UK Network EE Will Offer £5 a Month Cellular Tariff for LTE-Capable Apple Watch Series 3

EE will be the exclusive mobile network in the U.K. to offer a tariff for the new LTE-capable Apple Watch Series 3 when it begins shipping later this month.

Announced at Apple's media event on Tuesday, the latest version of the smartwatch contains an eSIM that can connect to a 4G LTE network so users can make and receive calls on their wrist, while watchOS apps can make use of the mobile data connection while untethered from an iPhone.

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According to the BBC's Dave Lee, the EE tariff for the Apple Watch Series 3 will be £5 per month for existing EE iPhone contract holders, with the calling function on the watch using the same number as the owner's phone.

EE customers will be able to sign up for the new tariff when the Series 3 Apple Watch becomes available for pre-order on September 15, costing £399 with cellular connectivity and £329 without. Orders for the new watch are expected to arrive on September 22, which is the official launch date of the device.


Apple only mentioned EE as a U.K. carrier for the Apple Watch Series 3 during its media event yesterday, but it's likely that other U.K. networks will offer their own tariffs as the market for the LTE smartwatch matures.

Update: MacRumors reader Matt Graham contacted O2 support, who confirmed to him that the O2 network will also be supporting 4G LTE on Apple Watch Series 3, although no firm date was given.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

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Top Rated Comments

Nr123*123 Avatar
107 months ago
And again, how does $399 convert to £399?

It should £300 or £360 with VAT (if sales tax isn't included in US price).

The same is true across the board of Apple products.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CaTOAGU Avatar
107 months ago
In theory an LTE Apple Watch was a great idea, in practice the carriers were always going to use it to gouge more money from you.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Quu Avatar
107 months ago
And again, how does $399 convert to £399?

It should £300 or £360 with VAT (if sales tax isn't included in US price).

The same is true across the board of Apple products.
Apple doesn't like to reprice things mid way through a products life cycle. With the way brexit negotiations Apple is hedging its bets that our currency may fall, this way they don't have to reprice anything.

It's **** for us UK buyers of which I am one, but then I'm not buying any of the new things they announced anyway.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RDowson Avatar
107 months ago
How much data do we get for £5 though? It you are using this for streaming Apple music you are going to need a decent allowance.

I'd like to see deals where you can share your data plan from your phone with the watch, similar to what EE do if you have a phone and tablet plan.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
107 months ago
As they don't do anything other than the Aluminium in non-cellular,
That is a shame, i'd have bought the non-celluar Series 3 if they did stainless steel like my Series 3 Watch just for the increased speed and power.

Cellular never appealed to me - I don't know why people got so excited about it on here months ago. The same people complained the iPhone was too small, then it got massive and suddenly they wanted to leave it at home and just go out with a watch on instead ffs.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
craig1410 Avatar
107 months ago
Why that skateboarder needed LTE to stream apple music to his watch when he had plenty of pockets and clothes to store his iPhone in is a mystery.
Perhaps the skateboarder was worried that if he fell off his board, he might land on his $1000 phone in his pocket and smash it to bits! :(

Back when I used to skate, it was only the polo mints in my pocket that would get broken, and my pride! :D
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)