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Apple Watch 3 (38mm) vs Apple Watch (38mm)

Side by side comparison between Apple Watch 3 vs Apple Watch smartwatches, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?

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Compare Apple Watch X Apple Watch 3 (38mm) 13Points
1.5"
AMOLED

340x272

N/A
768MB
RAM

Dual-core

279
mAh

(Non removable)

vs
02Points Apple Watch (38mm) Compare Apple Watch 3 X
1.34"
AMOLED

272x340

N/A
512MB
RAM

Single-core

205
mAh

(Non removable)

What's the better smartwatch? Apple Watch 3 (38mm)

The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!


17 Common items in both devices
Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back
AMOLED
16 million
340x272 pixels
Capacitive
Multitouch
Accelerometer
+10 specs and more in the table below

Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.

Highlight differences Clear highlight

📱 Model features

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
ModelWatch 3 (38mm)Watch (38mm)
Other model namesApple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) Stainless SteelApple Watch 1st gen (2015) A1553 Stainless Steel
Country or region available(Global, International)
(Global, International)
(Global, International)
(Global, International)
BrandAppleApple
Release date9/22/20174/24/2015
Depth11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches)10.5 millimeters (0.41 inches)
Size (width x height)33.3 x 38.6 millimeters (1.31 x 1.52 in)33.3 x 38.6 millimeters (1.31 x 1.52 in)
Weight42 grams (1.47 ounces)87 grams (3.05 ounces)
Build, materialsStainless steel body, glass front, ceramic backStainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back
Protection against water and others5 ATM: 50 meters waterproofIPX7 certified: water resistant up to 1 meter and 30min

📲 Display

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Display typeAMOLEDAMOLED
Screen size1.5" inches1.34" inches
Screen-to-body ratio~55.1% (screen-to-body ratio)~44% (screen-to-body ratio)
Display resolution340x272 pixels272x340 pixels
TouchscreenCapacitive MultitouchCapacitive Multitouch
Pixel density (dot pitch)290 PPI325 PPI
Colors16 million16 million
Scratch-resistant glassSapphire GlassSapphire Glass
Refresh ratefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Display featuresfeature not registeredfeature not registered

🤖 Operating System

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
System versionWatchOS 4.0WatchOS 1.0
Firmware updateWatchOS 5.0WatchOS 4.0
User Interfacefeature not registeredfeature not registered

⚙️ Processor

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Chipset32bit: Apple S3 (28nm)32bit: Apple S1 (28nm)
CPUDual-core, 1 processor:
2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core)
Single-core, 1 processor:
1x 520MHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Single-core)
GPU graphical controllerPowerVR G6200PowerVR SGX543
Performance (benchmark)feature not registeredfeature not registered

💽 Memory and storage

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
RAM memory768MB LPDDR4512MB LPDDR
Internal storage16GB (10GB available)8GB (6GB available)
External storageNot supportedNot supported

📶 Mobile networks

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Dual-SIMNot supportedNot supported
SIM card1 slot (Single-SIM)
e-SIM (Eletronic)
Not supported
Maximum Download / Upload150/50 Mbpsfeature not registered
Network technology2G, 3G, 4Gfeature not registered
Frequency, bands Expand band details Collapse details
GSM MHz bandQuad-Band 850/900/1800/1900Not supported
Primary 2G networkGSM 850/900/1800/1900Not supported
Primary 3G networkA1889 model (Europe,Australia):
UMTS 800/850/900/2100
A1860 model (USA,LATAM,Canada):
UMTS 800/850/1700/1900
A1890 model (China):
UMTS 2100
Not supported
Primary 4G networkLTE Cat4
A1889 model (Europe,Australia):
LTE (Bands 1,3,5,7,8,18,19,20,26)
A1860 model (USA,LATAM,Canada):
LTE (Bands 2,4,5,12,13,17,18,19,25,26)
TD-LTE (Bands 41)
A1890 model (China):
LTE (Bands 1,3)
TD-LTE (Bands 39,40,41)
Not supported
Primary 5G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary data networkGPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTENot supported
Secondary 2G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 3G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 4G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary data networkNot supportedNot supported

📷 Camera

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Back camera (main camera)Not supportedNot supported
Main camera resolutionNot supportedNot supported
Video recording (primary)Not supportedNot supported
FlashNot supportedNot supported
Focal aperturefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Focal lengthfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Sensor sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Pixel sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
AutofocusNot supportedNot supported
Touch focusNot supportedNot supported
Image stabilizationNot supportedfeature not registered
ZoomNot supportedNot supported
Face/smile detectionNot supportedNot supported
BSI sensorNot supportedNot supported
HDRNot supportedNot supported
Camera extrasfeature not registeredfeature not registered

📸 Front camera

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Front camera (secondary)Not supportedNot supported
Front camera resolutionNot supportedNot supported
Video recording (secondary)Not supportedNot supported
Front flashNot supportedNot supported
Focal aperturefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Focal lengthfeature not registeredfeature not registered
Sensor sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered
Pixel sizefeature not registeredfeature not registered

🔉 Sound and multimedia

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
LoudspeakerSupportedSupported
Active noise cancellationNot supportedNot supported
RadioNot supportedNot supported
TVNot supportedNot supported
Video formatsMP4, H.264, H.263MP4, H.264, H.263
Audio formatsMP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLACMP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC

🔌 Connectivity

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
USBNot supportedNot supported
Audio outputNot supportedNot supported
TV outputNot supportedNot supported
Bluetooth4.2 + A2DP4.0 + A2DP
WiFi802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz)802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz)
DLNANot supportedNot supported
GPSA-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASSNot supported
NFCSupportedSupported
Infrared portNot supportedNot supported

🧭 Sensors

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
SensorsAccelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Barometer
Gyroscope
Heart rate
Pedometer
Accelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Gyroscope
Heart rate
Pedometer
Vibrating alertSupportedSupported

🔋 Battery

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Battery typeLi-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable)Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable)
Battery capacity279 mAh205 mAh
Charger, wattsWired chargingWired charging
Inductive / wireless chargingMagnetic charging (dock)Magnetic charging (dock)
Talk time autonomy18 hours3 hours
Standbyfeature not registered18 hours

➕ Other features

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
Call controlVoice dialingNot supported
MessagingSMS, E-mailSMS, E-mail
Hands-free callingSupportedSupported
Video callingNot supportedNot supported
RingtonesPolyphonic and customizedfeature not registered
Web browserNot supportedNot supported
AntennaInternal antennaNot supported
Qwerty physical keyboardNot supportedNot supported
Miscellaneous• Colors: Silver, Space black
• Sport band or leather bands (Hermès edition)
• 1000 nits screen
• 3D Touch display
• Siri
• Watch colors: Silver, Space gray
• Watch bands: White, Black, Blue, Pink, Brown, Gray, Steel
• Band material: Leather, Stainless steel, Fluoroelastomer plastic
• iOS 8.2 or higher compatible
• Digital Crown
• MagSafe charging

☢️ Radiation rate

Apple Watch 3 (38mm)Apple Watch (38mm)
SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.)0.29W/kg (head), 0.15W/kg (body)feature not registered
SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.)feature not registeredfeature not registered
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