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

Wednesday September 13, 2017 3:25 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
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.


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 Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5
Tags: EE, United Kingdom
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
126 comments


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Nr123*123
10 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.
Rating: 10 Votes
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CaTOAGU
10 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.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Quu
10 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.
Rating: 4 Votes
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dannys1
10 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.
Rating: 3 Votes
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RDowson
10 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.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Azzin
10 months ago

Don't forget that US retails do not include state tax in their prices. The amount varies between 6-12% depending on the state, so the prices really aren't that far out.

I worked out earlier that I could by a 256GB iPhone X with Applecare included in NYC, for the same price as it would cost in the U.K for just the phone, so there's enough of a difference.
Rating: 2 Votes
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MrGimper
10 months ago

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.


Yep, same reason I would have upgraded. Everything but cellular.

I do get why some certain, particular scenarios would benefit from a cellular watch. What I think is amusing was the Apple Watch + Apple Music advert they showed. 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.
Rating: 2 Votes
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myuserid08
10 months ago

I worked out earlier that I could by a 256GB iPhone X with Applecare included in NYC, for the same price as it would cost in the U.K for just the phone, so there's enough of a difference.


So when you fly back to the UK - I presume you will declare it and pay import duties ?
Oh yes, that would make it more expensive! :rolleyes:

Some people on here just don't get it - probably using XE who use mid market rates. The exchange rate you see there is nowhere near what you will get. The price difference between apple store USD and GBP is very little once VAT and exchange rates are factored in.
Rating: 2 Votes
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craig1410
10 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
Rating: 2 Votes
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macgabe
10 months ago
That seems like an OK price and honestly less than I feared. Of course it should be free and presumably will eventually be rolled into bundles of "phone number on as many devices as you want", but for now I'd be happy if my carrier will offer anything similar. I suspect it'll be at least double.
Rating: 2 Votes
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