topic Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems) in Archived Posts

Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

EdClarke — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:39:32 GMT

FYI

The LTE/4G feature of this watch requires an additional data plan (at cost) and also a Samsung phone. It won't work with other Android phones such as Pixel and existing data plans.

Disappointed as LTE/4G is a really good reason to get this watch.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

walkerx — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 16:26:10 GMT

@EdClarke wrote:
FYI

The LTE/4G feature of this watch requires an additional data plan (at cost) and also a Samsung phone. It won't work with other Android phones such as Pixel and existing data plans.

Disappointed as LTE/4G is a really good reason to get this watch.

If you going for 4G then I would expect anyone buying the watch would realise it requires a data plan, you aren't going to get the service for free. This is just like when you buy a phone you need a plan to make/receive calls.

It does state on the Samsung website to be paired with a compatible Samsung phone, you can get the none 4G version and just pair it to phone, but you will need to be in BT range to receive calls and texts.

So for me the 4G feature is exactly what it seems, you can leave phone at home and still make/receive calls and use data on watch, you can't if you had the BT version and left phone at home.

Overall £7pm for a 10GB data plan ain't bad, and that you sort of getting extra line as well, and as its only 1 month rolling contract you can cancel at anytime

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

Rsearley — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:01:48 GMT

In the same way that you don't get a phone without a plan, neither do you get any connected device without paying the connection somewhere along the line

Having had 4g watches for a few years now for me it's worth the cost

You can still use your watch without the 4g connection it will just connect to your phone by Bluetooth

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

Chris_B — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 12:59:51 GMT

@EdClarke I thought that would be obvious. It’s a 4G device that needs a data connection to use 4G. Your phone tariff that you took out was for your phone but you do get to use your call/text allowance via the watch but it still needs a data connection to work and that means paying for it.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

tschimke — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 09:31:17 GMT

It doesn't say anything about the 4G version needing to be paired with a Samsung phone on the product page. So presumably hidden on some support page you find after purchasing.

https://www.samsung.com/uk/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch4-black-lte-sm-r875fzkaeua/buy/

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

BrendonH — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 09:40:39 GMT

@tschimke support pages are not hidden until you buy a product.

It is well documented that you need an additional plan when buying a 4G watch to pair to your phone. You don't get something for free in these days.

Also the support pages show what phones are compatible and it also states on that page some features may not be available if it isn't a Samsung phone.

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-phones-are-compatible-with-the-galaxy-watch/

Just for info I haven't bought the Watch4 yet and this page allowed me on it just so you know you can view it before buying.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

walkerx — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 10:33:33 GMT

this is even a better page on it

How do I set up the 4G connection on my Galaxy Watch 4G? | Samsung UK

This states you need to be on an EE or Vodafone network (have seen some posts saying the got it working with O2 but you have to physically go into the store for it)

The information was never hidden and just proves the OP never done their homework before buying the device

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

andrewdurant302 — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 11:48:57 GMT

I seem to be the only one agreeing with you on this, but here goes. I share your frustration. I have an s21 ultra, and a sim only plan with EE, lots of messages, lots of minutes, and lots and lots of lovely data. In fact too much data, so when I bought my watch 4 4g from Samsung I thought that it would just mirror the sim in my phone and use the already paid for services that I have on my phone. Lets not forget your not getting anything extra here, its just using a replicated version of your existing SIM card, so it shouldn't attract any further cost?

If your out and about using your galaxy watch to make calls and your phone is elsewhere then all your doing is using the service you've already paid for. Why it attracts an extra cost is beyond me, it doesn't cost EE anything to allow you to use your existing data, which seemingly is the only thing the new line is added for.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

BrendonH — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:04:31 GMT

@andrewdurant302 wrote:
it doesn't cost EE anything to allow you to use your existing data, which seemingly is the only thing the new line is added for.

Yes it does. You are adding another device to the network. Network cell towers can only take so much traffic at a time. Having too much puts too much load on it and it can fail and cause expensive repairs for EE.

So there is a cost to adding another device to the network. So therefore you have to pay the fee that is required.

If you buy a phone contract which has more data than you need then that's not EEs fault that is a problem you made. You should only buy the tariff with the amount of data you need. This will reduce your monthly bill and save you money

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

Chris_B — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:47:22 GMT

@andrewdurant302 You are adding something extra the ability to receive and make calls and use data if you leave your phone at home this is basically like having an tablet on your account that has its own allowance but calls/texts are not included on the tablet. At least your getting that and that needs a connection and that’s what your payment is for.

And like I said above your contract was for your phone not anything you might want to add to your account.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

EdClarke — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:45:31 GMT

It's an e-sim that replicates the phone's sim (with its plan), essentially like pulling your sim card out of one phone and putting it in another. It's still the same sim and data package, not "extra".

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

BrendonH — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:47:33 GMT

It is extra as it is not sharing your data. It comes with its own data package.

Its an esim yes but it is a separate sim. My phone has an esim does that mean my phone should not have to pay for the service it is being provided?

You need to pay for the service. Why should you get something for free?

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

Chris_B — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:50:38 GMT

@EdClarke Not at all. It’s linked via your account it doesn’t have the same number it’s has its own number for the connection and data usage. The cost is for that connection and data the calls/text come from your phone allowance because you’ve already paid. The watch can not share the connection to the network so therefore needs its own number and so therefore also has its own data that is paid for.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

EdClarke — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:54:27 GMT

I like the watch so will go for the BT version. Seems like the 4G version has a very narrow window of opportunity due to vendor lock-in.

Re: Galaxy Watch 4 (LTE / 4G feature not what it seems)

walkerx — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:23:24 GMT

The 4G version (especially the 46mm Classic) has better battery and you get more on trade-in (if trading in an old watch) and a larger Google Voucher (if still available).

Just because it's a 4G version doesn't mean you need to add a 4G plan for it to work, you can just disable the mobile data option and use as a standard BT device connected to your phone.

The benefit of the 4G version is the ability to be able to use it without the need of carting your mobile around with you, when you are out an about. Even though I probably won't use it all the time, I've chosen the 4G version as I sometimes leave my phone at home and even if out of range from my phone at home, it means I'll still get calls and texts messages.

Just because it uses the call and text plan, doesn't mean you don't have to pay for the connection as the device still needs to communicate with the mobile network, EE still need to put in routing, etc for the calls and texts to be received on your watch without the user having to be forwarded like the old days.

Also remember the shared plans (not sure if they are still about), but with those you shared the data from main account but still had to pay for the service. this is the same for the watch, you still need to pay for the service if you want to use it on 4G.