Whether or not smartwatches will replace smartphones in the near future is a debate of the decade. While smartwatches have their own limitations due to the form factor, modern smartwatches can do all the advanced things possible on a smartphone, including phone calls. Here, we’ll list down the best smartwatches that can make calls without a phone.
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It’s pertinent to mention here that, the majority of smartwatches can make/receive a call when paired with smartphones. But here, we’ll list only those smartwatches capable of doing calls standalone via the cellular network.
Top 10 Best Smartwatches that can Make Calls Without Phone
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
- Apple Watch SE
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- TicWatch Pro 4G LTE and Cellular
- Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
- Fossil Gen 5 LTE Smartwatch
- Apple Watch Series 3
1. Apple Watch Series 7
If you are an Apple iPhone user and looking for a smartwatch that makes phone calls, the new Apple Watch Series 7 is the right watch for you. Yes, the Apple Watch Series 7 can make phone calls and send messages using Apple Phone’s cellular network. However, if you use an Apple Watch Series 7 with GPS and LTE, you can make phone calls or send texts right from your watch, even if you are away from your iPhone.
If you own an Apple watch with LTE, call your cellular provider to activate the LTE service on your watch. Like every other modern smartwatch with LTE, the Apple watches also uses a virtual SIM, and thus you don’t need to get a physical sim card from your cellular provider.
The advanced health and fitness tracking features make this smartwatch an ideal choice for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The expected average battery life of the Series 7 is 18 hours in standard usage, but the Series 7 features a quick charging feature that allows you to charge up to 80 percent of its battery in just one hour.
2. Apple Watch Series 6
One of the variants of the Apple Watch Series 6 comes with cellular connectivity via the in-built e-SIM facility. So, in such Apple Watch Series, you can make calls without pairing to an iPhone.
For the unversed, the Apple Watch Series is the best option for iPhone owners. Apple’s latest Watch offers plenty of new features — most notably, a blood oxygen sensor alongside the ECG and a new S6 chip delivering substantial improvements under the hood.
In effect, it feels everything from launching apps to swiping through watch faces noticeably faster and smoother. Additionally, you get a 2.5 times brighter display without sacrificing battery life and quick charging than its predecessor.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 comes with a cellular model, making calls without a smartphone nearby. It is available in two models: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Both models come with a cellular model that can make calls without a smartphone nearby.
The new Galaxy Watch 4 also uses the updated Wear OS 3. This will give it a smoother performance. The Galaxy Watch 4 is compatible with all Android and iOS devices, so if you are in the market for a new smartwatch with LTE that can make calls without a smartphone nearby, this may be for you.
The watch also has improved battery life up to 2 days on one charge (up from 6 days). There’s also an updated rotating bezel design for easier navigation through apps and menus. It also features FDA Approved ECG, sleep tracking, stress management, and more fitness capabilities such as automatic exercise detection.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
The Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes (41mm or 45mm), two colors, and with or without 4G. Obviously, it’s the 4G enabled variant on which you’ll be able to call via the cellular network.
Coming to the other aspects of Watch 3. It takes the design of 2018’s Galaxy Watch and slims down its stainless-steel body in all dimensions while increasing the screen real-estate. The result is a thin, attractive traditional-looking circular watch that’s only 11.1mm thick and 53.8g in weight. It won’t be wrong if we title the Galaxy Watch as the king of Android smartwatches.
5. Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE was released in 2020 along with the Apple Watch Series 6, making it one of the cheaper wearables to come from the company. Indeed, it has a cellular variant like the Watch Series 6.
Well, if you’re interested to know more, then let’s elucidate. The Apple Watch SE was priced under $300 at launch and hasn’t witnessed any drastic price drop till now. with any further customizations to the display size, color, or band, potentially increasing the overall total even more.
6. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
Commercially released back in 2019, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 can still be placed on the list of 2022’s best smartwatches. It’s a true Samsung smartwatch that can be an excellent alternative to Apple smartwatches.
Boasting a beautiful circular design and a vibrant 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 360 x 360 pixels resolution, the Tizen-powered wearable also has everything from a built-in heart rate monitor to standalone GPS connectivity, sleep tracking, water resistance, and all-day battery life going for it.
While you’ve to shed a little extra money on the LTE variant, which will allow you to make calls without the need for a phone.
7. TicWatch Pro 4G LTE and Cellular
The TicWatch Pro 4G LTE smartwatch is available in the market, and you can find some good deals on Amazon and other e-commerce sites, which will bring down the price further. As the name suggests, it supports 4G LTE connectivity by which you can make calls and access faster data through a supported virtual SIM/e-SIM.
Being iOS and Android compatible, this one has a dual-layered AMOLED/LCD screen and two display mode options for variable battery life (up to 5-days, or 18-hours with cellular usage). It also features built-in GPS, heart-rate tracking, and sleep data analysis capabilities. As icing on the cake, it is rated IP68 waterproof, so it’ll be one of the best picks for swimmers, divers, and other folks who used to interact with splashes or water jets quite often in their day-to-day routine.
8. Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
Good news for Garmin smartwatch lovers! The Forerunner 945 series from Garmin has been upgraded with a cellular/LTE feature that will allow you to make calls, send or receive SMS, and stream music without needing a smartphone nearby.
Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE GPS multi-sport watch is perfect for those who are looking for an advanced sport-tracking watch and want the option of making calls on their own. Along with all the features already included in the Garmin Forerunner 945 watch, such as GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, plus advanced sport tracking features, this new addition makes it more versatile than ever before.
With its large display screen and long battery life, this is one of the best options available right now if you are in search of a smartwatch that can make phone calls.
9. Fossil Gen 5 LTE Smartwatch
Fossil Gen 5 LTE Touchscreen smartwatch was launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021. The smartwatch supports 4G cellular connectivity on the Verizon network in the US and works with Android smartphones. And yes, its notable key features are the ability to take calls without the need for a smartphone and an Always-on display.
Fossil Gen 5 LTE Touchscreen smartwatch comes in two color options – Blush Silicone and Black Silicone. It sports a customizable 22 mm watch strap.
Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The smartwatch is compatible with smartphones running Android 6.0 and higher. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Watch GPS, phone GPS, LTE, and NFC. You can get to know more about the smartwatch from here.
10. Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 3 is an affordable Apple watch that can do a lot more than just make calls. It has a loudspeaker and microphone so you can make calls without your phone and send and receive text messages. It also has an in-built GPS tracking sensor and a heart rate monitor.
The Apple Watch Series 3 has similar features to Apple Watch SE, but the size of the display and case are different. The Apple Watch 3 has a smaller display and case, making it more comfortable to wear for those with smaller wrists.
The Series 3 does not have SpO2 or ECG monitor, but it can detect and alert irregular heart rate. Fall detection is also not available on this affordable Apple watch but has an emergency SOS feature.
1. Do Smartwatches need a SIM card?
No. Modern smartwatches use virtual or eSIM cards to directly connect to the cellular network. So, you don’t need to search for a physical SIM card for your watch.
2. Why are Smartwatches with LTE expensive?
The components required to build an LTE-enabled smartwatch are typically more expensive than regular. So, expect a basic LTE smartwatch to cost you more money than the non-LTE variant.
3. How do LTE smartwatches work?
The LTE smartwatches connect to a cellular network through eSIM or virtual SIM technology, and thus it bypasses the need for a smartphone.
4. What is the call quality of LTE watches?
The audio quality of calls made on an LTE-enabled watch depends upon the network. So, you need to check with your cellular service provider about it. But make sure that your smartwatch has a powerful speaker and microphone system for crystal clear voice transmission. Alternatively, you can connect your smartwatch with a BlueTooth headset or earpiece to make a call.
5. Do LTE watches need a separate number?
No, the LTE smartwatch shares your regular phone number with other smartphones. But make sure that you have activated individual eSIM support on your smartphone for this to work.
6. Do LTE smartwatches have a high battery life?
LTE-enabled smartwatch requires more juice from the battery to connect to the cellular network. So, you can expect less battery life when compared to a standalone smartwatch that uses Bluetooth or WiFi only.
Conclusion
I hope that now you have a clear idea of the best smartwatches that makes phone calls without a smartphone nearby. If you are looking for a smartwatch for an android phone, then the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 would be the better choice because of its advanced features. On the other hand, if you are an iPhone user, the Apple Watch Series 7 seems to be your best bet.
However, if you are looking for a much cheaper alternative for an Apple smartwatch with phone connectivity features but without its advanced features, then try the Fossil Gen 5 or Apple Watch Series 3 instead.
Do hit the comments suggesting your pick and why you think it’s better. We’d love to hear from you.
