Apple Watch (mostly) without iPhone?

[KingOfPain]

I have a (probably) strange request...

My father wanted to gift me an Apple Watch a while ago. Back then I could stop him by explaining that new models would be released soon. Now that the next batch of Apple Watches is here, he asked again if took a look at them.
My main problem is that I'm not a fan of smartphones and refuse to walk around with one for no good reason.

I believe an iPhone is necessary to set up an Apple Watch, correct?
Can it be used in conjunction with an iPad later on in any way?
Does it make sense to use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?
What about Apple Watch with cell service? Can this be used on the same call account as the iPhone or does it need a separate one?

I had a simple Casio G-Shock for 25 to 30 years. Had the battery replaced once. When it ran out of juice the second time, some other parts of the watch weren't so fresh either, thus I have been without a watch for several years.
But I seldomly need one anyway. I have clocks at home, in my car, and at work. I only need some kind of timekeeper when I have an appointment in the city. In that case I often take my iPod Touch.
I'm not complaining that my father wants to buy me an Apple Watch, but without being able to use most of its features it would be a really overpriced watch that I'd hardly use...

 

[Vincent Hannah]

You have to have an iPhone and Apple Account to setup and use an Apple Watch. The cell version makes and receives calls and texts on the same number as the iPhone, and lets you go into the world without the phone, but you still need it in the first place.

So you’ll have to rethink your smart phone policy if you want to get any benefit from an Apple Watch.

 

[Edd]

Agree with the above, Apple didn’t design the watch to be phoneless.

 

[KingOfPain]

Thanks for your answers. I assumed as much, but I wanted to make sure that I'm not missing anything.

Just to be clear, we do have an iPhone (which actually runs on my Apple ID; longer story), but I hardly use it.
Thus, I could set up an Apple Watch, but I'm guessing when using it without the iPhone it's just an overpriced watch, where you cannot use its best features.

 

[Vincent Hannah]

I don’t know how to provide tech advice to somebody who has an iPhone and an Apple ID, but “hardly uses it“. And refers to it as somehow communally owned.

Seems like a $50 Timex is what you want.

 

[Alli]

Does it make sense to use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?

My mother got a cellular plan with her latest Apple watch because she constantly forgets to take her phone with her. This way there's no need.

 

[SteveOM]

I do exactly what you’re asking about. I have an Apple Watch SE 2 with cell service paired to an iPhone 12 mini (yeah I’m one of those guys). I also have a recent iPad with cell service. I leave the phone on my “tech table” at home for days at a time. When I leave the house each morning, I decide whether the day’s plan indicates just calls, texts and reminders (Watch-only day because I’m driving), or I need an iOS device (iPad plus Watch day, means working while riding the bus). My cell provider is T-Mobile in the USA which sends all phone calls on my number to both the Watch and iPad even when only the 5G cell is available (no WiFi). The only downside is the incredible cacophony when all devices are at home and a call comes in!

 

[Vincent Hannah]

You do “exactly what he’s asking about” with your own iPhone and Apple Account on all three devices. The fact that you leave the iPhone at home unused most days is merely a workflow choice: it still needs to exist as the parent device for both the cell watch and cell iPad. And it can’t be “shared” with other people.

 

[DT]

The only downside is the incredible cacophony when all devices are at home and a call comes in!

We rarely get actual phone calls, but got one he other day, everything was going off, watch, phone, tablet ... computer ... something upstairs ... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ANSWER!

 

[DT]

Thanks for your answers. I assumed as much, but I wanted to make sure that I'm not missing anything.

Just to be clear, we do have an iPhone (which actually runs on my Apple ID; longer story), but I hardly use it.
Thus, I could set up an Apple Watch, but I'm guessing when using it without the iPhone it's just an overpriced watch, where you cannot use its best features.

If you've got easy access to an iPhone that uses your AppleID (and a phone number ), you're good with a cellular Apple Watch. It run pretty autonomously once it's setup and occasionally managing it with the phone, and has a ton of functionality. There's a notable difference in "I don't own an iPhone" and "I mostly don't want to carry an iPhone", WRT owning a [cellular] Apple Watch

 

[SteveOM]

You do “exactly what he’s asking about” with your own iPhone and Apple Account on all three devices. The fact that you leave the iPhone at home unused most days is merely a workflow choice: it still needs to exist as the parent device for both the cell watch and cell iPad. And it can’t be “shared” with other people.

Well, yes, you're right. As @DT said later, there's a difference between not owning an iPhone and not carrying an iPhone. I wish that smart watches could be fully standalone or at least manageable from a computer or iPad, and that mine was shareable. Leaving an older iPhone untouched on a desk is the least annoying partial solution I've found.

 

[DT]

And side note: I love my Apple Watch (the wife is the same). We've owned them since the Series 0, it's been pretty much the only watch I wear (and I have some "nice" traditional watches). I like swapping faces, bands, trying out different apps/complications, health/workout related features, Car Key, Siri access, all the neat sensors for things like water temp and depth, the handy weather, date, on-wrist notifications.

 

[Yoused]

The fact that you leave the iPhone at home unused most days is merely a workflow choice: it still needs to exist as the parent device for both the cell watch and cell iPad.

Is this currently the case? Because I have had cell on an iPad without having an iPhone. In the past, at least.

 

[japanime]

Is this currently the case? Because I have had cell on an iPad without having an iPhone. In the past, at least.

That other post was incorrect. The situation is the same today as how you remembered it — a cellular-enabled iPad is a standalone device. No iPhone required.

 

[KingOfPain]

Again, thanks for everyone who responded to my weird question.

The iPhone is currently covered by Lidl connect, which Apple doesn't list. But Lidl connect is using Vodafone as the carrier, which Apple does list.
But to use it with the Apple Watch it must be an eSIM. After some searching I found out that Lidl connect does support eSIM, but I'm pretty sure that there is a physical SIM card in the iPhone. I guess I'll have to do some more research.

From what I gather: The Apple Watch with cell would be useful, if I could get it to work, but without cell and not always slugging around the iPhone it most likely isn't.

I didn't want to go into those details, because it wasn't relevant to technical discussion. But since at least one person wondered, what's up with this iPhone:

• Years ago my father told me that he wants to buy an iPhone for my mother, so she has a mobile that isn't from the previous decade, when she's at her cancer treatment.
• When the iPhone arrived, he told me that it was actually for me, which is why it's running with my Apple ID. Had he asked me initially, if I wanted an iPhone, I would have answered "no", because I'm not a fan of smartphones (an even longer story).
• I practically didn't use the iPhone, but then lots of discounters started providing additional discounts if you are using their App. I still refuse to do so, but my father wanted to save a few Euros, and buying an additional smartphone just to save a few Euros at the discounter doesn't make much sense.

 

[Vincent Hannah]

That other post was incorrect. The situation is the same today as how you remembered it — a cellular-enabled iPad is a standalone device. No iPhone required.

Sure it’s standalone in that you can get Internet access on it via cell service, but an iPhone is absolutely required for a cell iPad if you want to receive phone calls and texts to it sent to your phone number. Same for a cell Apple Watch.

 

[fischersd]

Sure it’s standalone in that you can get Internet access on it via cell service, but an iPhone is absolutely required for a cell iPad if you want to receive phone calls and texts to it sent to your phone number. Same for a cell Apple Watch.

Yes and no. (at least with the carriers I've used here in Canada). Your iPhone doesn't actually have to be turned on for the cellular forwarding to work. I can have my iPhone turned off and the carrier still forwards my primary number to the Watch. It's similar to the "follow me" service that was marketed years ago - you can have the same call ring on your phone, your watch and your work phone at the same time (you have to have SIP enabled for your work line on your cell phone so the voice context is there).

 

[fischersd]

Again, thanks for everyone who responded to my weird question.

The iPhone is currently covered by Lidl connect, which Apple doesn't list. But Lidl connect is using Vodafone as the carrier, which Apple does list.
But to use it with the Apple Watch it must be an eSIM. After some searching I found out that Lidl connect does support eSIM, but I'm pretty sure that there is a physical SIM card in the iPhone. I guess I'll have to do some more research.

From what I gather: The Apple Watch with cell would be useful, if I could get it to work, but without cell and not always slugging around the iPhone it most likely isn't.

I didn't want to go into those details, because it wasn't relevant to technical discussion. But since at least one person wondered, what's up with this iPhone:

• Years ago my father told me that he wants to buy an iPhone for my mother, so she has a mobile that isn't from the previous decade, when she's at her cancer treatment.
• When the iPhone arrived, he told me that it was actually for me, which is why it's running with my Apple ID. Had he asked me initially, if I wanted an iPhone, I would have answered "no", because I'm not a fan of smartphones (an even longer story).
• I practically didn't use the iPhone, but then lots of discounters started providing additional discounts if you are using their App. I still refuse to do so, but my father wanted to save a few Euros, and buying an additional smartphone just to save a few Euros at the discounter doesn't make much sense.

Yes, the carrier needs to support eSIMs to provision the Apple Watch - but your iPhone can use an eSIM or a physical SIM - really doesn't matter.

eSIMS are especially handy when you're travelling.

 

[Vincent Hannah]

Yes and no. (at least with the carriers I've used here in Canada). Your iPhone doesn't actually have to be turned on for the cellular forwarding to work. I can have my iPhone turned off and the carrier still forwards my primary number to the Watch. It's similar to the "follow me" service that was marketed years ago - you can have the same call ring on your phone, your watch and your work phone at the same time (you have to have SIP enabled for your work line on your cell phone so the voice context is there).

When I say an iPhone is required, I don’t mean it has to be turned on at all times to forward calls, I mean it has to exist in the first place.

This all comes back to the OP’s aversion to even owning an iPhone, yet somehow being able to get a free ride with a cell Apple Watch.

 

[Yoused]

yet somehow being able to get a free ride with a cell Apple Watch

Why do you call it a "free ride"? If the Watch can cover all of a person's O&A needs, why should they be forced to own an unneeded iPhone?