Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) vs Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm)
Side by side comparison between Apple Watch vs Apple Watch 3 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
768MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
352
mAh
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!
3 Advantages 
14 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Ambient light sensor |
| Gyroscope |
| +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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Model | Watch (Edition 38mm) | Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) |
| Other model names | Apple Watch 1st gen (2015), Apple Watch A1553 Gold 18 Karat | Apple Watch Edition Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) Ceramic |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 4/24/2015 | 9/22/2017 |
| Depth | 10.5 millimeters (0.41 inches) | 11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 33.3 x 38.6 millimeters (1.31 x 1.52 in) | 36.5 x 42.6 millimeters (1.44 x 1.68 in) |
| Weight | 102 grams (3.57 ounces) | 46 grams (1.61 ounces) |
| Build, materials | 18-karat gold body, glass front, ceramic back | Ceramic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IPX7 certified: water resistant up to 1 meter and 30min | 5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof |
📲 Display | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.34" inches | 1.65" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~44% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~55.1% (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 | Sapphire Glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Display features | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| System version | WatchOS 1.0 | WatchOS 4.0 |
| Firmware update | WatchOS 4.0 | WatchOS 5.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple S1 (28nm) | 32bit: Apple S3 (28nm) |
| CPU | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 520MHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Single-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1GHz 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| RAM memory | 512MB LPDDR | 768MB LPDDR4 |
| Internal storage | 8GB (6GB available) | 16GB (10GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | 1 slot (Single-SIM) e-SIM (Eletronic) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | feature not registered | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | A1891 model (Europe,Australia): UMTS 800/850/900/2100 A1861 model (USA,LATAM,Canada): UMTS 800/850/1700/1900 A1892 model (China): UMTS 2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | LTE 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) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE |
| 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 | Not supported | 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| USB | Not supported | Not supported |
| Audio output | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV output | Not supported | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 4.2 + 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 | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 205 mAh | 352 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 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Voice dialing |
| Messaging | SMS, E-mail | SMS, E-mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | Not supported | Not supported |
| Antenna | Not supported | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Watch colors: Yellow, Rose • Watch bands: White, Black, Blue, Pink, Red • Watch material: 18-karat gold yellow or rose • Band material: Leather, Plastic • iOS 8.2 or higher compatible • Digital Crown • MagSafe charging | • Colors: White, Gray • Sport bands • 1000 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Apple Watch (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 3 (Edition 42mm) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.35W/kg (head), 0.18W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |