Just a few years in the past, I purchased a Galaxy Watch 5 and obtained it primarily free of charge from T-Cellular, with the kicker being that I needed to get it on a two-year contract. Which means 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, nevertheless 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 just a few days since I made the change, nevertheless it does not really feel any completely different, besides that now, I am saving cash whereas nonetheless having the ability to reap the benefits of most of my smartwatch’s options. Frankly, it made me notice that I do not want a smartwatch with knowledge, and I really feel like most individuals most likely do not, both.
T-Cellular tried and didn’t get me to maintain the road
After I known as to cancel the road, the T-Cellular consultant understandably tried her darndest to persuade me to maintain it. She instructed me that I might 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 cellphone 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 cellphone), and even use offline maps in Google Maps, if, for some cause, I haven’t got my cellphone. And I solely have to do these items on my watch if I do not wanna pull my cellphone out of my pocket, which is the place it virtually all the time is.
Granted, I did really attempt to reap the benefits of the LTE connectivity once I first obtained the Galaxy Watch, happening runs in my neighborhood whereas leaving my cellphone at house. However, to be sincere, I hate operating exterior, and I nonetheless felt uncomfortable not having my cellphone with me for even half-hour (which most likely says so much about me). And to be sincere, happening runs with out my cellphone was actually the one use case I have been in a position to provide you with for preserving the smartwatch knowledge line.
I additionally principally 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 want them to.
I instructed the T-Cellular consultant as a lot, and he or she nonetheless tried to persuade me to maintain the road, however in the end, I couldn’t consider a single cause 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 isn’t helpful sufficient for what I want it for. For instance, the Pixel Watch 4 has satellite tv for pc SOS, which is just obtainable 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 obtainable on Pixel telephones, nevertheless it’s not ubiquitous throughout Android telephones and even carriers. This is able to make an LTE Pixel Watch a doubtlessly lifesaving system if you end up in a sticky spot.
Nevertheless, a smartwatch line on main U.S. carriers normally prices round $10 a month, which 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 price manageable for many individuals, however I simply can’t justify the value 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 simply use Bluetooth/Wi-Fi? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
