chrsphr
Regular Member
I recently treated myself to an LTE equipped pixel watch, so I thought I'd share my experience and thoughts in getting a cheap sim.
My primary phone is a Pixel 8a, on an EE SIM only plan.
Generally, am not thinking I'll use the LTE on the watch often. My use case is maybe going out for a walk without my phone, nipping to the shops etc and being able to pick up my notifications. I'd be really surprised if this uses much data.
I could potentially stream music/podcasts from the watch, but this just feels like a recipe for a flat batter.
I've tried the following eSIMS -
Fully Supported:
EE - for £7pm I can add a second eSIM line to my existing plan. This seems like waaay to much money. Whilst it's officially supported, the provisioning didn't actually work. EE left me with an open ticket, but I gave up after 3 days.
Technically unsupported - I used this workaround here -
Essentially, on your main phone provision a SIM that doesn't allow automatic eSIM onboarding. I used a VOXI payg SIM. On the pixel watch app, it then gives me the option to add a sim via the barcode. Use that to add your second, unsupported watch eSIM. This gives your watch a different number, but I was not fussed about that.
Spusu - £2.90pm - Spusu 1 special. Spusu's ordering and provisioning was actually flawless. Got an eSIM via email pretty much immediately. However, there were some complications,
Firstly, to activate the SIM you need to send an SMS. I couldn't send an SMS from the watch so needed to activate on my phone, then transfer
Secondly, Spusu requires custom APNs, but for some reason these don't pull through automatically to the watch. So, the SIM provisioned on the watch, but I had no internet
RWG - RWG have got a couple of very cheap sims... however, I got a mixed up with the ordering process and looks like not all of them support eSIMS? I ordered a £4pm one but it took so long to provision I gave up
BNE - BNE have a £0.74pm 'travel eSIM'. Technically, this is roaming in the UK. Order process was quick, got the eSIM, and onboarded it to the watch using the workaround no issue. Now, because this is roaming (uses O2 and 3), and because the watch actually completely switches off the LTE hardware when not in use, it's actually quite slow to connect. When I walk out the house away from my watch it's a good couple minutes before it comes off the bluetooth, turns on the LTE and then searches for a network.
However, it seems to be working. I have internet out and about, and I pick up my notifications. They don't seem to be instant, but I think that might be more a Pixel issue, as I have no issues accessing google maps etc.
74p per month feels like a good price for this feature compared to £7pm from EE, given how much I use it!!
Anyone else had any experience using different eSIMs, or any other android smart watches?
My primary phone is a Pixel 8a, on an EE SIM only plan.
Generally, am not thinking I'll use the LTE on the watch often. My use case is maybe going out for a walk without my phone, nipping to the shops etc and being able to pick up my notifications. I'd be really surprised if this uses much data.
I could potentially stream music/podcasts from the watch, but this just feels like a recipe for a flat batter.
I've tried the following eSIMS -
Fully Supported:
EE - for £7pm I can add a second eSIM line to my existing plan. This seems like waaay to much money. Whilst it's officially supported, the provisioning didn't actually work. EE left me with an open ticket, but I gave up after 3 days.
Technically unsupported - I used this workaround here -
Essentially, on your main phone provision a SIM that doesn't allow automatic eSIM onboarding. I used a VOXI payg SIM. On the pixel watch app, it then gives me the option to add a sim via the barcode. Use that to add your second, unsupported watch eSIM. This gives your watch a different number, but I was not fussed about that.
Spusu - £2.90pm - Spusu 1 special. Spusu's ordering and provisioning was actually flawless. Got an eSIM via email pretty much immediately. However, there were some complications,
Firstly, to activate the SIM you need to send an SMS. I couldn't send an SMS from the watch so needed to activate on my phone, then transfer
Secondly, Spusu requires custom APNs, but for some reason these don't pull through automatically to the watch. So, the SIM provisioned on the watch, but I had no internet
RWG - RWG have got a couple of very cheap sims... however, I got a mixed up with the ordering process and looks like not all of them support eSIMS? I ordered a £4pm one but it took so long to provision I gave up
BNE - BNE have a £0.74pm 'travel eSIM'. Technically, this is roaming in the UK. Order process was quick, got the eSIM, and onboarded it to the watch using the workaround no issue. Now, because this is roaming (uses O2 and 3), and because the watch actually completely switches off the LTE hardware when not in use, it's actually quite slow to connect. When I walk out the house away from my watch it's a good couple minutes before it comes off the bluetooth, turns on the LTE and then searches for a network.
However, it seems to be working. I have internet out and about, and I pick up my notifications. They don't seem to be instant, but I think that might be more a Pixel issue, as I have no issues accessing google maps etc.
74p per month feels like a good price for this feature compared to £7pm from EE, given how much I use it!!
Anyone else had any experience using different eSIMs, or any other android smart watches?























