9 Best 4G/LTE Smartwatches For Cellular Connectivity in 2021 [Standalone Devices]

There was a time when you had to rely on Bluetooth for connecting your wearables to your smartphone, but that’s no more the case. Nowadays, you can find many smartwatches that are capable of connecting to 4G/LTE cellular networks. But, how to find out the perfect one for your needs?

You can check your notifications right there on your wrist even when you are away from your phone. A few of these devices also give you the option to respond to your text or answer your calls directly from your smartwatch.

This is particularly useful for those individuals who spend a lot of time working out and don’t want to be bothered by the notifications from their smartphone, while still being able to check out the most important ones.

Standalone smartwatches with LTE connection also have another distinct advantage – you won’t be constantly distracted by your smartphone. How many times has it happened that you picked up your phone to answer a text and ended up scrolling on Facebook for hours?

Best Smartwatches with 4G/LTE in 2021

Following is the list of the best smartwatches with 4G/LTE connection. Featuring everything from the most expensive and feature-loaded models to the basic ones that are quite affordable, this comprehensive list will certainly help you find the best product for yourself.

1. Best Standalone 4G/LTE Watch: Apple Watch Series 5

If you are looking for a reliable smartwatch for your iPhone, then there’s no option as good as the Apple Watch 5. It comes with a host of features. Although it is a little bit expensive, this class-leading watch is practical, elegant, and best for the Apple ecosystem.

It has a screen that will display time even when you are looking somewhere else. This has been a widely requested feature by apple fanboys for a long time, and the company has finally grounded it with this product. The watch also has an updated display that comes with excellent fitness tracking features, a sophisticated design, and a wide range of straps to choose from.

The screen is sharp and responsive thanks to the OLED display which stretches from edge to edge. It also has the digital crown which will allow you to move around the software.

Moreover, all these features are added without an extra load on battery life, but that doesn’t mean that there is an improvement in battery life. Like all Apple products, you will feel annoyed by how quickly the battery is drained. This is probably one of the biggest drawbacks of this watch.

Now coming to the fitness features and activity sensors, I have to add that if you are a keen athlete, this product might not be the one for you and you may be better off with a high-end Garmin watch. But if you aren’t one, then this should be ideal for you. It will not only complete all your activity goals, but also give you badges for hitting targets, and also keep track of your heart health.

The Apple Watch 5 comes with an electrocardiogram sensor built-in. The sensor can tell if you have one of the many heart issues, like real fibrillation. It also comes with fall detection and sends out an emergency message whenever it detects that the user has fallen or slipped. For old people or those of you suffering from disabilities or heart issues, this can be a potential life saving feature.

Other features that can be tracked by Apple Watch 5 are menstrual cycle, exercise movements, standing up, yoga, specialty workouts like hiit, swimming, running, etc. There is a highly accurate GPS in the watch that gives you accurate details about all of your workouts (which involves location.)

You can also access the app store to download apps from the watch itself. All these features and sensors work smoothly thanks to the S5 but I said built in the watch. All these things are housed inside a premium build, high, and the board that is constructed from aluminum.

All in all, this is a great looking smartwatch that is a powerhouse of performance. The only drawback perhaps is that it is not compatible with android devices and has a less than ideal battery life.

2. Best Runner Up: Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung Galaxy Watch is one of the most refined smartwatches you will see in the market right now. It has a variety of fitness tracking features as a base for my battery life that will last for 4 days.

The body of the Samsung Galaxy Watch is sophisticated and sleek looking with a circular silver and black design. The watch also has a rotating bezel which will help you in navigating the menu effortlessly.

Like most Samsung smartwatches, this device also emphasizes fitness and has the ability to auto-track like more than six exercises, along with 39 total exercises. Some of them also include the rare exercises like strength training and indoor equipment. It also features excellent sleep tracking that is accurate and precise.

Sedentary reminders are perfect for those of you who often forget to take a short walk between long working hours. What’s even more interesting is that for certain workouts like running, cycling, walking, etc, you don’t even have to activate the exercise tracker. The watch can also accurately keep account of your steps, calories burned, and distance covered.

However, this does not mean that the watch will track all the exercises automatically. Well certainly walk out like mountain biking, you may have to turn only the activity tracker manually. Other exercises that can be tried manually include back extensions, deadlifts, elliptical trainer, leg extensions grandma Pilates, my shoulder presses, etc.

The good thing is that order tracking as well as manual tracking are extremely precise. The stress management tracker on the watch is also operating with great features. It is combined with breathing exercises that will help you calm down.

But again, you will have to trigger the stress management tracker manually, not automatically. Sleep tracking is also quite precise, and the app will offer you a breakdown of the time you spent in bed.

The user interface is quite friendly and you can switch between more than 60,000 watch faces. You can also access offline playlists on Spotify (music app.) However, we will not find apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, Facebook Messenger, etc. Bixby as an assistant is also not as useful as Google Assistant or Siri.

The battery life of the watch is pretty good, it can last you anywhere between 3 to 4 days, and depending on your usage. I would also point out that the wireless charging but still uses micro USB, which is not very helpful and defeats the purpose of having a wireless charger. It is also quite easy to use the USB cable, so be mindful.

Unlike the Apple watch (which is only compatible with iPhone devices.) This Samsung watch is highly compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

The only drawback I would point out for this product is that it does not have 3rd party app support and if you are using an iPhone, the support is limited. You can still use it with an iPhone, but can’t message, email, or call with the watch. However it works smoothly with Samsung and other Android devices.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is designed to do more than track your workouts, sleep, and steps. It comes with 4G connectivity and can keep you online all the time. It also has a bunch of exciting features that will keep you on your toes.

First of all, the watch has a big display that is quite easy to read and stylish in its looks. You can also choose between lightweight aluminum design and stainless-steel design which is built for longevity. However, be mindful that only the stainless-steel variant comes with 4G connectivity.

The display is crystal clear and because it comes with AMOLED technology, you can view things clearly even from different angles. The resolution is also pretty good and the watch has auto brightness adjustment so that you can see even in sunlight.

The chipset as well as the massive storage available on the watch give it a smooth and butter-like performance without any sluggishness.

This product is also IP68 rated, which means that it is water-resistant and swim proof. The battery will last you for a long time as well, connectivity with 4G networks may deplete battery significantly faster.

You can pair your Galaxy smartwatch with your smartphone using the Galaxy wearable app. You can also use the Samsung health app to check your number of steps and the quality of your sleep.

Although both these apps as well as the watch worked precisely and accurately, it is a little bit cumbersome to check 2 separate apps. It would have been helpful to have just one app for checking all fitness related features.

I also checked the tracking accuracy and a 1-kilometer walk was recorded as 0.99 km on this watch, which is quite acceptable. you can also expect the same accuracy with counting.

You can install the Samsung Health app on your smartphone, when paired, will also give you a good breakdown of your sleep, from light and deep sleep to REM sleep. heart rate tracking is also quite precise.

Navigating through the watch is a breeze, because the interface is perfectly designed for user convenience. Samsung also offers you a ton of features right out of the box, and your watch can also drag your heart rate, sleep, and a number of different workouts for you.

It is quite comfortable to wear the watch as it is light in weight and designed ergonomically. You can also use your smartwatch to monitor the notifications on your phone. Once you have paired it with your phone, the watch will buzz for incoming notifications. You can also reply to the notifications from your wrist itself.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is capable of using handwriting recognition as well as speech for inputs. Send microphone and speaker, you can also answer your calls on the watch. you don’t even have to set up an e-SIM to do this.

4. Best Cheap For iOS: Apple Watch Series 3

If the big display and price of the Apple Watch Series 5 is not desirable for you, then you can do perfectly well with the Watch Series 3. It features an upgraded operating system with amazing features and an absolutely unbeatable price.

Apple watch series 3 is available in two sizes – 38mm and 42mm and you can choose between silver and space gray aluminum bodies. It also comes with the 4G cellular option which is symbolized by the red dot on the digital crown. You can also pick the Nike plus version if you’re willing to shell out a little extra money.

Voice, the standout feature of this device is that it comes with 4G connectivity. This means that you can now leave your iPhone at home, if you want to, while you go for a run. The antenna for or do you connection is hidden behind the display and very automatically switch on the moment you are away from your iPhone.

This bold connectivity can be used to make calls, stream apple music, access maps, receive messages, and listen to podcasts. The call interface is also quite easy to use and you can also easily pull up your contacts.

Coming to the battery life, it is not as impressive as some other products on this list. But I would say that for an apple watch, this product will last you throughout 2 days of usage, which is quite a lot for an apple.

The device is powered by apple’s third generation dual code watch processor which makes it breezy to use the watch. The graphics are smooth and launch times for apps are significantly reduced. The wireless chip has been massively improved too.

The Apple Watch 3 comes with a variety of fitness tracking activities like activity tracking, outdoor workout, elevation gain, flights of stairs climbed, etc.

For hardcore athletes, this may not be the best device, but it is pretty good for the layperson. I will also add that for cyclists, borders, and skiers, the elevation gain feature is a godsend. It is precise, accurate, and simply a charm to work with.

You can also stream Apple Music’s 40,000,000 songs on the watch if you have a subscription, but unfortunately, Spotify is not yet compatible. The podcast app by Apple also works quite seamlessly.

All in all, the faulty connectivity is the main selling point of this watch. I am considering that series 5 is already out, you can expect to pay less money for this device while still getting the same excellent features.

However, if you want a bigger screen and a thinner overall build, you might be better off with the Series 5 watch.

5. Best For Sports: Garmin Vivoactive 3

Having produced some of the best fitness trackers for athletes as well as normal people, it is no surprise that a product from Garmin Features in this list. In fact, no list which contains wearables related to fitness would be complete without a Garmin product.

This Vivoactive 3 smartwatch by Garmin Does everything from tracking exercises and your workout to providing you 4G connectivity. GPS, sports tracking, smart notifications, on board payment system, stylish design, and, and accurate heart rate monitoring – there’s nothing that this watch cannot do. This device also has lifestyle features like stress tracking and sleep tracking, which makes it a complete multiple purpose smartwatch.

First of all, talking about the design of the product, it comes with a stainless-steel casing. This gives the watch enough weight to feel premium, but without weighing you down. And despite having a plethora of smart features, it still manages to look and feel like a normal watch. The Super flexible silicone straps are comfortable to wear even for long periods of time when you are working out in the gym.

The screen is colored transflective and crafted in such a way that it makes it easy to read even in direct sunlight. It is also manufactured in such a way that it does not drain the battery of the device. the display is always on, so you can check the time and other notifications without having to click on anything. The smartwatch also has a small bezel which makes it easy to navigate the menu.

You can choose from never ideal workouts to drag, from simple ones like running, cycling, and swimming to complicated ones like weight lifting, skiing, and golfing. And if your favorite workout is not on the watch, you can also create it yourself by tweaking some of the settings on the device. It will also alert you when your heart rate hits a certain number. This feature is extremely useful for runners.

The watch collects a lot of data based on your exercise and everything is displayed in a visual and interactive manner. from time spent working out to heart rate data during the workout, and calories burned – everything is available for you to look at in just a glance. you can also check the GPS map of your route, cadence, your heart rate fluctuations, and your pace.

as if that’s not enough the Vivoactive 3 can also monitor your maximum volume of oxygen, which is a great indicator of overall fitness. heart rate checking is continuous throughout the day, and you can see the heart rate graph to check exactly when there was a spike or a dip.

You can connect your Garmin Vivoactive do yard smartphone and have all your notifications delivered to the smartwatch. While this connectivity is seamless with Android, iPhone users may have to do with limited functionality. For instance, reply to messages is not available for Apple users. Another amazing feature of this smartwatch is that you can get almost seven days of battery with just one charge.

All in all, Garmin Vivoactive three is a beautiful product packing all the features in a sturdy body. rather you are a hardcore athlete or just a normal person, you can’t go wrong with this product.

6. Best Wear OS Smartwatch: TicWatch Pro LTE

TicWatch Pro comes with LTE connectivity and the cellular support is available in partnership with Verizon. Talking about the design of the TicWatch Pro, it comes with a blend of a plastic body, stainless steel bezel, and an aluminum cover at the back. despite the sturdy body, is also an extremely lightweight device.

However, I would also add that even though it doesn’t feel very weighty, and the design is certainly chunky in its looks. It also looks a little bit cheap from up close, particularly the plastic body which clashes against the premium metal buttons and bezel. but What do you lose in looks, you gain in durability. The gadget is MIL STD 810G certified and built to last long.

The two metal buttons on the side of the watch are also very sturdy and tactile. However, it does not have a Crown for cycling through menus, which is a shame considering there are many top tier smartwatches like Samsung Galaxy watch that have this feature nailed down.

The smartwatch comes with a 1.39-inch OLED display which is crisp and has great viewing angles even when you are standing in direct sunlight. It is bright enough to see all the colors and data even when you’re outside. To top it off, the display comes with Gorilla Glass three protection which further improves the overall durability of the watch.

The display also has an always on display option and the dual layered technology for the display is best used when In smart mode. when you are low on battery, this mode will be activated by default and the LCD display underneath will kick in, saving you plenty of battery.

The TicWatch Pro I’m great built-in GPS and NFC. Now you can send and receive messages, get notifications through a Bluetooth connection, and even use the emergency services right from your wrist.

The good thing about this watch is that using LTE does not affect the battery life or the performance of the watch significantly. when it comes to software, this gadget runs on Google Wear OS which can be a bit of hit or miss.

It also does not have a lot of fitness tracking and health tracking options. Heart rate monitoring and basic activity tracking are available, but you cannot expect the watch to match some of the higher-end products like Garmin and Fitbit smartwatches. It can also track 6 preset workouts, which include indoor running, outdoor walking and running, cycling, swimming, and freestyling.

Bear in mind that the watch does not come with any ATM rating for water pressure. although it does have an IP68 rating, this does not mean that it is advisable to submerge the watch. All in all, this is a pretty affordable watch that has some great features.

7. Best Battery Life: Amazfit Bip

If you want to buy an apple watch without paying a premium price, Amazfit Bip is the product for you. In fact, it might be better than the apple watch because it has better battery life.

You don’t need to spend $1000 on a smartwatch to get a good product. The biggest proof for this statement is the Amazfit Bip. Priced significantly lower but not compromising on peters, this is a very competent fitness tracker that is robust, long-lasting, and great looking.

First of all, the design of the watch is very similar to the Apple watch. It has a mag textured plastic chassis and the display is slightly curved. The gorilla glass put on top of the display offers excellent protection. The smartwatch also has a brightly colored and pixelated display which is simply a delight to look at.

One thing that might be a bit of an annoyance is that to wake up the screen, you have to press the side button, that is, it does not come with always on display. Fitness tracking features on the smartwatch include cycling, treadmill, outdoor running, and walking. You can also get notifications from your smartphone right on your wrist, everything from text messages to twitter alerts.

But if you want to take a break you can also toggle the do not disturb mode which will disable any notifications. The fitness section of the smartwatch gives you a deep dive of various statistics like distance traveled, heart rate, and steps taken. Pages dedicated to alarm, timer, weather, activity, settings, and compass are built-in and it is quite easy to access everything on the user-friendly user interface.

Depending on your usage, the performance of the watch might be a bit variable. However, even let it bite it asking abilities, the smartwatch will last you up to 30 days without needing to charge up. This figure falls a little bit when you use GPS reliant activities frequently and use the lte feature often. However, with minimal notifications, and there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to make the battery last up to 45 days.

The simple design of the smartwatch and the best user interface makes it quite easy to breeze through various applications. Setting up the watch is quite simple but we could also note that syncing with the app takes some time because the app is not constantly communicating with the smartwatch, which is probably the reason why the battery lasts so long. I did not find this much of an issue, though.

All in all, this is a pretty solid device and such an affordable price, it is practically a steal.

8. Best User-Friendly: Huawei Watch 2 Classic

This Huawei smartwatch tries to hit all of the checkboxes that you typically have when buying a smartwatch with LTE connectivity. Fortunately, it manages to do so without being overly user-friendly.

The Huawei Watch 2 Classic comes with a sporty, chunky, and rugged design that may not be suited for everyone’s tastes. But for those of you who do not mind so to design elements, this watch will not disappoint you.

The gadget has a premium metal finish that looks smart without being too perfect looking. The rubbered finish has a chunky plastic body, which may not be well suited for everyone.

In other words, it is not the most sophisticated look out there, but it is definitely utilitarian and functional in nature. What this means is that the watch is designed to survive the wear and tear of all kinds of training sessions, races, and workouts.

It also has a 1.2-inch display that comes with excellent looks. However, I would add that the 390 x 390 resolution is not the highest out there. Although the watch boasts higher pixel density than many other products in the market, the small display may be a deal breaker for some customers.

Additionally, the display is not bright enough for you to read everything. Although it is very touch responsive and lightning fast, it is not a salient feature.

The heart rate monitor and GPS are included in the watch and the fitness tracking features are definitely one of the biggest USPs of this product. You get a world of options to choose from and a range of workouts and activities that are detectable by this product. I would also venture to say that this product is primarily designed for fitness enthusiasts, hence the rugged, sweat-proof design.

The workout app by who we are can track a bunch of metrics like a cardio workout, cycling, treadmill, fat burn, running, walking, etc. But if you are someone who is more into casual workouts, worry not, this product can also drag daily steps and monitor your daily goals. It will also motivate you to move every couple of hours so that you don’t get sedentary.

The watch will last nearly two days on a single charge if you’re using it without a SIM card. However, with the SIM card, battery loss is just over a day. This means that if you are planning to use this device for mobile data connection, you will have to charge it every night.

The charging cradle is also a little bit clunky in design and you will need to line up the pogo pins owner of the watch when charging. This is certainly a bit of a hassle common considering that there are already smartwatches in the market that come with wireless or magnetic charging. This also means that if you somehow forget to bring your charger, you won’t be able to borrow from someone else.

The small screen of the watch also makes it not so ideal for using third-party apps, which also drain the battery quite quickly. All in all, the Huawei smartwatch is good for fitness tracking and exercise nuts, but not for much else.

9. Best From LG: LG Watch Sport

This LG Watch Sport has the functionality and the design to not only be the beauty on your wrist that everyone will ask about, but also keep up with all your workouts at the gym. It also comes with google assistant support and the ability to make phone calls, allowing you to ditch your phone whenever you want to.

The LG smartwatch value certainly stands out because of its stylish design, LTE connectivity, and sporty features. It is slightly expensive, but it more than makes up for the money. It’s a pretty sizable watch. I live surprisingly comfortably despite being a bit on the heavier side. It is also artfully contoured and slim enough to not feel uncomfortable. Indeed, the watch is ergonomically designed to help you give your best performance.

It comes in two colors, titanium, and dark blue. Microphone and speaker are available for phone calls, and there is a hidden SIM card tray that will allow you to use it without a phone. The touch screen is pitted inside a full circle 1.38-inch OLED screen which is beautiful to look at. It also has always-on screen mode but this might be a drain on your battery, so use it wisely.

The world becomes brighter outdoors so that you can get good visibility even under the direct sun. The gorilla glass three protection also reduces any unwanted reflections. The operating system of the watch is completely revamped to make it smooth and buttery. It is now a much more clean and slick feeling.

The interface is surprisingly modern-looking and comes out with darker themes, UI that is easy on the eyes, and Google’s material design ethos. You will get the most out of this smartwatch if you pair it with an android phone, since features like google assistant and android pay are only compatible android.

The smartwatch focuses heavily on fitness tracking and features the right mix of sensors for this purpose. Google Fit app is loaded on the watch so that you can check and record all the results.

The smartwatch can log a variety of machines and free weight exercises automatically. You can even track gym activities like pushups, former scratch, stair climbing, aerobics, and 30 three different strength training exercises on this gadget.

GPS and heart rate monitors are available and you can also set up customizable goals on the smartwatch. The move minutes feature rewards you short bursts of activity and hard points will motivate you to get your heart rate up with longer exercises. What I do miss with this smartwatch is that it does not have proper sensors for swim tracking.

The battery lasts about 14 hours if you have the always on screen activated. Using the wi-fi and Bluetooth features, cellular data, and fitness tracking will also tax the battery a little bit. Admittedly, the watch does not have the best run time, but you can use the smart mode to rectify this problem.

The Verdict

Whether you go for an expensive Apple watch series or an affordable LG smartwatch – you won’t regret buying any of the products on this list. They are the top of their line, the cream of the cream, and truly long-lasting.

But before you make a selection, make sure that you have carefully evaluated the pros and cons of each of these, as well as figured out which are the most suitable for your unique lifestyle.

Also, make sure that you keep your budget in mind. Instead of going for something that has a lot of bells and whistles that you may not ultimately even use, it is better to pick something robust and sophisticated that works specifically for you.