A couple of years in the past, I purchased a Galaxy Watch 5 and received it primarily totally free from T-Cell, with the kicker being that I needed to get it on a two-year contract. Meaning I used to be caught with an LTE-enabled smartwatch, solely as a result of I did not wanna lay down $279 on the spot for a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi mannequin. Now, nonetheless a few years later it has been since then, and with the contract up, I’ve lastly canceled that line, primarily reverting my smartwatch to a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi mannequin.
It is solely been a couple of days since I made the change, nevertheless it would not really feel any totally different, besides that now, I am saving cash whereas nonetheless having the ability to make the most of most of my smartwatch’s options. Frankly, it made me understand that I do not want a smartwatch with information, and I really feel like most individuals most likely do not, both.
T-Cell tried and did not get me to maintain the road
After I known as to cancel the road, the T-Cell consultant understandably tried her darndest to persuade me to maintain it. She advised me that I’d use my watch with no need my smartphone close by, nonetheless in a position to make calls and texts, stream music whereas on a run, or navigate with Google Maps.
That sounds all good and dandy, however the factor is, I all the time have my telephone with me. So just about all of those options are nonetheless usable with out LTE, making it a non-issue. I could make calls or ship texts from the watch, play offline music I’ve already downloaded from YouTube Music and Spotify (or transferred from my telephone), and even use offline maps in Google Maps, if, for some purpose, I haven’t got my telephone. And I solely must do these items on my watch if I do not wanna pull my telephone out of my pocket, which is the place it nearly all the time is.
Granted, I did really attempt to make the most of the LTE connectivity once I first received the Galaxy Watch, occurring runs in my neighborhood whereas leaving my telephone at dwelling. However, to be sincere, I hate working outdoors, and I nonetheless felt uncomfortable not having my telephone with me for even half-hour (which most likely says quite a bit about me). And to be sincere, occurring runs with out my telephone was actually the one use case I have been in a position to give you for preserving the smartwatch information line.
I additionally largely use my smartwatches to trace my exercises. Along with the Pixel Watch 3 LTE, I additionally use Garmin watches just like the Venu 4, which do not include LTE connectivity and are greater than adequate to do what I would like them to.
I advised the T-Cell consultant as a lot, and she or he nonetheless tried to persuade me to maintain the road, however finally, I couldn’t consider a single purpose to maintain spending cash on it.
LTE has its makes use of on a smartwatches, when you’re prepared to pay for it
I am not saying LTE on a smartwatch is not helpful; I am simply saying it is not helpful sufficient for what I would like it for. For instance, the Pixel Watch 4 has satellite tv for pc SOS, which is simply accessible on the LTE mannequin. This allows you to ship emergency messages if you’re in an space the place you do not have entry to a cellular community.
Emergency satellite tv for pc messaging could also be accessible on Pixel telephones, nevertheless it’s not ubiquitous throughout Android telephones and even carriers. This is able to make an LTE Pixel Watch a probably lifesaving machine if you end up in a sticky spot.
Nonetheless, a smartwatch line on main U.S. carriers normally prices round $10 a month, that means I used to be paying round $120 a 12 months for a number of years for a function that I do not use. It isn’t as a lot as a typical smartphone line, which makes the fee manageable for many individuals, however I simply cannot justify the worth anymore.
Even so, my Pixel Watch 3 works simply in addition to it did earlier than I eliminated the LTE connection, and I do not miss it in any respect.
That mentioned, not everybody feels the identical method. Do you discover LTE on a smartwatch helpful, or do you like to only use Bluetooth/Wi-Fi? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
