Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) vs Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm)
Side by side comparison between Apple Watch 3 vs Apple Watch 2 smartwatches, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
1.5"
AMOLED
AMOLED
340x272
N/A
768MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
279
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
1.65"
AMOLED
AMOLED
390x312
N/A
512MB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
334
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better smartwatch? Apple Watch 3 (Edition 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!
8 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 21 Common items in both devices |
| Ceramic body, glass front |
| AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| WatchOS 5.0 |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +14 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 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Model | Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) |
| Other model names | Apple Watch Edition Series 3 GPS + Cellular (4G LTE) Ceramic | Apple Watch Edition Series 2 Ceramic A1817 42mm, iWatch S2 |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 9/22/2017 | 12/1/2016 |
| Depth | 11.8 millimeters (0.46 inches) | 11.4 millimeters (0.45 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 34 x 39.2 millimeters (1.34 x 1.54 in) | 36.5 x 42.6 millimeters (1.44 x 1.68 in) |
| Weight | 40 grams (1.4 ounces) | 46 grams (1.61 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Ceramic body, glass front | Ceramic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | 5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof | 5 ATM: 50 meters waterproof |
📲 Display | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.5" inches | 1.65" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~53.1% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~55.1% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 340x272 pixels | 390x312 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 290 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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| System version | WatchOS 4.0 | WatchOS 3.0 |
| Firmware update | WatchOS 5.0 | WatchOS 5.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple S3 (28nm) | 32bit: Apple S2 (28nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 (Dual-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 780MHz 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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| RAM memory | 768MB LPDDR4 | 512MB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (10GB available) | 8GB (5GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) e-SIM (Eletronic) | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 150/50 Mbps | feature not registered |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | A1889 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 network | 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) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE | 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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| USB | Not supported | Not supported |
| Audio output | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV output | Not supported | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 + 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 | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Gyroscope Heart rate Pedometer |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 279 mAh | 334 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 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing | Not supported |
| Messaging | SMS, E-mail | SMS, E-mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | feature not registered |
| Web browser | Not supported | Not supported |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Not supported |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: White, Gray • Sport bands • 1000 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri | • Colors: White • White Sport band • 1000 nits screen • 3D Touch display • Siri • Requires an iPhone 5s/iOS 11 or later |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Apple Watch 3 (Edition 38mm) | Apple Watch 2 (Edition 42mm) | |
| 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 registered | feature not registered |