Apple Watch with 4G: this is how you get internet on your smartwatch

It may have taken a while, but the Dutch can finally get started with cellular Apple Watches. That is of course very nice, because you can leave your iPhone at home more and more often. In this guide, we’ll explain how to get 4G on your Apple Watch.

Getting started with a cellular Apple Watch

T-Mobile has the scoop. They are the first Dutch provider to offer a special subscription for the Apple Watch. This means you are always available, even when your iPhone is not nearby.

Your Watch simply has its own network. During a run you can just call and listen to music, for example, without having to carry your smartphone with you.

Do you want to use a so-called ‘cellular’ Apple Watch? Then this article is perfect for you, because we explain exactly how it works. Before we begin, it is important that you are aware of the required ingredients. You need this:

1. A cellular Apple Watch, which can handle 4G
2. An iPhone 6S (Plus) or later iPhone model
3. And of course a suitable subscription for the Apple Watch

Below we explain the conditions in more detail.

1. These Apple Watches have 4G

The brand new Apple Watch Series 7 is the first Apple Watch released in the Netherlands that you can buy in a cellular version from the start. Previous editions, such as the Apple Watch Series 6, could only be bought in the ‘regular’ GPS version in our country. The cellular version, with which you can therefore be reached without an iPhone, is more expensive than the entry-level version.

In other countries, such as Germany and Belgium, the 4G Apple Watch has been available for some time. Have you ever bought an Apple Watch Series 5 with 4G abroad, for example? Then you can simply use it in the Netherlands, provided you meet the other conditions mentioned above.

Not sure if you have a cellular Apple Watch? You can check that quite easily. Apple Watches with 4G capability have a red ring around the Digital Crown, the dial. Some cellular Apple Watches have a red dot on the dial.

2. Is your iPhone ready?

There is a good chance that your iPhone can be paired with a cellular Apple Watch. You need at least an iPhone 6S (Plus) to use an Apple Watch with 4G. This model was released in September 2015. Since that version, all iPhones can handle an ‘independent Apple Watch’. Very concretely, you can use a cellular Apple Watch with one of the following iPhones:

• iPhone 13 (mini) and iPhone 13 Pro (Max) from 2021
• iPhone 12 (mini) and iPhone 12 Pro (Max) from 2020
• iPhone SE (second generation) from 2020
• iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro (Max) from 2019
• iPhone XS (Max) and iPhone XR from 2018
• iPhone X and iPhone 8 (Plus) from 2017
• iPhone 7 (Plus) from 2016
• iPhone SE (first generation) from 2016
• iPhone 6S (Plus) from 2015

3. An Apple Watch subscription

Speaking of that subscription, at the time of writing, T-Mobile is the only Dutch telecom provider that sells subscriptions for the Apple Watch. Since there is no SIM card in the Apple watch, the internet connection has to come in another way. T-Mobile has devised multisim for this.

Multisim ensures that your iPhone subscription is shared with your Apple Watch. “Share” can be taken quite literally, because the smartwatch and smartphone have exactly the same phone number.

The calling minutes, amount of data and number of text messages are also divided between the two. For example, if you send an iMessage message via your smartwatch, it will ‘just’ be deducted from your (iPhone) bundle.

Since there is no SIM card in the Apple Watch, the watch connects via esim. This special electronic SIM card ensures that you can use the internet, call and send text messages with the same subscription as you use on your iPhone.

Multisum should not be confused with duosim. One SIM card is, as it were, cloned, so you always had to wait and see which device would go off first when you were called.

You don’t have this problem with multisim: incoming calls go off on both devices at the same time. This also applies to messages.

Do you want to get started with a cellular Apple Watch? A multi-SIM subscription with T-Mobile costs 5 euros per month. These costs are in addition to your regular telephone subscription.

This is how you activate 4G on your Apple Watch

Check, check, check? Then you can start setting it up. When you first start up your new Apple Watch, you can immediately add a cellular network.

You do this after the watch has asked you to set functions such as SOS and Activity. By following the on-screen prompts, you can then instantly add a network connection to your watch.

Already using your Apple Watch? Then you can still manually set the mobile connection at a later time:

The benefits of a cellular Apple Watch

The big advantage of an Apple Watch with 4G is that you no longer have to carry an iPhone with you all the time to be reachable. That is good news for athletes, for example. With a cellular Apple Watch you are easily accessible, even when you are running or swimming.

More articles about the Apple Watch:

• Apple Watch with 4G: this is how you get internet on your smartwatch

• Is the Apple Watch Series 7 worth the money? (iPhone News #43)

• Apple Watch Cellular with Multisim now available at T-Mobile (ADV)

• Concept: this is what the Apple Watch looks like with a notch

• Apple Watch Series 7 review: large screen, but (too) small upgrade