Mobile phone watches and SIM smartwatches from 25 euros

April 11, 2020

If you want a watch with your own SIM card, you don't have to use the Apple Watch: Smartwatches with a phone function are available from just 25 euros. Are they good for what?

If you want to use the full range of functions of your smartwatch on the go or even want to make phone calls, most models need a smartphone smart health connected via Bluetooth in the immediate vicinity. Leaving the phone at health home while jogging loses a significant part of the functions and everything that requires Internet access. Smartwatches with their own SIM, on the other hand, also work independently of a data line via smartphone. At least the branded models from Apple or Samsung are outrageously expensive, but we even found alternatives to the bargain price.

Operating system and functions

If you choose a watch with a SIM slot, you should consider in advance what you want to do with it. If you really only want to be available on the go and want to make a call while jogging, for example in an emergency, you can opt for a cheap watch with proprietary software. These are available on Ebay and Amazon from around 25 euros. The functionality of these models is, however, very limited; instead of a smartphone, there is a simple cell phone or feature phone in watch format. More on this in the section Short Review.

If you want to use apps like Facebook, Whatsapp or Spotifiy on the go, you need a device with access to an app store. The most common, but also the most expensive, are the Apple models WatchOS. If you want it a little cheaper, you can take the smartwatches with you Wear OS (Android) or Tizen Watch (Samsung).

As far as the range of functions is concerned, the differences are sometimes considerable. If you want to use your watch while exercising, you have to make sure, for example, that a heart rate sensor is installed. If you would like to have your route displayed while cycling or jogging, you need an integrated GPS module. If it is really just about sport, you may be well advised to use an explicit fitness tracker (comparison Review) and an emergency cell phone up to 20 euros.

SIM

With smartwatches with their own SIM slot, the user has the choice between an independent SIM card and a second card – a copy of the actual SIM in the smartphone.

While multi-SIM cards used to be free of charge in the past, most providers now also have to pay a surcharge – this usually results in increased running costs in addition to the acquisition costs. It should also be noted that SMS with Multi-SIM does not arrive on the watch, but on the main smartphone, that WhatsApp will not work properly due to the connection to the phone number and so on, i.e.: The cheap cell phone watches are particularly good primarily for phone calls.

Brand devices

The well-known manufacturers have their top smartwatches in various versions on offer. In addition to color and material, they differ above all in the data connection. In addition to the version that only communicates with the smartphone via WLAN or Bluetooth, there is sometimes an additional variant with its own data connection. This is called Apple Cellular, Samsung LTE and Huawei 4G.

The most popular are the smartwatches Apple Watch series (Review report). Instead of a conventional SIM card, Apple comes with the so-called E-SIM which the desired provider must support. The starting price for a third generation model is around 300 euros. If you choose the older model, you have to accept compromises in battery life and functionality. The current Apple Watches of the fourth series cost almost 500 euros. Apart from the battery life, the watches from Apple can convince.

Samsung also uses E-SIM for its smartwatch with its own data connection. Instead of an in-house development like Apple, the manufacturer uses the free operating system Tizen – Samsung has had a lot of influence on Tizen in the recent past and is currently the only major manufacturer to use it. The Samsung Galaxy Watch (Review report) without LTE connection did well in the Review and left a very positive impression. Anyone who buys the model with a data connection, however, has to accept cuts in battery life. The prices for the cheapest 4G model are around 270 euros.

The manufacturer Huawei uses Google's Wear OS. The Huawei Watch 2 (Review report) is available in the black 4G version from 210 euros. In the Review we were disturbed by the inaccurate GPS and the sometimes unsightly processing. If you are looking for a branded model with a reasonable operating system, you will get sufficient battery life and a decent display at a moderate price.

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 4

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Huawei Watch 2

Cheap cell phone watches

Cell phone watches with a proprietary operating system are available from dozens of different manufacturers at very low prices. Instead of an integrated E-SIM, a classic SIM card is used here. This also contributes to the fact that the watches are not even waterproof. That alone limits the benefits extremely.

Short Review

To get an idea of ​​how cheap models work, we bought one of the cheap homes to Review. After a few days in practice, the result is one thing above all: sobering.

In addition to the extremely short battery life of just under 13 hours, both the few functions and the low ease of use bothers us. Typing messages on the small, very inaccurate touchscreen is sheer agony. Even entering short telephone numbers or the PIN code costs a lot of time and nerves.

Receiving and reading messages works amazingly well. When making calls, we notice the poor reception and the below-average sound quality. Since our Review device is not even able to communicate with cheap Bluetooth headsets (purchase advice), we also always have to find a quiet place to talk on the phone. If you want to listen to music with the device, you can do so – but also only via the built-in, rattling mono speaker. The built-in camera works, but it has a completely unusable image quality and resolution. The pedometer also works in principle, but it is very imprecise and therefore not a reliable source for collecting fitness data.

Apps like WhatsApp or Facebook are not even available on the watch. It is not possible to reinstall software. Except for reading the time, as a Bluetooth remote trigger for our smartphone, the cheap model is hardly usable. And for these functions, it would have been a cheap smartwatch (buying advice) without your own SIM. In short, the cheap smartwatches with SIM are largely unusable in practice. If you do not need a data connection, but only want to be reachable by phone, you should rather take a look at our purchase advice on cheap emergency phones up to 20 euros.

Cell phone watch Review device

Cell phone watch

Cell phone watch

Cell phone watch

Cell phone watch

Cell phone watch

Conclusion

If you also want to use your watch for phone calls, you should invest in a branded device with WatchOS, Android Wear or Tizen. The models from Apple, Samsung and Huawei offer decent equipment, overall good performance and a lot of apps. Thanks to the SIM card or E-SIM, all functions are available regardless of the smartphone. Phoning works well and inconspicuously thanks to the smart health connected headset.

Which device is the right one depends on personal preferences, needs and the budget. Our price-performance tip is the Samsung Galaxy Watch (Review report) in the LTE version.

In our experience, the cheap watches with telephone function are not recommended – just like very cheap smartwatches (guides) without SIM. In addition to the poor voice quality, the terrible operation and the limited range of functions, the battery life speaks against these models. If you want to remain reliably accessible, you should rather invest your money in a sensible emergency cell phone (buying advice).

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