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Smartwatches and wearables: what to know before you buy

2 Minute Read

Smartwatches are a popular gift, and many people add one to their phone plan without knowing exactly what they're signing up for. Here's what to know about available models, phone compatibility and how adding a smartwatch to your account works.

What Spectrum Mobile sells

Spectrum Mobile® currently offers smartwatches from Apple and Samsung.

Apple smartwatches

Apple Watch options include Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3, available in multiple sizes and finishes. Series 12 and SE 3 are built for everyday use and fitness tracking, with all-day battery life and water resistance suited to swimming and light water sports. The Ultra models are a step up for endurance athletes and outdoor adventurers, with multi-day battery stamina, a more rugged titanium-and-sapphire build rated for scuba diving and high-speed water sports and built-in satellite communications for staying connected off the grid.

Samsung smartwatches

Samsung Galaxy Watch options include Galaxy Watch9 LTE and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, available in multiple sizes. Galaxy Watch9 is the everyday option, while Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is built for more demanding outdoor and athletic use.

Already own a compatible Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch? You can typically bring your own device and add it to your Spectrum Mobile account instead of buying a new one.

The most important thing to check first: phone compatibility

Apple Watch requires an iPhone

To activate an Apple Watch on Spectrum Mobile, you need an active iPhone on your Spectrum Mobile account. It won't pair with an Android phone.

Samsung Galaxy Watch requires an Android phone

Current Galaxy Watch models, including Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, need an Android phone active on your account and won't pair with an iPhone.

There's no crossover between the two, so your phone narrows your choice to one brand. If the watch is a gift, match it to the phone the recipient carries, not yours.

How adding a smartwatch to your plan works

A smartwatch with cellular capability works as its own line on your account, similar to a phone or tablet. It can make hands-free calls, send texts and use data even when your phone isn't nearby. A watch that only connects over WiFi or Bluetooth depends on your phone being close by for anything beyond basic notifications.

Adding a smartwatch typically involves two costs. The first is the device itself. The second is Smartwatch Access, the monthly data plan that powers the watch's own connectivity. If you have Unlimited Plus Premium, Smartwatch Access is included at no extra cost for one eligible smartwatch paired to a phone on that plan.

Spectrum Mobile also offers 0% APR financing over 36 months on new smartwatches, which spreads the device cost into monthly payments instead of one upfront charge.

Setting up your smartwatch

You can activate your watch online, through the My Spectrum App or at a Spectrum store, and it's added as its own line on your existing account. From there, you'll pair the watch to its companion app on your phone, the Apple Watch app for Apple Watch or the Galaxy Wearable app for Galaxy Watch. The app walks you through setup and manages your watch's settings going forward.

Health and fitness features to expect

Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch cover similar ground for health and fitness tracking, though exact features vary by model and generation. Common features across current models include:

Higher-end models in both lineups, like the Ultra tiers, generally add more advanced fitness metrics and longer battery life for extended outdoor use. The newest Apple models, Series 12 and Ultra 4, also add an updated health sensing system with more frequent heart rate and heart rate variability readings.

Smartwatch health sensors are built for everyday wellness awareness, not medical diagnosis, so talk to your doctor about any specific health concern. Your health data is stored in the watch's companion app, where you can control what's synced or shared.

Battery life and everyday use

Using cellular data directly from your watch uses more battery than staying connected to your phone over WiFi or Bluetooth. Most current smartwatches are designed for daily charging, while the Ultra models stretch longer between charges. Charging overnight or while you get ready in the morning keeps your watch ready to go.

Choosing the right smartwatch for you

Your phone decides which brand you can choose. From there, pick between an everyday model and a more rugged, longer-battery option, and plan for the line and Smartwatch Access plan a cellular watch adds. Explore Spectrum Mobile plans to find the right fit for your phone and watch.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?
A fitness tracker focuses mainly on activity and health tracking, often without apps, calls or its own data connection. A smartwatch adds a broader set of features, including app support and, in the models Spectrum Mobile offers, its own cellular connection.
Do I need a separate data plan for a smartwatch?
Yes, if you want it to work independently of your phone. A cellular smartwatch needs its own line and a Smartwatch Access data plan to make calls, send texts and use data without your phone nearby. With Unlimited Plus Premium, Smartwatch Access is included at no extra cost for one eligible paired smartwatch.
Will my smartwatch work if I switch phones later?
Only if you stay with the same type of phone. Switching between iPhone and Android means your current watch won't be compatible with your new phone.
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