If you work in a professional environment or care a lot about style, stainless steel is the way to go. 61 ounce, which is very noticeable when exercising. That’s a difference of almost 18 grams or. The 42mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 3 weighs in at 34.9 grams, while the stainless steel model weighs 52.8 grams. That’s because the aluminum model is significantly lighter than the stainless steel Apple Watch. On the plus side, they don’t get as many micro scratches as the glossy stainless steel watches.Īctive Apple Watch users often opt for the aluminum model, even if they can comfortably afford the stainless steel models. Aluminum is obviously much softer than stainless steel, which means the cheaper Apple Watches are easier to dent than the more expensive models. All three of the aluminum colors have a slightly matte surface, just like the back of most iPhones, including the new iPhone 8. The aluminum models are available in silver, space gray and gold. The $429 version has cellular connectivity, a bigger watch face (42mm) and can fit bigger wrists. The cheapest version has a smaller (38mm watch face). The aluminum models start at $329 and range up to $429. These are the four major choices you’ll need to make when buying an Apple Watch Series 3: If you are really trying to improve your health, stay constantly connected while out on adventures or show off your style, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the only way to go.
If a doctor’s asked you to monitor your heart rate, sleep patterns or daily activity, the Apple Watch Series 1 will serve those purposes just fine. If you are on a budget and none of the above differences mean much to you, then the Apple Watch Series 1 is a fine device. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two models is that the Apple Watch Series 3 can be purchased with built-in cellular service. The Apple Watch 3 has a barometric pressure sensor that makes it track workouts more accurately, while the Apple Watch Series 1 does not. The Apple Watch Series 1 also lacks Apple’s W2 wireless chip, which speeds up wireless speeds on the Apple Watch Series 3. The Apple Watch Series 1 is more susceptible to water damage, has a dimmer display, doesn’t last as long on a single charge, has a slower processor and Siri isn’t as useful on it. The Apple Watch Series 3 is a big leap forward and definitely worth the $70 premium over the Apple Watch Series 1, which starts at $249. The four Apple Watch Series 3 models (left) next to the Apple Watch Series 1 (right)īefore we compare Apple Watch Series 3 models, it’s important to understand the difference between the Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 3.