Gadgets

The Pixel Watch 3’s free Google Fi LTE sure has a lot of gotchas

Published

4 months ago

August 15, 2024

A mobile-connected smartwatch may not seem like a necessary upgrade, as it relies heavily on a direct connection to your phone. However, Google is offering a tempting deal for the LTE version of the Pixel Watch 3 by providing two years of free data on the Google Fi network. Is the $100 upgrade worth it compared to the Wi-Fi version? That’s up for debate, but it’s essential to carefully review the details before making a decision.

The Google Store states that if you purchase a new LTE-equipped Pixel Watch 3 in either the 41mm or 45mm size, you will receive two years of free data service on Google Fi for the watch. Interestingly, this promotion does not specify that you need to be an existing Google Fi customer, implying that you can access LTE service on the watch regardless of your current phone carrier.

It appears that this promotion is only valid in the United States, as Google Fi exclusively offers services in the US, despite offering international roaming. However, there are some limitations to consider. The free connection does not support LTE calls to your phone, and after exceeding the 500-megabyte threshold, the data speed slows significantly to 256kbps. Additionally, there is a one-gigabyte cap on total data per month, and international usage is not supported.

Is it worth getting? It could be a nice bonus if you are certain that you need an LTE watch, don’t require phone calls without your phone nearby, and your current carrier does not offer free watch service. However, based on personal experience with the original Pixel Watch LTE, the upgrade may not be essential, especially considering the limitations of the free data offer.

The LTE version of the Pixel Watch 3 may be more appealing to current Google Fi subscribers, as the watch connection is included with the smartphone line. The Google Fi pre-order promotion, which differs from the Google Store offer, provides a $100 discount on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE, making it a comparable price to the Wi-Fi version.