Apple Watch Ultra 3 won’t have 5G

[Yatesy83]

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.

[Fatboy71]

---

@citylights21 wrote:

@Fatboy71 Yes, I am in London!

---

Thanks.

Did you just take out the watch plan after getting the Ultra 3 or did you have it before then?

Just trying to figure out if that makes a difference, as there is something affecting some people's ability to been able to get 5G and some people who cannot. 

There also doesn't seem to be any information out there that mentions the requirements for being able to get 5G on the Ultra 3  (new plans only,  need to be in a 5G Standalone area to name two etc). 

[Fatboy71]

---

Just to come back with an update:

I updated the Ultra 3 to 26.0.2 and it has made no difference, still doesn't connect to 5G.

Unless the reason being is because I am not in a 5G Standalone area. But if this is the case then I think EE should definitely mention in their information, that 5G on the Ultra 3 is only available in 5G Standalone areas, and outside of these it will revert to 4G. 

It would be interesting to know if anyone who has managed to get 5G on the Ultra 3, lives outside of a 5G Standalone area. 

[Fatboy71]

Just been having a look around on the net, and came across this article from 9 September. Unless I have interpreted it wrong, it does mention that:

"The new iPhone 17 range and latest Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be compatible with EE's 5G standalone service"

Not sure if that means you need to be in a 5G Standalone area to get 5G on the mentioned Apple Watches. 

https://newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-the-uks-best-network-to-offer-new-iphone-17-lineup-apple-watch-series-1... 

[BrokenHope]

You do need to be in a standalone area.

I’m in one and still don’t get 5G on my watch though, someone on MacRumours in the same city does though, so there is definitely something with my plan that is stopping it working.

[Fatboy71]

---

@BrokenHope wrote:

You do need to be in a standalone area.

I’m in one and still don’t get 5G on my watch though, someone on MacRumours in the same city does though, so there is definitely something with my plan that is stopping it working.

---

Thanks. I never realised that you needed to be in a 5G standalone area or else you wouldn't get it. I really think EE should mention this in the information, as it's misleading to say the least for people who get the new Apple Watches and naturally expect to be able to use an advertised feature. 

I agree it does seem that there is something on some peoples plans/accounts that is stopping them from getting it. 

[dannclose91]

So; I’ve figured it out!

had my watch moved over to my existing paired watch plan that I’d been using with the UW2, and didn’t have 5G, noticed some plans had 5G standalone on them, and tested this myself, you need to ask customer services to add the “5G standalone SOC” to your watch plan, with an immediate start, once they’ve done that - you’ll get 5G on the watch! 

looks like that specific SOC (Product) enables the 5G on the watch/plan! 

[BrokenHope]

Which is great but now i have the fun of finding someone from support actually knowing how to do that.

i just wasted 30 mins of my lunch break being told they can’t add that addon to my watch, followed by being told i should cancel my watch plan completely and try a brand new plan, then being told they don’t support 5G on watches.

Which options did you pick when you called?

[NickH16]

surely nobody would buy the ultra 3 for 5G over 4G anyway as it makes basically no real difference on a watch anyway 

[Fatboy71]

---

@dannclose91 wrote:

So; I’ve figured it out!

had my watch moved over to my existing paired watch plan that I’d been using with the UW2, and didn’t have 5G, noticed some plans had 5G standalone on them, and tested this myself, you need to ask customer services to add the “5G standalone SOC” to your watch plan, with an immediate start, once they’ve done that - you’ll get 5G on the watch! 

looks like that specific SOC (Product) enables the 5G on the watch/plan! 

---

Very helpful.

It seems a lot of the EE staff are very poorly trained for this aspect. A question that should be asked by the customer service when people are contacting them when setting up the mobile data (over the years I have set mine up on numerous occasions and I cannot remember anytime where I have not been prompted to call 150 to complete the setup) to ask what model of Apple Watch it will be going on. If the customer answers, one of the latest models, then that tells the customer service to put that customer on to the relevant plan that allows 5G. If the customer has the Ultra 2 or older models that only support 4G, then that also tells them the relevant plan. 

Just a couple of questions that I wonder if you could answer for me please @dannclose91 

When you mention 5G Standalone SOC and SOC, what is SOC ?

Also, are you able to get 5G in a NONE 5G Standalone area ?

Just trying to figure out if you also need to be in a 5G Standalone area to get 5G on the Ultra 3 or not. 

[Fatboy71]

I was going to give EE a call, but I think I'll wait until @dannclose91  replies, and then I might be a bit more informed when I call EE. 

The thing is it seems very hit and miss if you can get someone in customer service who can add/select the correct option.