How Apple Watch Series 3’s tech specs compare to Series 2

Apple unveiled its all-new Apple Watch Series 3 last week alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and while they were clear that it would become the flagship model of their popular smartwatch, they weren’t clear about how it stacks up to the current Apple Watch Series 2.

In this piece, we’ll go over the tech specs of each so that you can compare them side by side and choose what one is right for you.

Apple Watch Series 3 vs Series 2 tech specs

Models

Apple Watch Series 3

  • GPS + Cellular
    • Apple Watch
      • Aluminum case with Sport Band or Sport Loop
      • Stainless steel case with Sport Band or Milanese Loop
    • Apple Watch Nike+
      • Aluminum case with Nike Sport Band or Nike Sport Loop
    • Apple Watch Hermès
      • Stainless steel case with Hermès leather band
      • Additional Sport Band included with purchase
    • Apple Watch Edition
      • Ceramic case with Sport Band
  • GPS
    • Apple Watch
      • Aluminum case with Sport Band
    • Apple Watch Nike+
      • Aluminum case with Nike Sport Band

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Apple Watch
    • Aluminum case with Sport Band or Woven Nylon band
    • Stainless steel case with Sport Band, stainless steel band, or leather band
  • Apple Watch Nike+
    • Aluminum case with Nike Sport Band
  • Apple Watch Hermès
    • Stainless steel case with Hermès band
    • Additional Sport Band included with purchase
  • Apple Watch Edition
    • Ceramic case with Sport Band
    • Magnetic Charging Dock included with purchase

Dimensions

Apple Watch Series 3

  • Aluminum case – 38mm
    • Height: 38.6mm
    • Width: 33.3mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight (GPS): 26.7g
    • Case Weight (GPS + Cellular): 28.7g
  • Aluminum case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.5mm
    • Width: 36.4mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight (GPS): 32.3g
    • Case Weight (GPS + Cellular): 34.9g
  • Stainless Steel case – 38mm
    • Height: 38.6mm
    • Width: 33.3mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 42.4g
  • Stainless Steel case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.5mm
    • Width: 36.4mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 52.8g
  • White Ceramic case – 38mm
    • Height: 39.2mm
    • Width: 34.0mm
    • Depth: 11.8mm
    • Case Weight: 40.1g
  • White Ceramic case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.6mm
    • Width: 36.5mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 46.4g

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Aluminum case – 38mm
    • Height: 38.6mm
    • Width: 33.3mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 28.2g
  • Aluminum case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.5mm
    • Width: 36.4mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 34.2g
  • Stainless Steel case – 38mm
    • Height: 38.6mm
    • Width: 33.3mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 41.9g
  • Stainless Steel case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.5mm
    • Width: 36.4mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 52.4g
  • White Ceramic case – 38mm
    • Height: 39.2mm
    • Width: 34.0mm
    • Depth: 11.8mm
    • Case Weight: 39.6g
  • White Ceramic case – 42mm
    • Height: 42.6mm
    • Width: 36.5mm
    • Depth: 11.4mm
    • Case Weight: 45.6g

Chips

Apple Watch Series 3

  • Faster dual-core processor
  • Apple wireless chip

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Dual‑core processor
  • Built‑in GPS

Features

Apple Watch Series 3

  • GPS + Cellular
    • Built-in GPS and GLONASS
    • Barometric altimeter
    • Water resistant 50 meters
    • Heart rate sensor
    • Accelerometer
    • Gyroscope
    • Ambient light sensor
    • Siri speaks
    • Capacity 16GB
    • Ceramic back
  • GPS
    • Built-in GPS and GLONASS
    • Barometric altimeter
    • Water resistant 50 meters
    • Heart rate sensor
    • Accelerometer
    • Gyroscope
    • Ambient light sensor
    • Siri speaks
    • Capacity 8GB
    • Composite back

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Built-in GPS
  • Water resistant 50 meters
  • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Heart rate sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Ambient light sensor

Connectivity

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Built-in GPS
  • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0

Display

Apple Watch Series 3

  • GPS + Cellular
    • Second-generation OLED Retina display with Force Touch
    • 2x brighter (1000 nits)
    • Sapphire crystal (stainless steel and ceramic cases)
    • Ion-X glass (aluminum cases)
    • 272 by 340 pixels (38mm)
    • 312 by 390 pixels (42mm)
  • Series 3 GPS
    • Second-generation OLED Retina display with Force Touch
    • 2x brighter (1000 nits)
    • Ion-X glass (strengthened glass)
    • 272 by 340 pixels (38mm)
    • 312 by 390 pixels (42mm)

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Second-generation OLED Retina display with Force Touch
  • 2× brighter (1000 nits)
  • Sapphire crystal (stainless steel and ceramic cases)
  • Ion-X glass (aluminum cases)
  • 272 by 340 pixels (38mm)
  • 312 by 390 pixels (42mm)

Power & Battery

Apple Watch Series 3

  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
  • Up to 18 hours
  • Magnetic charging cable
  • USB power adapter

Apple Watch Series 2

  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
  • Up to 18 hours
  • Magnetic charging cable
  • USB power adapter

Apart from a few marginal upgrades like the faster dual-core processor, barometric altimeter, Bluetooth 4.2 support, and LTE support, there isn’t much setting the Apple Watch Series 3 apart from the Series 2. Nevertheless, for some that’ll make all the difference.

Will you be making the upgrade this year? Share below!