Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
If you want to leave your iPhone at home without missing out on iMessages, calls, and other notifications, now you can — if you have the right Apple Watch. Specific Apple Watch models are able to connect via 4G LTE, enabling you to go on a run or an errand without needing to carry your phone.
So far, three models of the Apple Watch support this feature:
These models tend to cost more than the base models that only support Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity (up to $100 more, depending on the smartwatch model you’re looking for). Additionally, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to your carrier in order to use the LTE connectivity.
The first step is to open up the Watch app on your iPhone; it’s where you manage everything that has to do with your smartwatch. Scroll down and tap on “Cellular” and then tap on “Set up Cellular.”
What you see next — and how much you pay — will vary depending on your carrier. Since I’m a Verizon customer, it asked me to sign in with my phone number, then verify that I want to add the Apple Watch to my plan.
The carrier you use can depend on the model of your Watch. (Here’s Apple’s list of supported carriers.) According to Apple, your phone and Apple Watch must be on the same carrier. However, the Apple Watch supports up to five cellular plans, so you can switch carriers with a reasonable amount of confidence.
Here’s what it could cost with some of the major carriers:
Once you’ve successfully added the Apple Watch to your mobile plan, you can switch the cellular function on or off by swiping upward on the home screen of the Apple Watch, then tapping the top left option that looks like a radio tower. It will turn green when cellular is activated, indicating that you’re now free to leave your phone at home without worrying about missing out on a notification.