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Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) vs Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)

Side by side comparison between Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) vs Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) smartwatches, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?

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Compare Apple Watch 3 X Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) 05Points
1.65"
AMOLED

390x312

N/A
768MB
RAM

Dual-core

352
mAh

(Non removable)

vs
01Point Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) Compare Apple Watch 3 X
1.5"
AMOLED

340x272

N/A
768MB
RAM

Dual-core

279
mAh

(Non removable)

What's the better smartwatch? Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)

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!


26 Common items in both devices
1GHz 32bit Dual-core
768MB LPDDR4
16GB (10GB available)
Ceramic body, glass front
AMOLED
16 million
WatchOS 5.0
+19 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 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
ModelWatch 3 (Edition 42mm)Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Other model namesApple Watch Edition Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) CeramicApple Watch Edition Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) Ceramic
Country or region available(Global, International)
(Global, International)
(Global, International)
(Global, International)
BrandAppleApple
Release date9/22/20179/22/2017
Depth11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches)11.8 millimeters (0.46 inches)
Size (width x height)36.5 x 42.6 millimeters (1.44 x 1.68 in)34 x 39.2 millimeters (1.34 x 1.54 in)
Weight46 grams (1.61 ounces)40 grams (1.4 ounces)
Build, materialsCeramic body, glass frontCeramic body, glass front
Protection against water and others5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof

📲 Display

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Display typeAMOLEDAMOLED
Screen size1.65" inches1.5" inches
Screen-to-body ratio~55.1% (screen-to-body ratio)~53.1% (screen-to-body ratio)
Display resolution390x312 pixels340x272 pixels
TouchscreenCapacitive MultitouchCapacitive Multitouch
Pixel density (dot pitch)303 PPI290 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 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
System versionWatchOS 4.0WatchOS 4.0
Firmware updateWatchOS 5.0WatchOS 5.0
User Interfacefeature not registeredfeature not registered

⚙️ Processor

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Chipset32bit: Apple S3 (28nm)32bit: Apple S3 (28nm)
CPUDual-core, 1 processor:
2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core)
Dual-core, 1 processor:
2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core)
GPU graphical controllerPowerVR G6200PowerVR G6200
Performance (benchmark)feature not registeredfeature not registered

💽 Memory and storage

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
RAM memory768MB LPDDR4768MB LPDDR4
Internal storage16GB (10GB available)16GB (10GB available)
External storageNot supportedNot supported

📶 Mobile networks

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Dual-SIMNot supportedNot supported
SIM card1 slot (Single-SIM)
e-SIM (Eletronic)
1 slot (Single-SIM)
e-SIM (Eletronic)
Maximum Download / Upload150/50 Mbps150/50 Mbps
Network technology2G, 3G, 4G2G, 3G, 4G
Frequency, bands Expand band details Collapse details
GSM MHz bandQuad-Band 850/900/1800/1900Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900
Primary 2G networkGSM 850/900/1800/1900GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Primary 3G networkA1891 model (Europe,Australia):
UMTS 800/850/900/2100
A1861 model (USA,LATAM,Canada):
UMTS 800/850/1700/1900
A1892 model (China):
UMTS 2100
A1889 model (Europe,Australia):
UMTS 800/850/900/2100
A1860 model (USA,LATAM,Canada):
UMTS 800/850/1700/1900
A1890 model (China):
UMTS 2100
Primary 4G networkLTE Cat4
A1891 model (Europe,Australia):
LTE (Bands 1,3,5,7,8,18,19,20,26)
A1861 model (USA,LATAM,Canada):
LTE (Bands 2,4,5,12,13,17,18,19,25,26)
TD-LTE (Bands 41)
A1892 model (China):
LTE (Bands 1,3)
TD-LTE (Bands 39,40,41)
LTE 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)
Primary 5G networkNot supportedNot supported
Primary data networkGPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTEGPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE
Secondary 2G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 3G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary 4G networkNot supportedNot supported
Secondary data networkNot supportedNot supported

📷 Camera

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 supportedNot supported
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 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
USBNot supportedNot supported
Audio outputNot supportedNot supported
TV outputNot supportedNot supported
Bluetooth4.2 + A2DP4.2 + A2DP
WiFi802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz)802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz)
DLNANot supportedNot supported
GPSA-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASSA-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS
NFCSupportedSupported
Infrared portNot supportedNot supported

🧭 Sensors

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
SensorsAccelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Barometer
Gyroscope
Heart rate
Pedometer
Accelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Barometer
Gyroscope
Heart rate
Pedometer
Vibrating alertSupportedSupported

🔋 Battery

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Battery typeLi-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable)Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable)
Battery capacity352 mAh279 mAh
Charger, wattsWired chargingWired charging
Inductive / wireless chargingMagnetic charging (dock)Magnetic charging (dock)
Talk time autonomy18 hours18 hours
Standbyfeature not registeredfeature not registered

➕ Other features

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
Call controlVoice dialingVoice dialing
MessagingSMS, E-mailSMS, E-mail
Hands-free callingSupportedSupported
Video callingNot supportedNot supported
RingtonesPolyphonic and customizedPolyphonic and customized
Web browserNot supportedNot supported
AntennaInternal antennaInternal antenna
Qwerty physical keyboardNot supportedNot supported
Miscellaneous• Colors: White, Gray
• Sport bands
• 1000 nits screen
• 3D Touch display
• Siri
• Colors: White, Gray
• Sport bands
• 1000 nits screen
• 3D Touch display
• Siri

☢️ Radiation rate

Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm)
SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.)0.35W/kg (head), 0.18W/kg (body)0.29W/kg (head), 0.15W/kg (body)
SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.)feature not registeredfeature not registered
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