On the surface, the Apple Watch GPS and cellular look nearly identical for each series. And at a glance, the first clear distinction is the overall size of both models. But go a bit deeper and you see clear differences between functionalities and performance.
The main difference between Apple Watch GPS and cellular is the connectivity. The cellular version lets you connect to a carrier of your choice, after which you can use it independent of your iPhone. GPS only models aren’t standalone, as they must stay connected to iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Apple Watch GPS and cellular also differ in terms family setup, streaming services, connectivity range, and price.
How Does Apple Watch GPS and Cellular Compare?
The table below is a summary of the difference between Apple Watch GPS and cellular:
| GPS Only | GPS + Cellular | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular |
| Family Setup | Not included | Included |
| Streaming | Streams audio with iPhone in range | Strems audio even without an iPhone nearby |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Mostly Subscription | $0 | Plan starts from $10 depending on your carrier |
It doesn’t matter if you have a GPS only or GPS + Cellular Apple Watch. You get access to full watchOS 11 functionalities, including activity profile, contactless payments, on-wrist calls, and so much more.
Network Connectivity
Get the GPS + Cellular model if you want to use an Apple Watch without your iPhone.
GPS + Cellular Apple Watch works as mini iPhone on your wrist, allowing you to do things an iPhone can do, including sending text messages, interacting AI chat bots, and answering calls.
The GPS only Apple Watch can’t work independent of an iPhone. It needs Bluetooth for communication and either of the two connections has to be active all the time to sync data in real time.
While a GPS only Apple Watch works with Wi-Fi, you have to connect it to the same network as your iPhone.
Family Setup
The GPS + Cellular model has Family Setup. The Family Setup allows anyone in your family who has an Apple Watch make calls, send texts, and share their location, even if they don’t own an iPhone.
You only need to set up this feature on your iPhone for a family member and then use the same phone to manage some of their watch’s capabilities.
Family Setup isn’t available to GPS only Apple Watches.
Music and Podcast Streaming
Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models have what it takes to stream music, audiobooks, and podcasts without your iPhone nearby. You need a music app, an active LTE cellular plan, or Wi-Fi internet. The GPS only Apple Watch requires your iPhone to be in range to play music.
Both smartwatch models support offline music playback depending on the app you use and the subscription models used by those apps. Simply download the audio files to the watch’s local storage for offline use.
Battery Life
An Apple Watch doesn’t have a decent battery life. The runtime on a single charge for a GPS only model is somewhere between 12 and 16 hours in actual test. And it’s even less for a GPS + Cellular model because LTE uses more battery power to run continuously.
To be clear, an Apple Watch doesn’t have a long battery life for a reason. Apple’s focus is on maximizing performance, not preserving battery for extended use. The watch has a ton of features and it performs great. That requires a lot of battery power.
Apple’s focus on performance and user experience explain why, according to “CNBC News”, the company sold 30.7 million smartwatches in 2019 alone, which is about 9.6 million more units than all Swiss watch models combined.
Price
Price is an important factor to consider before you buy an Apple Watch, especially considering that there are cost differences between GPS only and GPS + Cellular models.
You’regoing to spend more on the cellular version than on the GPS-only watch. The price difference is somewhere around $100. I wear the GPS only Series 8, which costs around $399, and the GPS + Cellular version of the same Series goes for about $499.
To determineif you need a GPS only or GPS + Cellular model, first look at what your needs are. For example, you can get yourself the GPS only model if you’re someone who brings your iPhone with you wherever you go.
However, buy the GPS + Cellular model if you love the convenience of leaving your phone at home and you want to get a more feature-rich, minimalist user experience.
