Huawei Watch 5.

[Johneemac]

Hi all,

I’m trying to set up a Huawei Watch 5 with eSIM functionality  and want to use it independently from my phone — essentially as a standalone device for running and health tracking.

I’ve seen references to EE offering a “standalone smartwatch plan,” but I’m struggling to get clear info from support. I don’t want a regular phone SIM or a shared data plan — just something that lets the watch operate on its own with calls, texts, and data.

Has anyone successfully activated a Huawei Watch 5 (or similar) on EE with a standalone plan?

• What’s the exact name of the plan?

• Did you need to visit a store or was it done online?

• Any tips to avoid confusion with regular SIM contracts?

Thanks in advance — really appreciate any help!

[Matt_124]

I believe it is known as a "Standalone Watch Plan" and it operates entirely independently from your own number, meaning it has its own number and allowances.

It can only be requested by calling EE Customer Services, it is not available online or in-store. You would need the Watch's EID number and this can then be used to apply the plan to the watch by the Guide.

There is also the "Paired Watch Plan", which shares the calls and texts from your phone even when you don't have it with you. This would also show up as having its own number, but would be linked to your own EE Pay Monthly number at account level meaning calls and texts would come through.

I have looked at the Huawei website however and they only make reference to Standalone plans.

My advice would be to never refer to it as an eSIM plan, just as a Watch plan (either Standalone or Paired, whichever one you would like). A normal eSIM plan, if sold to you, is unlikely to work in the Watch and will be much more expensive.

[Chris_B]

@Johneemac  Sorry to say but it’s not a supported watch on EE for cellular.   EE only supports Samsung/Google/Apple/Xporla.  

If they sell it they support it be that a sim only for the watch or full device/tariff contract.   

To setup a watch tariff it’s all done via the watch app on the phone so if it doesn’t show to add a cellular tariff it’s not supported. Customer support can not help as they don’t have the option to add it because it’s not on the system to add it. 

[Matt_124]

@Chris_B  Huawei site states here that EE support Standalone Watch Plans on their Watch 5: https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15810288/ 

Standalone Watch Plans do not always show up in the respective Watch app as opposed to the Paired Plans.

@Johneemac It would be worth trying the Watch app first to see if you get the option in there when trying to set up a data plan before trying to contact EE Customer Services.

[Schockwave]

@Johneemac @Matt_124 , it actually says it is only supported as standalone, so I doubt very much that it can be paired with the watch app, so would have its own number and plan.

[Matt_124]

That was my assumption also. 

Been a while since I paired a watch so was unsure if Standalone plans now come up as an option when setting the watch up through the apps, but I don't believe they ever have before.

[Schockwave]

Well, I have only ever had Apple Watch since having Apple Phone, since 2017, but just clicked on the link to see what it said, and all UK networks have Standalone on that watch.

[Sinbrad1966]

Ok, my two pennies worth. If you take out any sort of plan and ask for esim then you can activate it for use on the huawei. I asked ee the same question and they said they don't support huawei full stop. So as an experiment I setup a new contract and set it up using the esim qr code via huawei health. I am in the canaries on holiday, it worked and when I called the esim number and it came up on the watch. I then erased the esim and setup my esim that came with my original package and no longer did the watch work without connectivity to the phone. So the fact ee are saying it won't work is false. Also, when you are in the UK, the watch will work when out of reach of the phone. I know this for a fact. When I called ee I just told them it was a generic watch  no name and when you go into your account you can request a qr code at any stage

[Chris_B]

@Sinbrad1966  That’s a standalone tariff.   The watch is basically a phone on your wrist it doesn’t ring if someone calls your phone and your phone isn’t with you.   To have that you need a paired plan and that’s not supported. 

[Sinbrad1966]

Did I say anything otherwise? I pointed out that you could setup an individual contract for the watch and it comes a device in its own right. But whilst abroad a paired esim will not work, only while in the UK will it work. So don't understand your response when I clearly stated what I stated?