Apple Watch Cellular vs GPS: What’s the Difference?
This article highlights the key differences between the Apple Watch Cellular vs GPS. At a glance, you wouldn't be able to tell the...
Author:Daniel BarrettAug 30, 202213318 Shares229618 Views
At a glance, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Apple Watch Cellular vs. GPS. There is a red ring around the Digital Crown on the Cellular model, but they’re otherwise identical-looking on the outside. It’s the insides that make all the difference.
In the connectivity category, one of the main differences between the Apple Watch Cellular GPS vs. GPS + Cellular. The GPS + Cellular option allows you to leave your iPhoneat home and answer calls, send text messages, and stay connected with your Apple Watch only. Likewise, you can freely leave your iPhone behind if you’re going for a quick jog with your Apple Watch GPS + Cellular.
On the other hand, the GPS-only model can only send texts and answer calls if your iPhone is nearby. So if you don’t tend to leave your iPhone behind when you go out, at least for this, you’ll be good with the GPS-only model. It supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and so does the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular model.
What’s the difference between GPS + Cellular and GPS?
GPS + Cellular
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) has all the same features and built-in cellular. In addition, it gives you the freedom to send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, receive notifications, and stream Apple Music and Apple Podcasts — even when you don’t have your iPhone with you.
GPS
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) lets you send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, and receive notifications when connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In addition, your iPhone’s built-in GPS works independently for distance, pace, and route mapping in workouts.
As for the Series 3 version, Apple has stopped selling the GPS + Cellular as of September 2020. Therefore, the specifications are no longer included in this comparison guide. However, the Series 3 GPS + Cellular does exist globally for those considering upgrading from this model.
Cellular Carrier Support
Creating a connection via Apple Watch to a cellular network requires the same carrier as your iPhone, and carriers are added all the time. Therefore, if your current carrier does not support Apple Watch, cellular functionality won’t work until support is provided.
All Apple Watch models feature Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In addition, Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) also delivers cellular connectivity independently of your iPhone but must share the same carrier. The following companies are part of a growing number that support the Apple Watch.
All Cellular and GPS versions of Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, Apple Watch Series 6, and Apple Watch SE require at least an iPhone 6s that runs iOS 14. The iPhone is only needed for the initial setup if you are on Family Setup with a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch. After that, the person set as a family member does not also need an iPhone.
Carrier Restrictions
The GPS + Cellular Apple Watch comes with LTE connectivity, which allows you to piggyback off your current carrier plan (for an additional monthly fee, usually around $10) and get internet and phone connectivity even when your iPhone is far away.
Apple Watch LTE coverage lets you do anything solo on the Apple Watch that you can do when tied to your iPhone’s data. That includes placing calls, receiving messages, using Siri, navigating via Maps, playing with third-party apps, and anything else.
You can’t sign up for a separate Apple Watch cellular plan from your iPhone. If you’re on AT&T, your Apple Watch has to be, too. You’ll have a separately assigned number for your Apple Watch, but it’s not your usable phone number. It’s just the account assignment number.
Apple Watch GPS vs. Cellular + GPS: which Apple Watch option is the best for you?
There will be a difference in Apple Watch GPS and GPS + Cellular battery life. The Apple Watch GPS uses Bluetooth to connect to your iPhone, and the GPS is used when you’re out and about for navigational purposes. The Cellular model connects to the internet by LTE if you’re not at home, so it’s quite understandable that it might have lesser battery life.
The GPS-only model doesn’t support Streaming Apple Music, but you can download tunes onto it for direct listening offline. Unfortunately, your storage capacity only limits you.
The GPS + Cellular Watch supports Apple Music and Podcasts app streaming. So if you have an Apple Music subscription, you can rock your socks off anywhere without needing your iPhone or Wi-Fi.
Let’s dive in a little bit more. First, we can see the specifics of Apple’s battery test. Apple has tested the newly-released Apple Watch Series 6 battery life like that: all the Watch Series 6 GPS usage was done with the Watch paired to an iPhone via Bluetooth during the entire 18-hour test. The Series 6 GPS + Cellular was paired via Bluetooth for 14 out of 18 hour-long test, and for 4 hours, it was on its own with its LTE connection. The same test was performed on the Apple Watch SE too.
Family Setup
If you plan to buy or hand down an Apple Watch to a family member who doesn’t already own an iPhone, you don’t have to invest in both devices. Instead, you can initially use Family Setup to set up the Apple Watch, and then they can use it untethered.
The Apple Watch Cellular + GPS is the only model of Apple Watch that supports Family planning, so this is an important factor when considering your purchase. You may not need cellular right now, but you may want to pass along your old Apple Watch to a friend or family someday.
Family Setup works with the following Apple Watch versions:
- Apple Watch Series 4
- Apple Watch Series 5
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch SE
Storage Size
Comparing Apple Watch Cellular vs. GPS, the Apple Watch SE, Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 come with 32GB of storage. It’s the same across the board, so there’s no reason to consider it in this case.
Case and Screen Material
The GPS-only Apple SE, Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 are limited to aluminum Sport and Nike+ cases. In contrast, the GPS + Cellular Watch retains the stainless steel and titanium and the aluminum Sport and Nike+ cases.
Family Setup is a new feature, introduced with the new Apple Watch Series 6 and the Watch SE model, that allows you to set up Apple Watches for your kids or elderly relatives without them needing an iPhone to pair the Watch with. Therefore, you can only use this feature if you have the GPS + Cellular model.
There is a price difference of about $50-$100 between the GPS and the Cellular + GPS models, depending on the specific series of Apple Watch. For example, the Apple Watch Series 6 40mm GPS model is priced at $399, while the same size with GPS + Cellular costs $499. Between the Apple Watch SE GPS and Cellular + GPS variant, the price difference is $50 in favor of the cellular model.
Also, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for the LTE connection to your carrier if you go for the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular. Although the monthly fee depends on your carrier, prices are usually around $10 a month.
Apple Watch GPS vs. Cellular + GPS: Which Apple Watch Option is the Best for You?
We also find some differences in the options available for the Apple Watch in terms of case materials, depending on whether you go for the GPS only or GPS + Cellular.
Unfortunately, if you want the GPS-only model, you’re limited to only aluminum as an option for case material. Although it looks nice with its matte finish and is very lightweight, some might want the durability or the glossy looks of the stainless steel. So if you wish your Apple Watch to have a stainless steel case or a titanium one, you can only go for the GPS + Cellular model.
Apple Music and Podcasts Streaming
Here we find another difference between the Apple Watch GPS-only and Apple Watch GPS + Cellular. The built-in cellular on the latter allows you to stream Apple Music and Podcasts even without your iPhone.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch GPS model necessitates the iPhone to be around to stream Apple Music and Podcasts, so it’s a thing to consider before going for this option.
Editor’s recommendations.
Jump to
What’s the difference between GPS + Cellular and GPS?
GPS + Cellular
GPS
Cellular Carrier Support
Carrier Restrictions
Apple Watch GPS vs. Cellular + GPS: which Apple Watch option is the best for you?
Family Setup
Storage Size
Case and Screen Material
Apple Watch GPS vs. Cellular + GPS: Which Apple Watch Option is the Best for You?
Apple Music and Podcasts Streaming
Daniel Barrett
Author
Latest Articles
Popular Articles