Best smartwatch with LTE 2024

Watches with LTE cellular tech let you make phone calls, receive notifications, or even stream music without your phone nearby — either because you want to leave it at home for workouts or in case it dies at the wrong time. A cellular smartwatch can also help you reduce screen time without giving up your important notifications. With bluetooth, you can even keep streaming your music while you’re out.

4G/LTE used to be more common, but many of our favorite brands, like Fossil, have abandoned cellular service for their latest generation. Finding the best LTE smartwatches — starting with the Google Pixel 2 — comes down to an exclusive, high-quality list.

At a glance

Best overall

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is our favorite Android smartwatches available today, and it also lets you add cellular connectivity for just $50. You can make and receive calls, check notifications, and stream music over your network of choice. You can see Google’s list of supported carriers by country at that link, with some unique options like Google Fi that specific users will prefer.

Again, our Pixel Watch 2 review can give the device more justice than we can in this limited space. We also have a guide on the Pixel Watch 2 vs. the Galaxy Watch 6 to see how the two compare, outside of cellular concerns. The Pixel Watch 2 is the more stylish of the two, has more RAM for fast performance, and packs double the storage for streaming music playlists. But the Galaxy Watch Watch 6 will certainly last longer than the Pixel Watch 2, and it comes in a larger display size, while the Pixel Watch 2 has just one petite size option.

Otherwise, you’re getting a very similar device here: a fast Wear OS watch with Google apps like Messages, Assistant, and Maps — though the latter does currently require your phone, even if you buy the LTE option — plus the promise of years of software support, so you know it’s worth the investment.

Best value

The Galaxy Watch 6, comes in Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE variants. For around $50 extra dollars, you can get the watch on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, or USCellular networks in the U.S., as well as most standard carriers in other countries. Since Samsung made the Galaxy Watch 6 more affordable than most watches, this cellular version is especially cost-efficient without reneging on quality compared to the competition below.

You can read this Galaxy Watch 6 review to get an in-depth look at how the watch performs and what features to expect. To summarize briefly, it has the latest software and app support with Wear OS 4, so you can access a variety of music and messaging apps without your phone on you, including a QWERTY keyboard that’ll let you stay in touch with friends and family.

You also get access to Google Assistant, so you can get questions answered quickly or say “Call 911” during an emergency if typing is too slow.

You get the latest Exynos W930 with 2GB of RAM for some of the fastest performance you’ll see on a smartwatch — at least until the Galaxy Watch 7 arrives. Unfortunately, the battery life is a downgrade compared to the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, with a 40-hour maximum. Our reviewer found his watch typically only lasts about 30 hours with heavy use, and LTE could cut further into that; still, this battery is much more equipped to handle it than an Apple or Pixel Watch. Plus, its 10W charging helps it hit 100% in a little over an hour, which helps deal with the extra battery burn.

Best premium

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic LTE has all the same internals as the regular Galaxy Watch 6. So, you get the same 10W wireless fast charging, the latest Wear OS, the newest Exynos silicone, and the same set of health and tracking sensors. Samsung opted for identical memory options, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB onboard storage for both smartwatches. You can even use most of the same Galaxy Watch 6 watch bands on the Classic variant of the Android smartwatch.

What many users complained a lot about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro was the lack of a rotating bezel on the non-basic model. Back by popular demand, the Watch 6 Classic sports the beloved feature. You can pay just a little more money to grab this variant with LTE, available in both the 43mm and 47mm size options.

On top of that, the Watch 6 Classic retains the robustness of the regular model. The lovely, crisp AMOLED display is secured by the Sapphire Crystal glass on top. You get
5ATM, IP68, and MIL-STD-810H ratings for water and dust proofing.

Best last-gen

Most companies stop selling last-gen devices when the new models arrive, but Samsung still sells the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. It can do so because, when you compare the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic vs. 5 Pro, the last-gen model actually beats the newer model in one key aspect: battery life. The only reason to buy cellular data is for calling people or checking messages with your phone at home. You need a load of processing power for that, which will quickly burn through your battery life.

Your best solution is to buy a massive watch like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which counterbalances the LTE power suck with a 590mAh battery that normally lasts over three days per charge. Our Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review exhibited some mixed feelings about the watch’s thick and heavy design, arguing that the standard Galaxy Watch 5 is probably enough for most. But for cellular buyers, the extra capacity will absolutely come into play for making phone calls or streaming music.

This model costs significantly more than the Galaxy Watch 5, but it’s still cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Aside from some useful offline maps and trackback support (which don’t require LTE), the Pro has no exclusives over the cheaper model. But the guarantee of better longevity for cellular or GPS tasks may be the raison d’etre that the Bluetooth-only Pro lacked.

Best affordable for iOS

You might expect the Series 9 to be the “best” option for iPhone owners, and it’s definitely a better watch than the Apple Watch SE 2 in almost every single regard. But it also costs $300 more and charges twice as much for its cellular upgrade. The SE 2022 costs just $50 extra for cellular, making its price even better than the last-gen Galaxy Watch 5 4G/LTE. If you can stomach the downgrades in display quality and sensors, the SE 2 will suit more people’s budgets.

To better target worldwide buyers, Apple has two cellular models of its watches for UMTS (3G) and LTE (4G bands). We couldn’t find Samsung’s international carrier list to compare, but Apple does seem to have the largest list of supported carriers around the world, so almost no one will miss out.

You can use the cellular upgrade to stream music, check notifications, text friends, or make and answer phone calls. Apple claims in its battery summary that the Apple Watch SE 2 has the same 18-hour lifespan as the GPS model, taking into account “4 hours of LTE connection and 14 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth.” For an actual LTE phone call, it’ll only last about 1.5 hours from full charge, so you’ll need to use it very sparingly. It can also last 5 hours with active GPS and LTE during a workout.

As a final point, Apple’s Family Setup tech lets an iPhone-owning family member set up an Apple Watch Cellular model for someone who doesn’t own an iPhone. That way, you can receive messages, make calls, or share your location without needing an iPhone or any phone. So, if you wanted to buy one for a phone-less child or someone who doesn’t own a smartphone, you could.

Best runner up for iOS

Apple only just launched the Watch Series 9 in all of its glory. The newest Apple Watch does bring radical new upgrades over its predecessor, but it does improve upon it in many departments. To start with, the display is much, much brighter now, bumping the Watch Series 8’s 1000 nits peak brightness to 2000 nits.

Other upgrades include the freshly minted S9 chip that has the new 4-core Neural Engine and is based on the A15 Bionic SoC. The internals are faster, better, and more powerful compared to the previous model. You also get a newer UWB chip inside that enables Precision Finding for the iPhone 15 lineup.

This is an Apple Watch, so naturally, you get a wide range of features. There are plenty of sensors onboard, including SPO2, ECG, sleep tracking, accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart sensor, and more. Apple introduced some pretty cool new features for the Watch Series 9, such as Double Tap gestures.

Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Series 9’s cellular version is quite expensive at $520, with the unreliable 18-hour battery life from the last-gen Watch Series 8. It’ll still only last 90 minutes for an LTE phone call. Your only upside is that it lasts six hours with active GPS and LTE instead of just five hours.

Best overall for iOS

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with LTE support built-in, just one of many luxury perks that correspond with its absurdly high price. Another perk is the larger battery, helping the watch hit 36 hours with regular use with eight hours of LTE taken into account or 18 hours with continuous LTE active. It’ll even last an extra hour (2.5 total) for a cellular call, giving you some vital wiggle room, or 10 hours with GPS + LTE.

Our colleagues at iMore loved the last-gen Ultra, recommending it over the Series 8 and SE 2022 as “the best Apple Watch for most people.” Our wearables editor, Andrew Myrick, who bought both the Ultra and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro with his own money, recommended the Ultra over the Pro if you can stomach the price. With the Watch Ultra 2, we have the exact same sentiments. It’s a fantastic device with military-grade protection, a beautifully bright 1.92-inch display, and a surprisingly lightweight design, given its size.

That said, the Watch Ultra 2 will cost you $300 or $500 more than the Apple Watch Series 9 4G or SE 2, respectively. So we don’t blame anyone at all for balking at the price.

Best fitness

With all of the above picks, you can use cellular data to perform a variety of tasks like phone calls and messaging. Garmin’s LTE watch features are more spartan, focused on what athletes and adventurers would need rather than more casual users. You’ll subscribe directly to Garmin for its cellular service, which means it isn’t tied to a specific carrier.

With the Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE, you can send an automated message to emergency contacts if you’re in danger, then message the 24/7 Garmin IERCC so they can contact local emergency services to come find you. It’s especially handy if you’re someone who hikes or climbs in remote locations without a phone and want a tool to seek help in a pinch.

It also has more joyful uses, like the option to receive “spectator messages” on your wrist for encouragement or updates while you’re mostly off the grid. You can send your Livetrack location if you’re running a marathon, or even use Live Event Sharing to send your current pace to your contacts so they know how you’re doing.

The Forerunner 945 LTE is one of the best Garmin watches available, with fantastic battery life, full-color mapping, and all the latest software that was originally exclusive to the newer Forerunner 955 or 965. These models have software upgrades and (in the case of the 965) an AMOLED display, but neither offers cellular support — making the 945 LTE a unique option for serious explorers and sportspeople.

Best for kids

We’ve focused on full-fledged LTE smartwatches on this list, but one common use case is to give a limited watch to your child so you can communicate with them (or track them) without needing to give them a smartphone before they’re ready for one. That’s where the Garmin Bounce comes in.

After giving the Bounce to his son for a couple of months, our Garmin Bounce reviewer had almost nothing but praise for it. The watch lasts 2–4 days despite LTE support, an impressive number for this boxy but relatively lightweight design. The UI is intuitive, and the partnered app for parents’ phones is simple to use.

You can find your child’s location with a tap, as well as send and receive text or voice messages; our reviewer’s kid especially loved voice recordings and how emojis make funny noises. The built-in mic and speaker were both crystal clear in his tests.

You can also receive notifications if the battery is running low or the child leaves a geo-locked boundary like home or school. The LTE signal lets you receive pings and messages from anywhere, but you can also set up Wi-Fi support for a clearer signal. 

Kids can use the watch to register activities during recess or sports. Parents can assign chores, and when kids mark them as completed, they get “coins” that parents can use to track for handing out allowances.

Like the Forerunner 945 LTE, you’ll pay a monthly fee to Garmin directly rather than worrying about a carrier — simplifying matters but also limiting your options. Our reviewer noted some problems with poor cell signal in his area, but this really depends on where you live.

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What determines the optimal LTE smartwatch for your needs?

If you have an Android phone, you’ll want to stick to Samsung or Google. We didn’t like the Fossil Gen 5 LTE and while we do like the TicWatch Pro 3 GPS, because the LTE version isn’t available worldwide, most people can’t take advantage of it. Otherwise, your selection is pretty limited.

Both Samsung and Google support a wide range of carrier networks but may not support every MVNO, so you’ll want to check that before you buy any of these. With that out of the way, though, either the Pixel Watch 2 or Galaxy Watch 6 series should serve you well. Samsung promises a longer battery life, especially with the Pro, which makes a difference when LTE guzzles so much energy to use. But if you mostly plan to keep your phone on you and will only use LTE in rare instances, the Pixel Watch 2 is a compelling alternative.

As for iPhone owners, Apple does a better job than most explaining how much cellular data each watch can handle before it dies. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is clearly the best LTE smartwatch on this entire list with its 18-hour LTE lifespan — as long as other Apple Watches can last with GPS alone — but it also costs hundreds more than any other option. It and the Forerunner 945 LTE are for those who need something rugged and reliable for extreme situations and will pay the price for it.

Otherwise, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is our recommendation unless you can’t live without the few upgrades that the Series 9 gives you.

Phone aside, if you’re shopping for the best kids’ smartwatch, we’re big fans of the Garmin Bounce thanks to its LTE support mixed with cool activity tracking. But you can find other options with real-time location data and other cellular tricks in that linked buying guide.