Smart watch cellular Plan (with phone sim switch)

njrb

Hello, I have a Lebara sim only monthly contract but I'm planning on getting an Apple Watch. I know some networks only allow you to get the watch through them on a contract. This seems to be a more expensive option, so I'm looking to purchase my Apple Watch separately. Am I right that only Vodafone seems to allow this out of the providers? 

I know I need to have my phone Sim switched to Vodafone (or if there is another provider which allow the smart watch cellular plan) but wanted to know if it is OK to get a monthly contract via a third party provider (such as mobiles.co.uk) as there seem some good deals on there compared to what is on the Vodafone website? Looking on the mobiles.co.uk website though, they don't give a lot of information (unless I am not clicking on the right area) and I can't tell if it allows wifi calling and if I have to pay extra for data abroad? How can I find this out before I purchase the SIM?

Finally, if I did go for Vodafone, got the phone sim, and bought my own watch, am I right in understanding, I could go for the Onenumber plan and then only pay £7.50 a month for the cellular plan, therefore £7.50 + the monthly phone plan only? Are there any other costs I'm not aware of?

Sorry, there a quite a few questions within this and I have tried using the chat on the Vodafone website but didn't get anywhere and can't find a number for them unless you are already a customer. Any advice would be much appreciated. And please let me know if there is a better provider/way of doing this.

Thanks

flaneurs_lobster

I can talk about the Vodafone Onenumber product - only recently given it up due to lack of use.

It's main advantage over the other smartwatch plans is (or it was 18 months ago) that the watch is genuinely independent of the phone - the other networks require the phone to be switched on and connected to network to route calls/SMS to the watch (they can, however, be remote from each other). Data/call use is taken/billed from the phone's plan.

No other costs and it works really well - I had to purchase the (Samsung) watch from Vodafone and get it set up in-store, don't know if this is still a requirement. Any problems/queries w/ Onenumber requiring CS can be fraught, it's still a niche product and CS seem to have to refer queries to 2nd level tech. 

My primary Vodafone plan has been procured via mobiles.co.uk for the last three years, it's no different to any other Vodafone plan (other than cost!) but make sure of the level of service (Basic, Red, whatever the other one's called) includes 5G/Wi-fi & 4G calling. I have all of these (but no free roaming) and 100GB data for £7/month (after claiming cashback every couple of months) on a Red plan.