Stay connected and enable safety features on the go with these watches
Smartwatches with cellular support are now much more commonplace than they used to be, with plenty of top options available for you to pick from.
A smartwatch with LTE (or 4G) connectivity affords you the luxury of untethering from your smartphone, providing access to calls, messages, and apps on the move. It’s a game-changer if you prefer to leave your phone during outdoor exercise.
Owning an LTE smartwatch is also increasingly about safety. Major devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google offer safety features contingent on an LTE connection, which means you miss out on a chunk of functionality if you only opt for the Bluetooth versions.
If you opt for this independent connection, you’ll have to pay a little extra to your phone carrier per month—and often a bit more for the smartwatch itself— but we think it’s well worth the outlay.
So, to help you out, we’ve rounded up the top smartwatches with LTE support and provided a little more information below on what you can expect to gain from the feature.
- Want the best overall? Check out the best smartwatches to buy
- No iPhone? Pair your phone with the best smartwatches for Android
Things to consider with LTE watches
When choosing a smartwatch with LTE, there are a few things you should consider:
- Price: LTE smartwatches can be expensive – they tend to cost more outright, with a monthly data plan also tacked on. Think carefully about whether you will use the extra features.
- Features: Aside from LTE, ensure the smartwatch has the features you need, such as accurate GPS, heart rate monitoring, safety features, and health insights.
- Battery life: LTE typically drains battery life more than use without cellular connectivity, so factor this usage into your decision.
- Compatibility: Make sure the smartwatch is compatible with your phone – Apple Watch only works with iPhones, and Pixel Watch/Samsung only works with Android.
Summary: The best cellular smartwatches
- Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, GPS + Cellular)
- Huawei Watch 4 Series
- Google Pixel Watch 3 LTE
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular)
- Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular)
We rate the Series 10 as one of the best smartwatches on the market, and a big reason for this is its performance as a standalone device.
It’s not the cheapest option on this list, yet it’s undeniably the top option for iPhone users seeking a mid-range option. With it, you can make calls, take them, and receive notifications just as you would on your smartphone – all thanks to the built-in eSIM.
We’ve even found streaming music over the different generations of Series watches to be very straightforward and satisfying, and that’s no different with the Series 10.
It allows you to stay in the loop when out exercising (or just when you don’t want to bring your phone along), and we’ve experienced plenty of occasions when the Apple Watch has outlasted our phone and kept us updated with notifications.
The only other thing to be aware of is the price jump when choosing this edition. You’ll pay a pretty premium for cellular support, and there’s the monthly fee from your carrier to consider, too.
- Read our in-depth Apple Watch Series 10 review
Google Pixel Watch 3 LTE
Google’s latest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 3, has a cellular-enabled version for you to consider. We rate it as the top option for most with an Android phone, though Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra (below) is also a top consideration if you require something a bit more premium-feeling.
The LTE experience is the same as the Galaxy Watch watches, since both run a version of Wear OS 5, and the integration with Google’s services – including Maps and Wallet – worked seamlessly during our testing.
The microphone and speaker during calls also worked well without being exceptional, which is par for the course with smartwatches.
Despite its stylish looks, the size is one major consideration with the Pixel Watch 3. Our testing showed multi-day battery performance from the new, larger 45mm edition, but the 42mm model is still limited to around 24 hours of use. With LTE, that will get sapped even quicker.
- Check out our Google Pixel Watch 3 review
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
If you’ve got an Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an excellent alternative to the Pixel Watch 3.
Unlike the Galaxy Watch 7 series (and Galaxy Watch 6 range), there’s only one admittedly large case size to choose from here. However, following testing the latest mid-range Samsung model, we’re not convinced the battery life is enough for those craving connected features – especially the smaller case size.
The cellular experience across the board, we should say, is identical. Yet, the bonus of the Ultra is that cellular support comes as standard. That unlocks all the typical functions you would expect, like enabling calls, streaming music from apps like Spotify and YouTube Music, and receiving notifications from your favorite apps.
We still don’t think the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s battery life is astounding—for reference, it falls short of Apple’s similarly-sized Ultra 2—but it’s the best Samsung watch with LTE you can pick up right now. And it’s also the most feature-packed and accurate we’ve ever tested from the brand.
- Check out our Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review
Huawei Watch 4
The Huawei Watch 4 (and Watch 4 Pro) features an LTE option, allowing users to untether from their smartphone. You’ll need to connect it to an eSIM via the Huawei Health app, and then you can make and receive calls and send messages straight from the wrist.
Unlike Google’s Wear OS and Apple’s watchOS, there isn’t a bustling app store to take advantage of LTE, or any music streaming or podcasting options. However, users can enjoy Petal Maps (above), Huawei’s version of Apple/Google Maps.
Aside from that, the Huawei Watch 4 is an excellent smartwatch – with more health features than your average Android smartwatch. There’s capacity for ECG spot-checks, arterial and respiratory health monitoring, blood oxygen features, and excellent fitness tracking.
For an LTE-connected watch, it comes at a decent price. However, using LTE and the always-on display together will decimate battery life from three or four days to two at best.
- Check out our Huawei Watch 4 review
Apple Watch SE 2 (GPS + Cellular)
If you don’t desire the more advanced features, updated design, or price tag of the Apple Watch Series 10 (or Ultra 2), the second-gen Apple Watch SE is a great pick – and it comes with the option of cellular support.
Like the more expensive Series devices, the LTE support on the SE will give you access to notifications, calls, and music streaming when away from your iPhone.
This makes it a superb value pick for those in the market for a cellular smartwatch – but, remember, you’ll still have to pair it with an iPhone for it to work.
Note that you’ll also have to pay a decent chunk extra for the GPS + Cellular edition, as well as the monthly cost, and the price naturally varies depending on whether you choose the 40mm or 44mm case.
We think this is a great starter smartwatch for iPhone users, but it is now a little long in the tooth and is expected to be upgraded by Apple in 2025. Buy with caution.
- Check out our Apple Watch SE (2022) review
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple’s outdoorsy watch comes with LTE support as standard, which, unlike with other Apple Watch devices, means you don’t have to pay an added premium for the feature.
You do, of course, still have to shell out a considerable chunk more than any other device on this list, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also much more feature-packed than its rivals.
You’re getting a superb smartwatch experience, bolstered by that bigger and brighter screen, while the case design and straps are much more suited to the outdoors than any other LTE smartwatch currently on the market.
Just be aware that you’ll receive significant battery drain when using LTE on the Ultra. Apple quotes a 36-hour battery life for the smartwatch, and, although we almost always get around 50-60 hours, the life will drain considerably faster with LTE turned on for a full day.
This is true of every Apple Watch, however, and, interestingly, the Ultra is the only device the company reveals details regarding battery life with LTE turned on throughout a cycle.
On its product page, Apple says, “With a service plan, you can keep in touch with up to 18 hours of all-day LTE battery life,” and we’d wager that a single day of use is about right based on our testing.
- Check out our Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
For the most part, Garmin has disappointingly opted against offering LTE versions of its sports watches or smartwatches. However, the exception to this rule is the Forerunner 945 LTE, which is only available in the US.
The cellular connection enables many of the brand’s core safety features, such as LiveTrack and Assistance Plus, which allows users to call for help if they’re in trouble or feel unsafe.
There’s also live tracking available during events, and contacts can send encouragement, too, so there’s a good reason to jump in.
Given it was released back in 2021, we’ve debated taking this recommendation of this list a couple of times. After all, two(!) more feature-packed generations – the Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 965 – have launched since. Yet, the connected 945 is still available from various retailers, and it can still deliver plenty of Garmin’s core run tracking feedback.
You’ll have to *really* want the 945’s connected features and not mind it being a less capable running watch than newer models, but it’s still (just about) worth considering.
LTE smartwatches FAQ
If you’re in a muddle about what a cellular smartwatch is, get up to speed with the FAQs below.
What can a cellular smartwatch do?
In smartwatch terms, having one with a 4G/LTE cellular connection allows you to link to your carrier’s data plan without your phone’s connection.
This means you can take calls, listen to music, use apps, send messages, and enjoy other usual smartphone frivolities – but, you know, without your phone being present. Some brands have different reasons for embracing standalone connectivity, such as Garmin’s Forerunner 945 LTE.
For a smartwatch to mimic your phone, it has to be able to connect to the same network carrier. And if you want to take calls, you’ll have to link the same number as your smartphone.
Do I need to switch my SIM card over?
No. Instead of carrying a SIM ejector around with you and dealing with a physical card, almost all watches use eSIM technology, which is essentially an embedded variant that can’t be moved from the hood.
The benefit of this tech over regular SIM cards is the smaller size – companies are already trying to reduce the size, so this is a natural step – and the efficiency of sharing your number between phone and watch through software.
Do you have to pay a monthly fee?
This depends on the carrier you go with, but, usually, yes.
However, deals will often be bundled with a smartphone, since you need to be rocking the same network and the two go hand in hand.
Does using LTE affect battery life?
Deciphering which sensors and what activities affect your battery is always a tough game, but the answer is, loosely, yes – using LTE will generally sap your battery faster than if you weren’t using it.
What we often see from devices with LTE is a bigger battery (and a bigger build) to offset the power it’s taking up.
If you’re looking to save battery and get a few more hours in the day, simply switching to a feature-slimmed mode on your device should help you out on that front.
