Cellular Apple Watch’s $100 Premium Pays Off Mainly for Phone-Free Runs and Errands
Updated
Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jun 29
Cellular Apple Watch’s $100 Premium Pays Off Mainly for Phone-Free Runs and Errands
2 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jun 29
Summary
$100 buys Apple Watch users standalone calling, messaging, music streaming and real-time Apple Maps navigation, making short trips and workouts possible without an iPhone.
That upgrade looks more compelling when a carrier includes an Apple Watch eSIM at no extra charge, because the hardware premium is often followed by a monthly cellular fee.
The watch still cannot replace a phone for many tasks: Apple Intelligence features in watchOS 11, 26 and 27 require a nearby iPhone, and apps such as Uber, Zoom and Teams remain phone-dependent.
BGR’s takeaway is that cellular is a useful convenience rather than a must-have feature, while cheaper non-cellular options like the Apple Watch SE better fit budget buyers.