Cellwatches

In September 2017 Apple announced Apple Watch Series 3, available in two models; cellular Apple Watches being marketed as GPS+Cellular, while Watches lacking cellular capabilities are marketed as simply GPS. Until August 2020, all Apple Watches required, during initial setup, that the owner have an iPhone in order to complete the setup of the Watch.

Starting September 2020, Apple introduced an exception that allows cellular models (GPS+cellular models) to be purchased and used by someone who doesn't own an iPhone. Wi-Fi watches (GPS models) are not eligible to be set up for a family member. The Watch owner must be part of a Family Group, and their family member must own an iPhone.

In most countries, setting up a cellular plan on watch is restricted to the carrier that the family iPhone is on. The only countries where Apple does not allow watches to be 'carrier locked' are: US, UK, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.

If the watch is to be used for offline-only purposes, then the phone does not need to have an active carrier plan.

Stand alone cellwatches

The following models are capable of "family setup" since Sept 2020, provided the model is GPS+cellular (GPS-only models are not permitted to use family setup):

year		initial price (USD)	Display	ECG	int'l emer- gency calling
2018	S4	40mm: $499 44mm: $529		yes	no
2019	S5	40mm: $499 44mm: $529	Always On	yes	yes
2020	S6	40mm: $499 44mm: $529	Always On	yes	yes
2020	SE	40mm: $329 44mm: $359		no	yes

Cellular plans for standalone cellwatches

Truphone

https://go.truphone.com/select-plan

Truphone was selected by Apple as the first multi-country carrier to offer cellular plans for standalone Apple Watches. Truphone offers this service in the following countries:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Poland
• Spain
• Hong Kong

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Local Carriers

apple.com/watch/cellular/#table-family-setup

bold indicates that the carrier allows the watch on their network even if the associated iPhone is not on that carrier

Americas:

• Canada: Bell
• United States: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular, C Spire

Europe

• United Kingdom: EE
• Norway: Telia
• Germany: Telekom
• Switzerland: Sunrise, Swisscom
• Spain: Movistar

Asia and Middle East

• Bahrain:
• Japan: au
• Thailand: AIS, dtac, TrueMove
• Taiwan: Chungwa, Taiwan Mobile
• Hong Kong: 1O1O, csl
• China: China Unicom, China Telecom(in 7 cities)