Apple’s recently launched Watch Series 11, Watch SE 3, and Watch Ultra 3 are among the first smartwatches to support 5G. Small devices can’t support full-featured 5G, though, and instead use something called Reduced Capability (RedCap). For this reason, T-Mobile users might have a better experience than AT&T and Verizon customers.5G RedCap is a scaled-down version of 5G for power-conscious and lightweight devices like wearables. It’s ideal for devices that don’t need standard 5G, but would be better off by leveraging higher bandwidth and lower latency capabilities than what LTE offers.
The entire 2025 Apple watch lineup supports 5G RedCap. | Image Credit – Apple
Apple’s last-gen watches didn’t support 5G, mainly because full-capability 5G was too much for them. With AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offering 5G RedCap now, it makes sense for manufacturers like Apple to launch 5G smartwatches.
5G RedCap is only possible with a 5G standalone (5G SA) network or a pure 5G network. T-Mobile is the only carrier with a nationwide 5G SA network, giving it an edge over its rivals. AT&T and Verizon’s networks are still, in part, made up of 5G radios on a 4G core.
Techsponential’s founder Avi Greengart told Fierce Wireless that smartwatches don’t necessarily need 5G. 5G isn’t likely to meaningfully change your connectivity experience. Where 5G RedCap does shine, though, is energy efficiency. And, of course, devices that support the tech are future-proofed.
The use of 5G RedCap in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 makes sense from a power management perspective — you don’t need huge speed gains, and you do need to keep battery use down.
–Avi Greengart, Techsponential’s founder, September 2025
Since T-Mobile’s entire 5G network is SA, the carrier has a coverage advantage over AT&T and Verizon. Even T-Mobile’s low-band frequencies, which travel farther and penetrate buildings better than other spectrum, are SA. This will allow Apple watches on T-Mobile’s network to use 5G in more places.
It should give T-Mobile a coverage advantage, as its entire 5G network is SA, including its 600 MHz low-band frequencies, where AT&T and Verizon are just building out their core SA networks and typically at higher frequency ranges.
–Avi Greengart, Techsponential’s founder, September 2025
It likely won’t be long before AT&T and Verizon catch up. In July, AT&T’s VP of Device Technology Jason Sikes announced that the company’s RedCap 5G reached more than 200 million points of presence (POPs).
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