Smartwatches really feel even smarter after they’re not tethered to your telephone by Bluetooth. Watches with LTE can join on to the mobile community so you may make telephone calls, obtain notifications, and even stream music with out your telephone close by — both since you need to depart it at dwelling for exercises or in case it dies on the flawed time.Â
A mobile smartwatch can even enable you scale back display time with out giving up your essential notifications. With a few of the finest Bluetooth headphones, you’ll be able to even hold streaming your music when you’re out.
LTE variations of smartwatches was extra widespread, however lots of our favourite manufacturers, like Fossil, have deserted mobile service for his or her newest technology. Finding one of the best LTE smartwatches — beginning with the Google Pixel Watch 3 — comes right down to an unique, high-quality record.
Michael Hicks
Michael Hicks is Android Central’s resident smartwatch geek, having reviewed or examined dozens of wearables from Samsung, Google, Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, Coros, Polar, Withings, Amazfit, and others. He spends his free time operating or mountain climbing whereas carrying a number of watches directly, testing which is most correct.
At a look
1. Google Pixel Watch 3 LTE
Best general
You will not discover a better-looking smartwatch in existence. The beautiful Google Pixel Watch 3 has a shocking design and intuitive UI. We simply want the battery was higher.
Read extra beneath.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 LTE
Best runner up
There is nothing higher than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 LTE for Android customers. This feature-rich smartwatch has all of it, struggling solely within the battery division.
Read extra beneath.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic LTE
Best worth
Missing that spectacular rotating bezel? Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic LTE for all of your mobile smartwatch wants.
Read extra beneath.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Best extremely sturdy
Not solely is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra extremely sturdy with a water resistant ranking twice pretty much as good as others and a titanium chassis, it additionally comes with LTE connectivity baked into the bottom choice (activated with a subscription).
Read extra beneath.
Best general for iOS
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is eye-wateringly costly, however you get each spec below the solar for the exorbitant value. If you have acquired the money and are absolutely dedicated to the ecosystem, why not?
Read extra beneath.
6. Apple Watch SE (2022) Location Services + Cellular
Best inexpensive for iOS
Rocking an iPhone and want a suitable LTE wearable on a budget? The phrases Apple and cost-effective do not normally go collectively, however the Apple Watch SE (2022) is a uncommon incidence that is price your whereas.
Read extra beneath.
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7. Apple Watch Series 10 Location Services + Cellular
Best runner-up for iOS
It’s not the last word look ahead to iOS telephones, however the Apple Watch Series 10 is unquestionably the second finest. It has all the flamboyant options and sensors your coronary heart wishes.
Read extra beneath.
8. Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
Best health
A fitness-focused particular person on the lookout for LTE help will likely be more than happy with the Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE. Equipped with superior well being trackers, sensors, and metrics, this can be a fitness-oriented individual’s dream.
Read extra beneath.
Best for teenagers
Garmin Bounce affords an inexpensive option to hold your baby secure, even when they do not have a smartphone. Strap this youngsters’s LTE wearable in your child’s wrist and keep related with all of them day.
Read extra beneath.
Best general
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is considered one of our favourite Android smartwatches out there as we speak, and it additionally enables you to add mobile connectivity for simply $100, with a deal proper now that features two years of knowledge totally free. You could make and obtain calls, examine notifications, and stream music over your community of selection. You can see Google’s record of supported carriers by nation at that hyperlink, with some distinctive choices like Google Fi that particular customers will favor.
Again, our Pixel Watch 3 evaluate does the system extra justice than we will on this restricted house. The Pixel Watch 3 is trendy, has loads of RAM for quick efficiency, and packs numerous storage for streaming music playlists. But the Galaxy Watch 6 will last more than the Pixel Watch 3.
It is not an enormous step up from the Pixel Watch 2, however you get higher Bluetooth through 5.3, Wi-Fi 5GHz for quicker downloads, quicker charging, and a nicer, thicker show with extra viewable data on display. There are additionally two sizes from which to decide on, so these with thicker wrists will love having one thing larger to accommodate.
New software program makes it extra helpful, particularly when utilizing LTE connectivity, like Morning Brief, Nest Camera controls, Pixel Recorder, and extra. You can use the Google Home tile now, for instance, to regulate sensible lights with out having to tug out your telephone.Â
You get a quick Wear OS watch with Google apps like Messages, Assistant, and Maps — although the latter does presently require your telephone, even for those who purchase the LTE choice — plus the promise of years of software program help, so you already know it is definitely worth the funding.
Best runner up
The Galaxy Watch 7 is available in Wi-Fi and Fourth Generation/LTE variants. For round $50 additional {dollars}, you will get the watch on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or USCellular networks within the U.S., in addition to most traditional carriers in different international locations. Since Samsung made the Galaxy Watch 7 extra inexpensive than most watches, this mobile model is very cost-efficient with out reneging on high quality in comparison with the competitors beneath.
You can learn this Galaxy Watch 7 evaluate to get an in-depth have a look at how the watch performs and what options to count on. To summarize briefly, it has the most recent software program and app help with Wear OS 5 so you’ll be able to entry a wide range of music and messaging apps with out your telephone on you, together with a QWERTY keyboard that’ll allow you to keep in contact with family and friends.
You additionally get entry to Google Assistant, so you will get questions answered rapidly or say “Call 911” throughout an emergency if typing is just too gradual.
You get the most recent Exynos W1000 processor with 2GB of RAM for a few of the quickest efficiency you may see on a smartwatch. Though our reviewer did not see any large distinction. Unfortunately, the battery life remains to be solely about 40 hours although our reviewer stated he may get about two days from it on days when he did not do a exercise. On days when he spent lots of time outdoor and did a exercise, that dropped to about 33-36 hours.Â
Nonetheless, the {hardware} upgrades on this watch make it a worthwhile successor to the previous-gen Galaxy Watch 6. Notably, the brand new coronary heart charge sensor does a greater job at monitoring coronary heart charge, ECG, and now AGEs, too. There are additionally new double pinch gestures that work like magic, after they do work.Â
Best worth
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic LTE has all the identical internals because the common Galaxy Watch 6. So, you get the identical 10W wi-fi quick charging, the most recent Wear OS, the latest Exynos silicone, and the identical set of well being and monitoring sensors. Samsung opted for equivalent reminiscence choices, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB onboard storage for each smartwatches. You may even use many of the identical Galaxy Watch 6 watch bands on the Classic variant of the Android smartwatch.
What many customers complained rather a lot concerning the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro was the shortage of a rotating bezel on the non-basic mannequin. Back by widespread demand, the Watch 6 Classic sports activities the beloved function. You pays just a bit extra money to seize this variant with LTE, out there in each the 43mm and 47mm dimension choices.
On high of that, the Watch 6 Classic retains the robustness of the common mannequin. The beautiful, crisp AMOLED show is secured by the Sapphire Crystal glass on high. You get
5ATM, IP68, and MIL-STD-810H rankings for water and dirt proofing.
Best extremely sturdy
Samsung has lastly made an ultra-durable smartwatch for the facility consumer, the outside adventurer. These are the categories of people that would most make use of LTE connectivity, so it is smart that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra comes with built-in LTE help. Of course, you may nonetheless want a plan. But for those who resolve to enroll later, you do not have to fret that you just purchased the flawed variant with out the choice.
Battery life may have been higher, solely lasting about 40-45 hours at finest, perhaps one other 10-20 hours for those who flip off the always-on show. But this watch can deal with nearly any state of affairs due to not solely the titanium chassis but additionally the 10ATM and IP68 water- and dust-resistant rankings. It can even deal with getting used at excessive altitudes.
Equipped with Wear OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch, it has 2GB RAM and the Exynos W1000 processor that our reviewer says ends in a noticeable enhance in efficiency and snappiness. It’s additionally bigger and chunkier than you may like, so these with smaller wrists may need to take a look at the Galaxy Watch 7 as an alternative.
It’s an costly smartwatch, however take a look at our evaluate for the reason why you may want it and who would get probably the most out of it.
Best general for iOS
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with LTE help built-in, simply considered one of many luxurious perks that correspond with its absurdly excessive value. Another perk is the bigger battery, serving to the watch hit 36 hours with common use with eight hours of LTE taken into consideration or 18 hours with steady LTE lively. It’ll even final an additional hour (2.5 whole) for a mobile name, supplying you with some very important wiggle room, or 10 hours with Location Services + LTE.
Our colleagues at iMore cherished the last-gen Ultra, recommending it over the Series 8 and SE 2022 as “one of the best Apple Watch for most individuals.” Our wearables editor, Andrew Myrick, who purchased each the Ultra and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro together with his personal cash, really useful the Ultra over the Pro for those who can abdomen the value. With the Watch Ultra 2, now we have the very same sentiments. It’s a improbable system with military-grade safety, a superbly brilliant 1.92-inch show, and a surprisingly light-weight design, given its dimension.
That stated, the Watch Ultra 2 will value you $300 or $500 greater than the Apple Watch Series 9 Fourth Generation or SE 2, respectively. So we do not blame anybody in any respect for balking on the value.
Best inexpensive iOS
You may count on the Series 9 to be the “finest” choice for iPhone house owners, and it is positively a greater watch than the Apple Watch SE 2 in virtually each single regard. But it additionally prices $300 extra and costs twice as a lot for its mobile improve. The SE 2022 prices simply $50 additional for mobile, making its value even higher than the last-gen Galaxy Watch 5 Fourth Generation/LTE. If you’ll be able to abdomen the downgrades in show high quality and sensors, the SE 2 will swimsuit extra folks’s budgets.
To higher goal worldwide consumers, Apple has two mobile fashions of its watches for UMTS (3G) and LTE (Fourth Generation bands). We could not discover Samsung’s worldwide service record to check, however Apple does appear to have the most important record of supported carriers world wide, so virtually nobody will miss out.
You can use the mobile improve to stream music, examine notifications, textual content mates, or make and reply telephone calls. Apple claims in its battery abstract that the Apple Watch SE 2 has the identical 18-hour lifespan because the Location Services mannequin, bearing in mind “4 hours of LTE connection and 14 hours of connection to iPhone through Bluetooth.” For an precise LTE telephone name, it will solely final about 1.5 hours from full cost, so you may want to make use of it very sparingly. It can even final 5 hours with lively Location Services and LTE throughout a exercise.
As a closing level, Apple’s Family Setup tech lets an iPhone-owning member of the family arrange an Apple Watch Cellular mannequin for somebody who does not personal an iPhone. That method, you’ll be able to obtain messages, make calls, or share your location while not having an iPhone or any telephone. So, for those who needed to purchase one for a phone-less baby or somebody who does not personal a smartphone, you may.
Best runner up iOS
Apple launched the Watch Series 10 in September 2024 and it brings some attention-grabbing design upgrades over its predecessor, together with a bigger show with extra display actual property so it is simpler to navigate the display, learn messages, and extra. The wide-angle OLED is each brighter and simpler to learn from all angles.
Sadly, it maintains the identical 18-hour battery life, however apparently it recharges extra effectively, so that you will be again up and operating quicker. A fast 15-minute cost offers you an additional eight hours of use, or recharge for eight minutes to have the ability to seize your as much as eight hours of sleep. Speaking of which, there are new sleep apnea notifications, helpful for many who endure from, or suppose they may endure from, this sleep problem.
There are depth and temperature sensors for underwater actions, 50-meter water-resistance ranking, and new Custom Workouts for pool swims. With LTE, then, you’ll be able to depart your telephone within the room when you benefit from the pool perks of a resort, for instance, and will not miss a name from the workplace.Â
Another helpful function to get pleasure from particularly with LTE connectivity is the built-in speaker so you’ll be able to play music or make calls proper from the watch with out headphones. Of course, it additionally contains all of the goodies that comes with watchOS 11.
This is an Apple Watch, so naturally, you get a variety of options. There are loads of sensors onboard, together with SPO2, ECG, sleep monitoring, accelerometer, gyroscope, optical coronary heart sensor, and extra.Â
Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Series 10’s mobile model is sort of costly, a $130 delta over the non-cellular model, so you may actually need to make use of it for those who’re forking over this a lot.
Best health watch
With all the above picks, you should use mobile information to carry out a wide range of duties like telephone calls and messaging. Garmin’s LTE watch options are extra spartan, targeted on what athletes and adventurers would want slightly than extra informal customers. You’ll subscribe on to Garmin for its mobile service, which suggests it is not tied to a particular service.
With the Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE, you’ll be able to ship an automatic message to emergency contacts for those who’re in peril, then message the 24/7 Garmin IERCC to allow them to contact native emergency companies to come back discover you. It’s particularly useful for those who’re somebody who hikes or climbs in distant areas with no telephone and need a instrument to hunt assist in a pinch.
It additionally has extra joyful makes use of, like the choice to obtain “spectator messages” in your wrist for encouragement or updates when you’re largely off the grid. You can ship your Livetrack location for those who’re operating a marathon, and even use Live Event Sharing to ship your present tempo to your contacts so that they know the way you are doing.
The Forerunner 945 LTE is without doubt one of the finest Garmin watches out there, with improbable battery life, full-color mapping, and all the most recent software program that was initially unique to the newer Forerunner 955 or 965. These fashions have software program upgrades and (within the case of the 965) an AMOLED show, however neither affords mobile help — making the 945 LTE a singular choice for severe explorers and sportspeople.
Best for teenagers
We’ve targeted on full-fledged LTE smartwatches on this record, however one widespread use case is to present a restricted watch to your baby so you’ll be able to talk with them (or monitor them) while not having to present them a smartphone earlier than they’re prepared for one. That’s the place the Garmin Bounce is available in.
After giving the Bounce to his son for a few months, our Garmin Bounce reviewer had virtually nothing however reward for it. The watch lasts 2–4 days regardless of LTE help, a formidable quantity for this boxy however comparatively light-weight design. The UI is intuitive, and the partnered app for folks’ telephones is straightforward to make use of.
You can discover your kid’s location with a faucet, in addition to ship and obtain textual content or voice messages; our reviewer’s child particularly cherished voice recordings and the way emojis make humorous noises. The built-in mic and speaker have been each crystal clear in his assessments.
You can even obtain notifications if the battery is operating low or the kid leaves a geo-locked boundary like dwelling or college. The LTE sign enables you to obtain pings and messages from anyplace, however it’s also possible to arrange Wi-Fi help for a clearer sign.Â
Kids can use the watch to register actions throughout recess or sports activities. Parents can assign chores, and when children mark them as accomplished, they get “cash” that oldsters can use to trace for handing out allowances.
Like the Forerunner 945 LTE, you may pay a month-to-month price to Garmin straight slightly than worrying a few service — simplifying issues but additionally limiting your choices. Our reviewer famous some issues with poor cell sign in his space, however this actually depends upon the place you reside.
How to decide on
If you might have an Android telephone, you may need to stick with Samsung or Google. We did not just like the Fossil Gen 5 LTE and whereas we do just like the TicWatch Pro 3 Location Services, as a result of the LTE model is not out there worldwide, most individuals cannot reap the benefits of it. Otherwise, your choice is fairly restricted.
Both Samsung and Google help a variety of service networks however might not help each MVNO, so you may need to examine that before you purchase any of those. With that out of the way in which, although, both the Pixel Watch 3 or Galaxy Watch 7 ought to serve you nicely. Samsung guarantees an extended battery life, particularly with the Ultra, which makes a distinction when LTE guzzles a lot power to make use of. But for those who largely plan to maintain your telephone on you and can solely use LTE in uncommon cases, the Pixel Watch 3 is a compelling various.
As for iPhone house owners, Apple does a greater job than most explaining how a lot mobile information every watch can deal with earlier than it dies. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is clearly one of the best LTE smartwatch on this complete record with its 18-hour LTE lifespan — so long as different Apple Watches can final with Location Services alone — nevertheless it additionally prices tons of greater than some other choice. It and the Forerunner 945 LTE are for many who want one thing rugged and dependable for excessive conditions and pays the value for it.
Otherwise, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is our advice until you’ll be able to’t dwell with out the few upgrades that the Series 10 provides you.
Phone apart, for those who’re looking for one of the best children’ smartwatch, we’re massive followers of the Garmin Bounce due to its LTE help combined with cool exercise monitoring. But you will discover different choices with real-time location information and different mobile methods in that linked shopping for information.
