The Apple Watch will be throttled to 3G data speeds on T-Mobile’s network

T-Mobile will limit data speeds on the Apple Watch Series 3 to a maximum of 512kbps despite the smartwatch’s support for LTE connectivity, a spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge. As MacRumors noticed earlier today, the throttled speeds are noted on the carrier’s website. Apple isn’t yet advising customers of T-Mobile’s capped data performance.

“Customers can do everything they want to do with the watch at 512kbps,” a T-Mobile spokesperson said by email. “If customers feel they need high-speed data, they can choose high-speed data with paired DIGITS for $20 with autopay.”

The standard fee that US carriers are charging to add the Apple Watch to your existing plan — so it can share your iPhone’s phone number — is $10 per month. Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint have not indicated any plans to limit the smartwatch’s download speeds. So T-Mobile is saying you’ll have to spend double that to unlock the Watch’s full data speed capabilities.

It’s unclear why T-Mobile sees fit to slow down Apple’s smartwatch, which is unlikely to be much of a burden on the company’s network. At launch, Apple Watch Series 3 will support calls and texting over cellular connections, and third-party apps can also access data.

Next month, Apple plans to release an update that will add support for streaming Apple Music directly from the Apple Watch. 512kbps should be enough to allow music streaming, but it’s still very bizarre to me that T-Mobile — the company that constantly says its network is “built for unlimited” — has decided to put a ceiling in place.