| Cult of Mac

Apple Watch 3 reviews: LTE is big, but battery life suffers

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Apple Watch Series 3
Get yours for as little as $259.
Photo: Apple

Early reviews of the Apple Watch Series 3 are now dropping ahead of its official debut on Friday, September 22. If you’re still in two minds about whether you should upgrade, they should help you make that all-important decision.

The general consensus is that LTE is a great addition to Apple’s wearable lineup. Just don’t expect a drastically different experience, and prepare yourself for some early teething troubles.

Apple Watch 3 teardown uncovers bigger battery, small changes

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Apple Watch 3 teardown
Everything that goes into an Apple Watch Series 3.
Photo: iFixit

Apple Watch Series 3 may look identical to its predecessors on the outside, but it’s a different beast under the hood, with powerful new hardware, new chips, and LTE connectivity.

A customary teardown by iFixit has also revealed a bigger battery, and one very minor design alteration to make room for new components.

You can now download bigger iOS apps over cellular

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iOS 11 iPad Pro
Look out for the changes next month.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has finally increased the cellular download limit for iOS apps.

Following the release of iOS 11, you can now download titles up to 150 MB in size without a Wi-Fi connection. That’s still not enough for many apps and games, but it is a step in the right direction.

Series 3 vs. Series 1: Which Apple Watch is right for you?

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Apple Watch Series 3
Series 3 has landed, but is it the best model for you?
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 3 is now on sale, with prices starting at $329. If you want LTE connectivity — and you will — you’ll be coughing up at least $399.

That’s not cheap. But is it worth it? And should you even consider last year’s Series 1 model, which remains on sale as a more affordable alternative?

Find out right here in our 2017 Apple Watch comparison, which will help you decide which option is the best for you.

6 reasons why you should order an Apple Watch with LTE today

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Apple Watch Series 3
Get yours for as little as $259.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 3 is now available to pre-order ahead of its sales debut on September 22. If you move fast, you may still be able to claim one for launch day delivery.

But do you really need one? Maybe you already have a previous Apple Watch that’s still serving you well. Maybe you’ve never really seen the need for a smartwatch at all. Well, forget all that.

Here are 6 reasons why you should buy an Apple Watch with LTE today.

Apple Watch Series 3 will bring LTE but no design changes

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Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 3 will look exactly the same as its predecessors.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 3 will be a significant upgrade thanks to LTE connectivity, which will allow you to use apps and receive notifications without being tethered to your iPhone over Bluetooth.

But one reliable analyst warns that the new model will look exactly the same as its predecessors.

Qualcomm fights back with counterclaim against Apple

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iPhone 6s teardown
Pegatron will team up with an Indonesian manufacturer..
Photo: iFixit

After being sued by Apple for allegedly charging royalties on technology it did not own, Qualcomm is fighting back with a lawsuit of its own, claiming Apple is misleading and has breached its contract with the company.

Qualcomm has long been responsible for the wireless chips used in iPhones, iPads and many other Apple devices, but the relationship between the two turned sour back in January when Apple filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the chipmaker.

LG’s Watch Urbane 2 is the first Android Wear watch with 4G

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lg
LG's smartwatches have always been bad, but the W7 is even worse.
Photo: LG
LG's new Watch Urbane doesn't need your phone. Photo: LG
LG’s new Watch Urbane doesn’t need your phone. Photo: LG

LG today unveiled a second edition of its Watch Urbane smartwatch, which finally frees Android Wear from your smartphone.

Thanks to its built-in 4G and 3G connectivity, the new Watch Urbane makes calls and continues to receive notifications even when you leave your phone behind.

How To Set Up Wi-Fi Personal Hotspot On iPhone, iPad With Cellular Data [iOS Tips]

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Personal Hotspot

If you have the time and inclination, and a certain sense of daring, you can share your cellular data as a Wi-Fi signal for free, without connecting through your data carrier. I’m not a huge fan of jailbreaking, per se; even the non-jailbreaking solution seems a bit technical, and some folks might see it as borderline unethical.

If you fall into either camp, and want to set up your qualifying iOS device via your cellular data carrier, here’s how.