How to set up and activate eSIM on your smartwatch

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 01 November 2023

Close up of hand touching smartwatch with health app on the screen

Contents

In this guide:

Setting up an Apple Watch eSIM
Setting up a Samsung Galaxy Watch eSIM
Setting up a Google Pixel Watch eSIM
eSIM plans for smartwatches
Setting up eSIM on your smartwatch FAQs

One of the obvious benefits of smartwatches is the ability to leave your phone at home.

As long as your watch model has a cellular connection you can get internet anywhere you can reach a mobile network.

Smartwatches access mobile networks via SIM cards that are built into them. These are called embedded SIMs or eSIMs for short.

Setting up an Apple Watch eSIM

When you first connect a 4G Apple Watch to your phone, it will prompt you to activate its eSIM.

Note: You'll need your iOS device nearby and to have the SIM activated. You'll also need to have the latest software installed on both devices

Steps to set up your Apple Watch eSIM

Download the Apple Watch app if it's not already installed
Open the Apple Watch app
Tap My Watch and then tap Cellular
Tap Set Up Cellular
Follow the on-screen instructions for your network carrier to finalise the activation process for your Apple Watch

Keep in mind: Your Apple Watch will only work on the same network as your iOS device.

Setting up a Samsung Galaxy Watch eSIM

When you connect your Galaxy Watch to an Android device, you'll be asked to activate eSIM near the end.

Note: You'll need your device nearby and to have the SIM activated.

Steps to set up Samsung Galaxy Watch eSIM

Download the Galaxy Wearable app if it's not already installed
Open the Galaxy Wearable app
Tap Watch settings or the Home tab
Tap Mobile plans, the Galaxy Wearable app will start scanning for an available cellular network
Follow the prompts to complete activation

Keep in mind: Your 4G Galaxy Watch will only work on the same network as your smartphone. While Galaxy Watch models before Watch 4 work with both Android and iOS devices, 4G connectivity will only work with Android smartphones.

Setting up a Google Pixel Watch eSIM

You can set up a Google Pixel Watch during the initial set-up process.

Note: You'll need your phone with an activated SIM nearby.

Steps to set up your Google Pixel Watch eSIM

Download the Google Pixel Watch app onto your phone if you don't already have it installed
Swipe down on your Google Pixel Watch and tap Settings
Tap Connectivity followed by Mobile
Check that the status is set to On
On your mobile phone, open the Google Pixel Watch app
Tap Mobile network followed by Set up a new profile
Select Set up a new profile via your cellular carrier
Follow the on-screen instructions to long to complete set up

Keep in mind: Your Pixel Watch will only work on the same network as your mobile plan.

eSIM plans for smartwatches

Optus Number Share

You can set up eSIM on your smartwatch through Optus NumberShare. Number Share costs $5 per month.

Optus supports the following 4G-enabled smartwatches:

Apple: Apple Watch 3, Apple Watch 4, Apple Watch 4, Apple Watch 5, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch 6, Apple Watch 7, Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch SE (Gen 2), Apple Watch 9, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2
Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active 2, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6
Google: Not supported

Number Share is only available on Optus' Choice Plus mobile plans. Here are Optus' postpaid SIM-only plans that support eSIM:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply. $69.00/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69.00/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device $70.00/mth Min. cost $70 Go to Site	$70.00/mth Min. cost $70	Go to Site
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $90.00/mth Min. cost $90 Go to Site	$90.00/mth Min. cost $90	Go to Site

Vodafone NumberSync

Vodafone's NumberSync is Vodafone's eSIM option for smartwatches. NumberSync costs $5 per month.

Vodafone supports the following 4G-enabled smartwatches:

Apple: Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (Gen 2), Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2
Samsung: Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6
Google: Not supported

Vodafone NumberSync is only available on Vodafone's postpaid plans. Here are Vodafone's SIM-only plans that support eSIM:

#1	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small SIM Only Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $45.00/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45.00/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $68 Medium SIM Only Plan 220GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $18/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $50.00/mth Min. cost $50 Go to Site	$50.00/mth Min. cost $50	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone $78 Large SIM Only Plan 420GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $23/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $55.00/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55.00/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site

Telstra One Number

Telstra One Number allows you to connect your cellular smartwatch to your Telstra plan. Telstra will charge an extra $5 per month on top of your mobile plan to use One Number.

Telstra supports the following 4G-enabled smartwatches:

Apple: Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 4 Apple Watch Series 5, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (Gen 2), Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2
Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active 2, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6
Google: Google Pixel Watch, Google Pixel Watch 2

Here are Telstra's Upfront SIM-only plans that support eSIM:

$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: Get $15 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Premium Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26

$84.00/mth

Min. cost $84

Link not supplied

$84.00/mth

Min. cost $84

Link not supplied

Setting up eSIM on your smartwatch FAQs

Do all eSIM plan providers support 4G enabled smartwatches?

No, not every telco that offers eSIM plans also supports cellular smartwatches. In Australia, the only telcos that currently offer this are the big three: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. You'll need to activate roaming to use your 4G enabled smartwatch's eSIM when travelling.

Does my phone need to be eSIM compatible as well to pair with a smartwatch?

No, while several leading devices are eSIM compatible you don't actually need an eSIM in your main device to make pairing work. You do however need both plans to be on the same network.

For example, you'll need to be on a Vodafone mobile plan to set up a Vodafone eSIM on your smartwatch.

What are the advantages of eSIM in smartwatches?

One of the advantages of the eSIM that's built into many smartwatches today is that it means you can use your smartwatch independently of your phone. This means making calls, sending texts and accessing the internet, all phone-free.

There are more pros and cons to consider for eSIM as a technology overall, generally, the pros outweigh the cons.

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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