Watches that offer cellular connectivity can be really useful. These watches help users make phone calls, receive notifications and even stream music without the need of being connected to a phone. The best LTE smartwatches come in really handy when your phone runs out of charge, or you want to step out of the house without your phone.
While there are plenty of smartwatches in the market, ones that can latch onto a cellular network are limited. As such, finding 4G LTE smartwatches may not always be easy. In our list, we will share some good options. But before we get to them, consider checking out our other posts as well!
- Here are our top picks for budget smartwatches under $200.
- Love hiking? Check out these rugged smartwatches for outdoor activities.
1. Budget Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
While it’s true the Series 8 is the best smartwatch with LTE for iPhone users, and miles ahead of the Apple Watch Se (2nd Gen), it is also much more expensive. This one offers most of the core wearable features a user may want.
It’s powerful, has very good battery life, and is very light and comfortable to wear. Overall, it manages to strike a very good balance between price and performance. However, there are certain compromises it does ask you to make.
While it does have a good suite of health and fitness features, it lacks ECG and blood oxygen tracking. Plus, you miss out on the always-on-display feature you get on the Series 8 and other high-end smartwatches.
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2. Best for Pixel Phones: Google Pixel Watch
This watch lets users do a lot as it lets them make and receive calls, check notifications, and stream music directly over cellular data. It’s a very good option and brings a lot to like. Especially, in the design department.
Yes, one of the most impressive things about the Google Pixel Watch is just how stylish it looks. It features a beautiful circular domed design that’s minimalistic yet appealing to the eye. It also looks more expensive than what Google’s asking for it.
However, do note that it’s only available in a single 41mm size option. So its design may not be for all users. Apart from this, the Pixel Watch offers a good overall experience. This is because it offers support for a lot of Google apps, and is also good at fitness tracking.
Buy this if you’re a Pixel phone user who wants a smartwatch tailored for use with their smartphone and access to Google’s suite of apps including Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Pay, Google Calendar, and YouTube Music Premium.
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3. Best for Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
While it does offer good connectivity with other Android phones, the best experiences can be had when connecting it to a Samsung phone. Once this connection is established, the Watch 6 syncs with your Galaxy device seamlessly to play your favorite music, control your smartphone camera, make calls, text, and do more from anywhere.
It also goes big on health monitoring with features like continuous heart rate monitoring. This feature informs the user if it detects an irregular rhythm. This watch also brings access to other features including Advanced Sleep Coaching.
This feature can be used to get better insights about a user’s sleep patterns and improve sleep cycles. And all this through a watch that’s extremely stylish and can be customized to suit the user’s mood and style by pairing it with a wide variety of bands.
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4. Best Battery Life: Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro 5
Although it doesn’t have the biggest display on a Galaxy Watch yet, the one on the Watch 5 Pro is still quite big and sharp for all your needs. The Watch 5 Pro also brings support for third-party apps, calls, notifications, and standalone LTE connectivity.
This is a rugged smartwatch, one that’s IP68-rated. So if you’re looking for a watch to carry with you to a trek or a swim, this could be a good companion. This watch also gets an exclusive Route Workout GPS function.
But the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s biggest win comes in the battery department. It is a watch that can easily go two, even three days on a single charge. This gives it a distinct advantage over other Galaxy watches, including the Watch 6 and the Watch 6 Classic.
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5. Best for iPhones: Apple Watch Series 8
While it’s much more expensive than the Galaxy Watch SE (2nd Gen), it also offers a bigger display with thinner bezels, brings support for fast charging, and also comes with ECG and temperature sensors.
There’s also a low-power mode, which promises to extend the latest Apple Watch’s battery life to 36 hours. Apart from this, the Apple Watch Series 8 also has a new crash-detection feature. Overall, the Watch 8 is a good upgrade for owners of the Apple Watch Series 4 or Series 5.
And also a very good buy if you’re a first-time buyer looking to get into the world of smartwatches with LTE.
Also See: 6 Best Protective Cases for Apple Watch Series 8
FAQs About Smartwatches
LTE on a smartwatch is a very good idea if you want to leave your phone at home and still remain connected on the go. Smartwatches with LTE offer the ability to make emergency calls and send texts if you’re stuck without your phone.
An LTE smartwatch is one that comes with a built-in eSIM. Because of its ability to connect to mobile networks through a digital SIM card, it provides connectivity to 4G networks. This helps in many ways, including being connected to the internet without a phone or the ability to make calls directly from your watch.
Time to LTE
While non-LTE smartwatches still have a place in the market, and they offer good value, there is no doubt that the best LTE smartwatches provide a free experience. Because of their ability to provide a calling and texting facility without a phone, they can prove to be very useful in emergencies. From our list, we’d recommend going with the Galaxy Watch 6 if you’re on Android, or choosing the Apple Watch Series 8 if you own an iPhone.
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Last updated on 10 August, 2023
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