Apple Watch 2 (42mm) vs Apple Watch 3 (38mm)
Side by side comparison between Apple Watch 2 vs Apple Watch 3 smartwatches, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
1.65"
AMOLED
AMOLED
390x312
N/A
512MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
334
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
1.5"
AMOLED
AMOLED
340x272
N/A
768MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
279
mAh
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!
4 Advantages 
8 Advantages | 22 Common items in both devices |
| 11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches) |
| Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back |
| AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| WatchOS 5.0 |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +15 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| Model | Watch 2 (42mm) | Watch 3 (38mm) |
| Other model names | Apple Watch Series 2 Stainless Steel A1758 42mm, iWatch S2 | Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) Stainless Steel |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 12/1/2016 | 9/22/2017 |
| Depth | 11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches) | 11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 36.4 x 42.5 millimeters (1.43 x 1.67 in) | 33.3 x 38.6 millimeters (1.31 x 1.52 in) |
| Weight | 52 grams (1.82 ounces) | 42 grams (1.47 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back | Stainless steel body, glass front, ceramic back |
| Protection against water and others | 5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof | 5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof |
📲 Display | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.65" inches | 1.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~55.4% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~55.1% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 390x312 pixels | 340x272 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 303 PPI | 290 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| System version | WatchOS 3.0 | WatchOS 4.0 |
| Firmware update | WatchOS 5.0 | WatchOS 5.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple S2 (28nm) | 32bit: Apple S3 (28nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 780MHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR G6200 | PowerVR G6200 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| RAM memory | 512MB LPDDR3 | 768MB LPDDR4 |
| Internal storage | 8GB (5GB available) | 16GB (10GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 | 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 network | Not supported | 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 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 334 mAh | 279 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Magnetic charging (dock) | Magnetic charging (dock) |
| Talk time autonomy | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| 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 | • Colors: Space black, Silver • Sport or leather bands • 1000 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri • Requires an iPhone 5s/iOS 11 or later | • Colors: Silver, Space black • Sport band or leather bands (Hermès edition) • 1000 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Apple Watch 2 (42mm) | Apple Watch 3 (38mm) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.29W/kg (head), 0.15W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |