Apple Watch (38mm) vs Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm)
Side by side comparison between Apple Watch vs Apple Watch 1 smartwatches, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
1.34"
AMOLED
AMOLED
272x340
N/A
512MB
RAM
RAM
Single-core
205
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
1.65"
AMOLED
AMOLED
390x312
N/A
512MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
250
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better smartwatch? Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 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!
 3 Advantages Apple Watch (38mm) | vs |  6 Advantages Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) |
| +8GB (6GB available)20% More internal storage for applications and files | vs | 8GB (5GB available) |
| +Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic backAdvantage More resistant material | vs | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic composite back |
| +325 PPI7% Crisper display of text, images and videos because it has more pixels per inch (ppi) | vs | 303 PPI |
| 520MHz 32bit Single-core | vs | +520MHz 32bit Dual-core20% More powerful processor, you can open your applications faster |
| 87 grams (3.05 ounces) | vs | +30 grams (1.05 ounces)190% Lighter |
| 272x340 pixels | vs | +390x312 pixels32% Higher resolution screen |
| 1.34" | vs | +1.65"23% Larger screen |
| WatchOS 4.0 | vs | +WatchOS 5.0Advantage WatchOS 5.0 is newer and safer |
| 205 mAh | vs | +250 mAh22% Battery - higher amperage (mAh) allows more device usage time, but it also depends on the hardware and use |
| 19 Common items in both devices |
| 512MB LPDDR |
| 10.5 millimeters (0.41 inches) |
| AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +12 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 (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Model | Watch (38mm) | Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) |
| Other model names | Apple Watch 1st gen (2015) A1553 Stainless Steel | Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 42mm A1803, iWatch S1 |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 4/24/2015 | 9/16/2016 |
| Depth | 10.5 millimeters (0.41 inches) | 10.5 millimeters (0.41 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 33.3 x 38.6 millimeters (1.31 x 1.52 in) | 36.4 x 42.5 millimeters (1.43 x 1.67 in) |
| Weight | 87 grams (3.05 ounces) | 30 grams (1.05 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic composite back |
| Protection against water and others | IPX7 certified: water resistant up to 1 meter and 30min | IPX7 certified: water resistant up to 1 meter and 30min |
📲 Display | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.34" inches | 1.65" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~44% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~55.4% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 272x340 pixels | 390x312 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 325 PPI | 303 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Sapphire Glass | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Display features | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| System version | WatchOS 1.0 | WatchOS 3.0 |
| Firmware update | WatchOS 4.0 | WatchOS 5.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple S1 (28nm) | 32bit: Apple S1P (28nm) |
| CPU | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 520MHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Single-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 520MHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR SGX543 | PowerVR G6200 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| RAM memory | 512MB LPDDR | 512MB LPDDR |
| Internal storage | 8GB (6GB available) | 8GB (5GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Network technology | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Main camera resolution | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video recording (primary) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Not supported | Not supported |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Not supported |
| Image stabilization | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Zoom | Not supported | Not supported |
| Face/smile detection | Not supported | Not supported |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Not supported |
| HDR | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Front camera resolution | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video recording (secondary) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, H.263 | MP4, H.264, H.263 |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| USB | Not supported | Not supported |
| Audio output | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV output | Not supported | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) | 802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | Not supported | Not supported |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 205 mAh | 250 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Magnetic charging (dock) | Magnetic charging (dock) |
| Talk time autonomy | 3 hours | 18 hours |
| Standby | 18 hours | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Not supported |
| Messaging | SMS, E-mail | SMS, E-mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Web browser | Not supported | Not supported |
| Antenna | Not supported | Not supported |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • 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 | • Colors: Space gray, Gold, Rose gold, Silver • Band colors: Brown, White, Black, Blue • Sport bands • 450 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri • Magnetic charger • Requires an iPhone 5s/iOS 11 or later |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Apple Watch (38mm) | Apple Watch 1 (Aluminum 42mm) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |