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

[EdClarke]

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.

[walkerx]

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@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.

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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

[Rsearley]

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 

[Chris_B]

@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. 

[tschimke]

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/

[BrendonH]

@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.

[walkerx]

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

[andrewdurant302]

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. 

[BrendonH]

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@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. 

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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

[Chris_B]

@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.