Do you need LTE support on your smartwatch?

As smartwatches become more capable and we use them for more activities, it becomes a lot more useful to be able to ignore the companion phone.

As smartwatches become more capable and we use them for more activities, it becomes a lot more useful to be able to ignore the companion phone. That's possible thanks to some smartwatches with LTE built in.

The two main players in the LTE-connected smartwatch platform are Apple, with the Apple Watch running watchOS and a broader ecosystem of vendors dependent on Wear OS (formerly Android Wear).

LTE Smartwatch technology

When within range of a paired smartphone, the smartwatch can receive calls that are routed from the phone. But an LTE-equipped smartwatch doesn't need a smartphone to function as a phone. Along with calls, the smartwatch can process text messages and other data from the Internet (weather, stocks, sports scores, etc.).

Of course, the size of the smartwatch has some downsides like not having a large battery, so calls use more battery on the watch than on the smartphone.

Do you need LTE support on your smartwatch? Picture 1 Do you need LTE support on your smartwatch? Picture 1

Carriers often provide LTE-capable smartwatches with a separate data plan and a dedicated phone number, which depends on the primary phone number for your account. When someone calls your smartphone, your smartwatch will also ring and you can make or accept voice calls through the built-in microphone and speaker.

Depending on the carrier, you can pair an LTE-enabled smartwatch with a wireless headset. Pairing your Apple Watch with Apple AirPods, for example, allows you to play music and conduct phone conversations using your AirPods instead of the smartwatch's microphone and speaker.

Is the LTE smartwatch worth buying?

For whatever reason, if smartphone portability is an issue then you'll most likely find having LTE on your smartwatch worth it.

If you rarely forget your smartphone, the extra features of an LTE-enabled smartwatch probably won't be worth the additional cost of the device and monthly carrier fees.

Not only do you have to pay more for the technology included in the watch, but you also have to pay more for your current mobile carrier. Usually, the fee is one-half to one-third of the price you pay for your mobile phone, but it can add up.