Which smart watch can make calls?

Smartwatches have evolved from simply telling time to robust mini-computers on your wrist. Most modern smartwatches can receive notifications, track fitness and health data, provide mapping and GPS, play music, and much more. Some smartwatches even have cellular connectivity through eSIM technology, allowing you to use features like calling and texting without your phone nearby.

Cellular connectivity is one of the latest advancements in smartwatch technology. With a cellular-enabled smartwatch, you can make and receive calls directly on your wrist, even when you don’t have your smartphone with you. The connectivity works through the smartwatch’s built-in eSIM card, which allows it to share the same phone number as your smartphone so you never miss an important call.

In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at smartwatches capable of making calls, the pros and cons, key features to look for, carrier support, and provide picks for the top smartwatches that can make calls.

Smartwatches That Can Make Calls

Some of the most popular brands of smartwatches that have the ability to make and receive cell phone calls include:

Apple Watch

Apple Watch models all come with the capability to make and receive calls without needing to have your iPhone nearby. Using the built-in mic and speaker, you can talk to callers from right on your wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung’s Galaxy watches, like the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2, can make and take calls, receive voice texts, access contacts and connection history, and more. They connect to the network directly using LTE or Bluetooth.

Fitbit Versa

Select models of the Fitbit Versa smartwatch line have the ability to make calls when connected to an iPhone or Android phone via Bluetooth. They can also display caller and text notifications right on your wrist.

Fossil Gen 5

Fossil’s Gen 5 smartwatch uses Bluetooth to connect to smartphones and make calls. It has a speaker and microphone built in so you can conveniently receive and make calls from your wrist.

Garmin vívoactive

The Garmin vívoactive lineup of smartwatches features cellular connectivity on select models. This allows using the watch to make and take phone calls when you are away from your mobile phone.

How Smartwatches Make Calls

In order to make and receive calls directly on a smartwatch without needing a nearby smartphone, the watch requires cellular connectivity and a mobile plan. This allows the smartwatch to function independently for calling and data functions.

Most cellular-enabled smartwatches have an eSIM built in, which is a type of programmable SIM card. This allows you to easily activate mobile service on the smartwatch through your wireless carrier, without needing to insert a physical SIM card.

To make and take calls, most smartwatches utilize Bluetooth connectivity to pair with wireless headphones or an external speakerphone. Since smartwatches lack holding a device to your ear, this allows you to hear the audio through a separate accessory.

According to Samsung, their Galaxy Watch lineup can “make and answer calls by using the speaker and microphone that are built into your watch. Or you can connect with compatible Bluetooth audio devices, like headphones or speakers, to make and answer calls that way for more privacy.”

Pros of Smartwatch Calling

There are several advantages to being able to make and receive phone calls directly from your smartwatch:

Convenience when away from your phone – Smartwatches enable you to conveniently make and take calls when your phone is in another room charging or you’ve stepped away from it briefly. You don’t have to rush to get to your phone or miss important calls.

Easy access for quick calls – Making calls from your wristwatch allows you to quickly access your contacts and make calls on the go without having to pull your phone out. This makes it easy to place short calls when needed.

Safety/emergency calls – In emergency situations where accessing your phone is difficult, smartwatches give you the ability to call for help quickly. You can also pre-program emergency contacts for direct access if needed.

Cons of Smartwatch Calling

While smartwatches that can make calls offer convenience, there are some drawbacks to consider as well:

• Extra cellular plan cost – Most carriers charge an additional $10 per month for smartwatch plans on top of your existing smartphone plan.
• Small speaker/mic – The tiny speakers and microphones on smartwatches can make call quality less clear than on a smartphone. It may be difficult to have conversations in noisy environments.
• Limited talk time – Most smartwatches only offer 1-2 hours of continuous talk time before needing to be recharged. This is much less than most smartphones.
• Need headphones for privacy – With such a small speaker right on your wrist, calls on a smartwatch have little privacy. Headphones are required if you don’t want everyone around you hearing your conversation.

Users should consider these limitations before relying solely on a smartwatch for calls. For longer or more private conversations, having a smartphone as a backup is recommended.

Key Features for Calling

For a smartwatch to be able to call without a phone, there are a few key features that need to be present.

• Cellular Connectivity: To place calls independently, the smartwatch must have a sim card slot and support a cellular network like 2G, 3G, or 4G. This allows it to directly access the mobile network without relying on a phone’s mobile connection.
• Bluetooth: Smartwatches that can call also utilize Bluetooth. When paired to a phone, Bluetooth enables using the smartwatch as a mic and speaker to call through the phone. Bluetooth calling routes the audio through the watch but still relies on the phone’s cellular network and sim card.
• Speakerphone: A built-in speakerphone and microphone allow users to have a calling experience directly on the watch, both for cellular calls and for Bluetooth calls routed through a phone.
• Noise Cancellation Microphone: Smartwatches contain sensitive microphones to allow voice calls. Many feature advanced noise cancellation technology to enhance call clarity in loud environments.

Carrier Support for Smartwatch Calling

Almost all major carriers and network providers support standalone smartwatch calling in some capacity. The key ones that provide support across a range of smartwatch models include:

• AT&T
• Verizon
• T-Mobile
• Sprint
• US Cellular

In most cases, you’ll need to add your smartwatch as a paired device or secondary line on your existing cell plan. There may be additional monthly fees per device added. The activation process typically involves:

1. Inserting the eSIM card into the watch (for eSIM-enabled models)
2. Turning on Bluetooth on both the smartwatch and smartphone
3. Downloading the carrier’s smartwatch app on your paired phone
4. Scanning a QR activation code or entering the IMEI/ICCID number
5. Waiting for activation confirmation from the carrier (may take 30+ minutes)

As long as your smartwatch model and cell carrier have an officially supported partnership, the activation process is usually quick and seamless. You can then start making calls directly from your wrist once connected.

Calling Experience

The calling experience on smartwatches can vary depending on the model. Generally, call quality is decent but not as clear as a phone since the speaker and microphone are small. Ease of use is straightforward – you can directly dial numbers or access contacts from your synced phone. However, typing on the tiny keyboard can be tricky so voice commands come in handy.

Battery life takes a noticeable hit during calls. Most smartwatches can handle an hour or so of talk time before needing a recharge. The Amazon listing for Smart Watch(Call Receive/Dial) notes that its battery lasts 1-2 days with regular use but calling will reduce that. Still, most smartwatches can handle quick calls as long as lengthy conversations are avoided.

In summary, smartwatch calling allows basic communication abilities but works best for short calls due to the small size. Battery life and call clarity are serviceable but can’t match a full smartphone.

Top Smartwatch Picks

When choosing the best smartwatch for making calls, here are my recommendations for the best value options in three categories:

Best Overall for Calling: Apple Watch Series 9 Cellular

The Apple Watch Series 9 offers seamless iPhone integration, great call quality with background noise reduction, wide carrier support, long 17 hour battery life, and an intuitive calling interface. The 44mm model is best for bigger wrists and includes the largest, most readable screen for calls.

Best Budget Option: Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro LTE

For wallet-friendly standalone calling on Android phones, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro LTE packs a lot of features into an affordable smartwatch. It offers respectable two day battery life, high-quality speaker and mic, durable titanium casing, advanced health sensors, and seamless integration if you already use Samsung devices.

Best Premium Smartwatch: Garmin epix 2

As the best premium outdoor GPS smartwatch option with calling support, the Garmin epix 2 shines with advanced health/fitness data, detailed mapping, multi-band GPS tracking, over 16 days battery, and a beautiful AMOLED display. Call quality meets expectations but isn’t best in class.

Conclusion

Calling from your smartwatch can be a convenient way to leave your phone in your pocket or bag while still staying connected on the go. We looked at key smartwatch models like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Wear OS watches that allow you to make and receive calls directly from your wrist when paired to your smartphone.

Key features that enable calling include a speaker, microphone, dial pad, and connectivity options like Bluetooth, WiFi, or LTE. While most watches utilize Bluetooth tethering to your phone to make calls, LTE models allow you to call independently without your phone nearby.

In summary, top picks for smartwatches with calling capabilities are:

• Apple Watch (Bluetooth calling requires iPhone)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch (LTE option available)
• Fossil Gen 5 LTE (Wear OS watch with LTE)

For the best standalone calling experience from your wrist, LTE smartwatches provide the most freedom and flexibility. However, calling plans for LTE watches typically require an additional monthly fee. Overall there are good smartwatch options for calling across platforms, with the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch coming out as top recommendations.