Do Smartwatches Need Data Plans?

In my previous post, I talked about do smartwatches use data, how much data they use, and how to reduce their data usage.

Today, I’d like to answer another related question — do smartwatches need data plans?

Most smartwatches don’t need a separate data plan to function unless they’re standalone smartwatches with built-in cellular connectivity with 4G/LTE support. Regular smartwatches typically connect to your phone via Bluetooth to send you app notification alerts. 

Standalone smartwatches, on the other hand, may need a data plan to enable certain features like calling, texting, music/video streaming, internet browsing, and so on.

Ultimately, whether a smartwatch needs a separate data plan or not totally depends on whether you own a regular or standalone smartwatch.

But if you’re still confused about why smartwatches need data plans, keep reading to find out!

Why Do Smartwatches Need Data Plans?

Smartwatches were designed to be an extension of our smartphones, however, standalone smartwatches do need a data plan to be able to function without being paired to a smartphone via Bluetooth or connected to a Wi-Fi network.

These smartwatches have built-in cellular connectivity capabilities with 4G LTE support and need their own SIM cards (usually a nano-SIM or an eSIM) in order to connect to the internet with their own 4G/LTE network.

Other types of smartwatches, however, don’t (explicitly) need to have a separate data plan as they connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth (or WiFi in some cases) to connect to the internet. They typically use your phone’s data plan to upload and download data to or from the internet when needed. 

Do LTE Smartwatches Need Data Plans?

The short answer is yes. LTE smartwatches need a data plan in order to function to their full potential.

This is because LTE smartwatches are designed to connect to cellular networks on their own and allow users to make phone calls, send messages, and access apps that require an internet connection without being connected to a smartphone or Wi-Fi network. 

But in order to do so, LTE smartwatches need a separate data plan to connect to a cellular network and download & transmit data. 

Without a data plan, you won’t be able to make or receive phone calls, send text messages, or use internet-dependent apps.

So, if you’re planning to purchase an LTE smartwatch for yourself, you also need to get a Nano-SIM or eSIM and buy a data plan to use it independently from your smartphone.

Do All Smartwatches Require a Data Plan?

Not all smartwatches require a data plan. In fact, many smartwatches can function perfectly fine without a data plan.

Smartwatches are generally categorized as either regular or standalone. Regular smartwatches only require a Bluetooth connection to a nearby smartphone to function.

Standalone smartwatches, on the other hand, have their own cellular connectivity, which makes it possible to function without being paired to a smartphone via Bluetooth or connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Between both types, standalone smartwatches are the ones that typically require a data plan. Since they have their own cellular connectivity, they need to have a separate data plan to function independently. 

Regular smartwatches don’t require a data plan because these watches rely on your smartphone’s data connection.

Though regular smartwatches can’t make or receive phone calls and send text messages as a standalone smartwatch can, they can still receive app notifications that require an internet connection using a smartphone’s data plan.

Does a Smartwatch Use a Lot of Data?

The answer depends on how you use your smartwatch.  If you primarily use your watch for basic tasks such as checking emails, WhatsApp messages, or app notifications that require internet access, then your data usage will likely be minimal. 

However, if you use your smartwatch to stream music & videos, and for video calling purposes, then your data usage will be higher.

In general, most smartwatches use very little data on their own. For example, a typical text-only message uses only a few kilobytes (KB) of data, while a video call uses multiple megabytes (MB) per minute. 

Similarly, if you’re streaming music or videos on your smartwatch, your data usage can add up very quickly. For example, streaming an hour of music on Spotify can use up to 70 megabytes (MB) of data, while an hour of video streaming on Netflix can use up to 1 gigabyte (GB) of data.

Apart from this, it’s also worth knowing that some smartwatch apps can also use data in the background, even when you’re not actively using them. 

For example, apps that track your location or send you weather alerts may use data periodically throughout the day. However, the amount of data used by these apps is typically very small.

Is 1GB Data Enough for a Smartwatch?

1GB of data is more than enough for a smartwatch because they don’t use a lot of data as a smartphone does. 

If you use your smartwatch only to check notifications of apps that require an internet connection or email purposes, then 1GB of data should be more than enough for a month. 

On the other hand, if you use data-intensive apps like music or video streaming on your smartwatch, then you may have to purchase more than 1GB of data plan. 

Ending Note 

A smartwatch can be a valuable companion in today’s digital age. But if you’re planning to buy a smartwatch, you should know that whether it needs a data plan or not is just one aspect of the overall decision-making process.

So, take your time to conduct research, evaluate your options based on your budget, and figure out your primary purpose for buying a smartwatch. 

If you’re buying it for fitness tracking and receive certain app notifications, you can buy any regular smartwatch that fits your needs and budget.

Conversely, if you value convenience and independence and like the idea of leaving your phone behind and being able to stay connected on the go, buying a standalone smartwatch would be the right choice for you.