topic Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G in Apple Devices

Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:18:34 GMT

I received my Watch Ultra 3 today and as i suspected only has 4G. Called EE to be told that no watch plans currently support 5G. Spoke to a manager aswell to confirm and its true. At the moment although the watch is 5G compatible we are stuck with 4G for the moment and they have no set plans to change it.

Had a but of rant stating that is doesnt specify anywhere that devices will only receive 4G and he got the hump. I then said if they were selling 5G phones and only provided customers with 4G they would all kick off and naturally you would expect 5G or the plan to at least state its 4G only. He had no reply to that and just kept repeating same crap saying we dont promise 5G anywhere when purchasing. I just figured it was a given. He was happy for me to return it but it’s not the point.

Just be prepared that if your getting device expecting 5G service currently it won’t happen with EE.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:56:24 GMT

Had a but of rant stating that is doesnt specify anywhere that devices will only receive 4G and he got the hump, i then said if they were selling 5G phones and only provided customers with 4G they would all kick off. He had no reply to that and just kept repeating same crap saying we dont promise 5G anywhere when purchasing. I just figured it was a given. Was happy for me to return it but it’s not the point.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

philbobaggins1 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:17:01 GMT

Frustrating! Especially when they list this on the description.....

And the caveats listed say that it's not available on all networks or plans. But as you're buying from a network......

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:18:46 GMT

@Yatesy83 my ultra 2 is on a 5G tariff and I took this out in 2023 when the 2 was first released

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:29:01 GMT

Just looking at the ultra 3 on EE website if you click “The legal Bit” that’s at the bottom it does state.

Apple Watch SIM Personal Paired Plan: 30 day minimum term. Subject to credit check. Monthly charges assume online billing. Only available to Consumer and Small Business Customers on an EE Consumer Pay Monthly or SIM only phone plan with compatible iPhone. Smart Watch plan is not eligible for Multi-Line discount. Apple Watch must be paired to an iPhone on the EE network to use data and receive/make calls and texts in the UK on your Apple Watch using the allowance from your iPhone plan. See Smart Watch terms at ee.co.uk/terms for full list of compatible iPhones. If you cancel your iPhone Plan you will no longer be able to use data or receive/make calls and texts on your Apple Watch. While your Apple Watch is in proximity to your iPhone connected via Bluetooth, your Apple Watch will use the data allowance from your iPhone Plan.  4G coverage required. Data is UK use only. Check your coverage at ee.co.uk/coverage. Further terms apply, see ee.co.uk/terms.

If it is a 4G tariff then unfortunately not reading what is published then that’s a you issue for not reading what’s available to be read.

But can you explain what you think 5G will do over 4G on a watch ? apart from 5G draining the battery quicker.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:45:01 GMT

I thought the same thing but EE said none of their watch plans support 5G. Feel free to check, i tested my watch with full 5G on my phone and watch never changed to 5G. If you have a new Watch 3 please share a screen shot with it showing 5G if you upgrade.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:48:23 GMT

That message you just posted just says 4G required? Doesn’t state anything about it’s only 4G that is supplied. That just means as a minimum you need 4G.

Plus mine isn’t a 30 days rolling sim.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:52:37 GMT

Mine doesn’t show 5G on it. Surely to be connected to the best speeds it has to be connected to 5G. That’s my old plan just took out a new one.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

bazza12 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:37:09 GMT

If you don’t mind me asking how do you get 10% off your watch plan please

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

ollie798 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:18:37 GMT

The Apple event even featured the EE logo. Tbf I know for a fact BT have started trialling 5G recap but it would have been nice to know it wouldn’t be available yet. But I suppose like most Apple products these days (e.g. Apple Intelligence) they sell things that are not ready and/or available.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

ollie798 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:10:46 GMT

5G won’t drain it faster. It’s 5G redcap (reduced capacity) not standard 5G. It’s specifically designed for small devices to use less power.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

ollie798 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:15:41 GMT

The ASA don’t care what’s in the small print. If the advertising is considered misleading then that is enough.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:45:52 GMT

@Yatesy83 neither is mine it’s almost out of its 24 month contract ie that’s this Sunday.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:47:11 GMT

Would be really helpful if someone could show me this screen on their new Watch Ultra 3 with 5G on it. It does clearly state in Apple Event video that 5G will be available at launch with EE. I honestly think maybe advisors haven’t been educated. I have recorded my last call with them stating they do not have any 5G plans for watches.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Yatesy83 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:49:28 GMT

Have multi line, second line I get 10% discount on.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Matt_124 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:07:33 GMT

I believe from my (admittedly brief) research that the "5G" that Apple have announced the Watch Ultra 3 to support is in the form of 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability).

5G RedCap can only be deployed on 5G Standalone (SA) networks, and not 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) networks which rely on an LTE anchor-layer. BT's trial of 5G RedCap in 2023 was conducted over Nokia 5G Standalone infrastructure.

If EE announced it and the associated plans as "5G", then customers in 5G-NSA areas without 5G SA would end up questioning why they're "not getting 5G on their watch" while it is showing on their phones.

More details on 5G Standalone on EE can be found here: https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/manage-use/using-phone-features/5G-standalone

As such EE are likely making no claims of 5G support on the plans they sell until the technology is deployed widely (it may already be in 5G SA areas) and, even then, would have to be very careful about how it is advertised as it will not be available outside of 5G SA areas - reverting to 4G-LTE elsewhere.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:59:19 GMT

@ollie798 Show me where EE are selling it as a 5G tariff. Provide a link to it please.

Just because that watch can and Apple stated it can it’s doesn’t mean a network has to support that feature. No Network has to support any feature that a manufacturer puts in to a device that’s a service provided by a network such as 5G. The network has to provide a data connection if that network wants to support a cellular watch on its network. If EE chooses to limit it to 4G only and not 5G that’s still a data connection provided by the terms of the contract, it’s just not what the device can support.

That’s not me saying it’s right or wrong if EE chooses to make it 4G only.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:10:16 GMT

@ollie798 I’ve just done some more digging on this and found this on EEs site

I’ve also asked elsewhere on this site for more information on this as this is clearly miss selling as it does state 5G.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Matt_124 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:11:54 GMT

@Chris_B

If EE are to support 5G on the AWU3, it'll be in 5G-SA areas only - refer to my reply above.

If Apple were to use/allow 5G-NSA in the watch, you'd get the power-hungry experience you've mentioned which is likely why they've went for 5G-RedCap.

Re: Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

Chris_B — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:16:01 GMT

@Matt_124 That would make sense but then EE should be advertising that. It just says 5G see my image above. If it’s only in SA areas it should be labelled as such. Consumers just see 5G and the wording is 5G not 5G SA and it’s limited to SA areas.