Apple untethers Series 3 Watch with new standalone LTE service

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CUPERTINO, Calif.—At Apple's headquarters today, the company announced a new Apple Watch Series 3, which will have standalone LTE service. This feature breaks the necessary connection between the wearable and an iPhone, allowing it to receive messages, download apps, stream music, and connect to the Internet without help.

The new Apple Watch will be available on September 22, starting at $399. A separate version without LTE service will start at $329. The older Apple Watch Series 2 will now start at $249. Pre-orders for the new models will start on September 15.

Standalone LTE service was the primary rumor swirling about the Apple Watch before today's event. Apple released the Series 2 smartwatch last year, which updated the device with onboard GPS and a water-resistance mechanism for swim tracking. The Series 3 may only have one major hardware update, but it's a significant upgrade that turns the Apple Watch from an iPhone accessory into more of a standalone device.