SIM to connect to the LTE networks. To activate the carrier services and LTE connection, you will need the paired smartphone. In the United States, you can connect to the Verizon or AT&T networks using the QR codes for these networks. For the exact network coverage and carrier compatibility with the Samsung Watch 4, please do check with your Samsung sales partner.

LTE connectivity on the Samsung Watch 4 will allow you to make or answer calls through the smartwatch.

TicWatch 4 Pro 4G/LTE

TicWatch 4 Pro 4G/LTE model offers cellular connectivity through carrier network services in the US, UK and Germany. The watch comes with a preloaded SIM. The watch is based on the Google’s wear OS operating system. It supports LTE connectivity through VoLTE and 4G LTE networks. To make calls through the TicWatch 4 Pro 4G/LTE smartwatch, you will need a compatible phone to be paired with the watch. You will also need a plan from the carrier networks to make the LTE connectivity work through the smartwatch.

Mobvoi’s TicWatch 4 Pro 4G/LTE smartwatch costs a little under $300. The watch also boasts of one of the fastest processors in the town, the Qualcomm Snapdrag 4100 series.

Summary

In terms of cellular connectivity on the smartwatches, the budget range of smartwatches offering cellular connectivity include the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Apple Watch SE and the Mobvoi’s TicWatch 4 Pro 4G/LTE.

If you are looking for premium smartwatch options with LTE connectivity, you may choose an Apple Watch 7 or the Garmin Forerunner 945.

You may also like to read the following content related to smartwatches from Apple and Garmin:

Rajesh Dhawan

Rajesh Dhawan is a technology professional who loves to blog about smart wearables, Cloud computing and Microsoft technologies. He loves to break complex problems into manageable chunks of meaningful information.