The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular takes a major step forward in making Apple's wrist-worn device its own independent, connected computing platform. Simply put, it's a must-have for athletes in the Apple ecosystem, and a wearable device worth considering for many other non-fitness use cases.

This watch was given to my son, a professional golfer, for Christmas. So far, he is really liking it. For him the smaller face works better so it doesn't get in the way of his golf swing.

This killer app of the new Watch is the cellular service, so don't scrimp on that £70 and go for that version. The Watch itself is ready for this function it seems, but perhaps that's not the case for the telecoms providers – or provider.

Cellular service; S3 dual-core processor; comparable battery performance

Cellular setup; signal strength indoors; no playing nice with third-party services

The Series 3 Watch isn’t an essential upgrade for Series 2 owners, unless you’re desperate for that cellular connectivity to free you from your smartphone. However, for owners of the original Apple Watch and anyone who’s yet to make the jump to smartwatches, this is a solid purchase.

Cellular support; Excellent health tracking; Same sleek design

The Apple Watch Series 3 is the best overall smartwatch you can buy, but battery limitations and add-on fees keep it from being a must-have upgrade. Apple with likely release an upgrade later this year.

Cellular connection works well for phone calls, email, Siri and messages; Music now syncs more easily; Improvements in fitness tracking and added watch faces; Adds barometer to GPS and swimproofing; Same overall size as last year’s watch.

Battery life takes a major hit when making calls or during GPS workouts; 42mm cellular model is expensive, and that’s before monthly wireless service and Apple Music fees; Still requires an iPhone to set up and pair with; A new Watch is expected later this year.

Even though the cellular variant of the Apple Watch Series 3 looks identical to the previous model, it does more than any smartwatch can do today. It gives you the freedom to not be tied to your smartphone and enjoy your workout without any distractions.

Can make phone calls independently; Can stream music without using an iPhone; 50-meter water resistance; Arguably the best fitness watch you can buy

Battery life falls short with heavy cellular usage; Needs to be recharged every night

Apple announced the third generation Apple Watch alongside new iPhones last month. What sets the Series 3 model apart from previous iterations is that it comes with the option to connect it to a cellular network, breaking the requirement to always have an iPhone nearby.

Battery life; Bright; sharp display; Siri integration is much better; Capable of ditching iPhone for short periods of time

It's more expensive than the non-LTE Apple Watch Series 3; A monthly fee is a non-starter for some

Earning the top score of the group, the Apple Watch Series 3 netted the Editors' Choice award and the title of Best Smartwatch for iPhone users

Loaded with smart functions; great display; extremely easy to use

Not a great battery life; pricey; Not a great battery life; pricey

It's not easy to thoughtfully integrate cellular and LTE service on a wearable. A number of Android Wear devices have tried in the past, and none of them hit home runs. In my short time with the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE, it's clear that Apple has the software chops to make cellular and LTE a...

Battery life can stand up to some LTE use; Audible Siri responses make hands-free, eyes-free Watch interactions easy; Improved performance thanks to S3 dual-core processor.

Why the red dot? Why?, LTE models require additional monthly charges by wireless service providers; Quite expensive even before extra monthly wireless charges; Standalone LTE can be unreliable; No on-Watch toggles to disconnect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth manually.

T he Apple Watch Series 3 ushers in a new era of independence for the world’s most popular smartwatch device as it no longer needs to be tethered to a smartphone via Bluetooth in order to fully function.