- We’re still waiting for answers on whether or not the Apple 5G smartwatch will support 5G SA and RedCap
- Avi Greengart noted that AT&T and Verizon were listed as supporting the Ultra 3 watch
- Possibly, the Apple watch could indicate that they are ready to launch consumer 5G SA
It is not clear if the Apple Ultra 3 5G smartwatch is using the Reduced Capability (RedCap) 5G IoT specification yet.
Apple’s use of the RedCap spec would shine a light on the network technology underneath. RedCap can only be run on a 5G standalone (5G SA) core. It can’t be supported by the non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks that many operators worldwide still run, which are comprised of a 5G radios on a 4G core.
Techsponential Principal Analyst Avi Greengart, who was at Apple’s annual launch event Tuesday, noted that on the intro slides AT&T and Verizon were listed as operators that would support the new watch. He told Fierce that he had reached out to Apple for “technical details” but hadn’t heard back yet.
Dell’Oro research director Dave Bolan told Fierce at the end of last month that an Apple 5G smartwatch would use the RedCap spec. This, he said, would cause AT&T— and maybe Verizon — to open their 5G SA networks to consumers.
5G SA ahoy?
Possibly, these operators and maybe others will launch their consumer 5G SA push with the Apple smartwatch. That, however, is not clear yet. Meanwhile, sitting in the catbird seat is T-Mobile US, which launched its nationwide 5G SA network in August 2020. It has since gone on to offer 5G SA features like network slicing to consumers, enterprises and first responders.
It is also not certain what kind of battery life consumers would get out of 5G watch that didn’t use RedCap. Likely this would lead to poor battery life for a 5G wearable just burning through the standard 5G power requirements.
Fierce asked Apple for any information on what is under the Apple watch’s hood. The vendor hadn’t replied by press time.