The main differences between 4G Cat.1 smart water meters and NB water meters lie in their communication technology, power consumption, network coverage and cost:

1. Communication technology:

- 4G water meter: Uses 4G wireless communication technology, which is commonly used for mobile phones and data transmission, providing high-speed data transmission speeds.

- NB water meter: It uses narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology, which is a communication technology specially designed for low-power wide area network (LPWAN). It is characterized by low speed, low power consumption, and large number of connections.

2. Power consumption:

- 4G Cat.1 water meter: Since 4G Cat.1 technology itself has relatively high power consumption, it requires a larger battery or more frequent battery replacement to ensure operation.

- NB water meter: NB-IoT technology was designed with low power consumption in mind and can operate for a long time using small batteries, even achieving a battery life of up to 10 years in some cases.

3. Network coverage:

- 4G Cat.1 Water Meter: Relies on the existing 4G network to provide wide coverage, especially in urban and densely populated areas.

- NB water meter: Although the coverage of NB-IoT is also constantly expanding, the coverage may not be as good as the 4G network in some remote or poor signal places.

4. Cost:

- 4G Cat.1 water meter: Since the cost of 4G modules is relatively higher, this will be reflected in the price of the end product.

- NB water meters: The cost of NB-IoT modules is lower, so the price of NB water meters is usually more affordable than 4G water meters.