The Apple Watch 5G rollout comes with a catch: full connectivity isn’t arriving everywhere. While the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 boast upgraded 5G modems and antennas, users in several major markets are being left behind for now.
Apple Watch 5G missing from Canada and Australia at launch
Apple’s flashy 5G announcement didn’t tell the whole story. When the specs landed, it became clear: Apple Watch 5G is skipping some big-name countries. That includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and parts of Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.
There’s no hardware difference to blame. With the exception of China, Apple doesn’t regionalize Watch models. The same tech ships globally. The issue appears to be carrier-side. Without official support from networks, 5G won’t activate yet.
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Apple Watch 5G is supported in over a dozen major regions
Where 5G is supported, the list reads like a global who’s who. Big carriers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia are ready for launch. That includes:
- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Boost, Metro, and US Cellular (US)
- EE, Orange, and Three (UK & EU)
- SoftBank, NTT Docomo, and au (Japan)
- Jio (India)
- China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom
- AIS (Thailand), SmarTone and CSL (Hong Kong), Singtel and M1 (Singapore)
- du and Zain (UAE & Africa)
Meanwhile, top players like Rogers, Telstra, Bell, Vodafone, and Optus were nowhere on Apple’s support slide.
Apple Watch 5G hardware may be ready, just waiting
Apple’s decision to launch without carrier support in some markets doesn’t mean the hardware is inactive. Since the watches aren’t country-locked by design, it’s likely the 5G modem is already inside. That opens the door for future activation once local carriers flip the switch.
LTE-only for now in unsupported Apple Watch 5G markets
Until then, the new watches fall back on LTE. That’s fine for most tasks, but users expecting a speed bump from Apple Watch 5G will be left waiting. There’s no official timeline for when or if full support will arrive in countries left off the initial list.
Apple Watch 5G rollout is powerful, but incomplete
Apple’s 5G push is bold, but not flawless. The Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 are technically ready to connect, but politics, policy, or provider foot-dragging are slowing things down. Right now, your watch might be fast, but not as fast as it could be.
