Apple Watch Series 3 news, updates: Issues with LTE connectivity

One of the available colors of the Apple Watch Series 3.Apple

The reviews are in for the Apple Watch Series 3, which was unveiled at the tech giant's keynote event in September. One of the highlights of the fitness wearable is the LTE connectivity feature. As per reviews, however, users might have an issue establishing a stable network connection.

According to a review from The Verge, the first batch of smartwatches might have a problem in establishing LTE connection. Even if there was an existing LTE network from signal providers such as AT&T, the latest Apple Watch connects to an unknown Wi-Fi network instead.

There are doubts whether the LTE connectivity issues in Apple Watch Series 3 are rare. However, as per the online publication's review, even the replacement unit could not connect to an LTE network, raising the likelihood that the connectivity issue could be a general problem for all Apple Watch 3 products.

The Wall Street Journal also noted issues with LTE connectivity on different watches. The publication mentioned that the LTE connection can be lost easily. There are instances when the LTE connectivity vanishes by detaching the Apple Watch Series 3 from the iPhone, or by traveling a few distances from home. The smartwatch would just show a single bar of unknown Wi-Fi connection rather than having connected to LTE.

In response to the Apple Watch Series 3's LTE connectivity issue, Apple stated that the device tends to connect to a nearby Wi-Fi network with a captive interstitial page, especially if the device is unpaired from an iPhone. Coffee shops and hotels have Wi-Fi networks that include an interstitial page.

The Cupertino-based tech giant is already investigating the issue to develop a fix, which will be released in a future software update.

Putting the LTE connectivity issues aside, early Apple Watch Series 3 reviews praise the improved processor, which can process data 70 percent faster for usual tasks. It was also noted that opening and switching between apps are faster.