Apple Watches Compared
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Back, Apple Watch ULTRA 2. bigger. |
Apple Watch ULTRA 2. (3,000 nits peak, 502 × 410 pixels at 332 PPI LTPO OLED always-on display, 2.165 oz./ 61.35g; 2.507 oz./ 71.1g total with band). I'd get my Apple Watch ULTRA 2 at Adorama, at Amazon or at eBay, or any Apple Watch at Adorama, at Amazon, or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Get yours only from the trusted sources I've used personally for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
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All versions work with your iPhone and make phone calls and navigate and track workouts and do almost everything for everyone.
All have at least:
326 PPI force-touch OLED screens with automatic brightness control. ( ULTRA is 332 PPI).
Ultra-accurate timekeeping with 50mS absolute accuracy.
Gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Heart rate sensors.
Siri.
Mic and Speaker.
Bluetooth.
WiFi 2.4 GHz b/g/n.
Watch bands come in five size classes: 38/40mm, 41mm, 42/44mm, 45mm or 49mm for ULTRA and ULTRA 2.
Basics
Each new model gets faster, tougher and more features as time goes on.
The ULTRA 2 and ULTRA are quite different from everything that came before, with twice the battery life, water depth & temperature sensors, and a very different look. Good news is that the ULTRA 2 and ULTRA actually weigh less with a cloth band than the regular stainless versions do with stainless bands, and the ULTRA is not significantly thicker, since Apple's thickness specifications now include the heart sensor, which older model's specifications did not.
The Series 7 and ULTRA have about the same active screen area, either of which is significantly larger than any earlier model.
The Series 5 and newer have a screen which is always on (albeit dimly in the Series 5) all day and night as you wear it.
The Series 4 and newer use a display with rounded corners that fills most of the watch face, while older models used a smaller, square screen that's squeezed into the rounded-corner case with much larger boarders all around it.
The graphics are all brilliant and make the best use of the little screens on every Apple Watch. The Series 7 and newer screens are so much bigger that everything becomes much more legible. Previously the Series 4 screen was a huge step up from earlier models and and often added more things on a face than would fit previously.
All screens are rated as bright (1,000 nits maximum), except the ULTRA 2 which is rated at 3,000 nits maximum and the ULTRA which is rated 2,000 nits maximum, while the oldest Series 1 and First Generation Apple Watch were only 450 nits maximum. All dim automatically based on ambient light. In my experiance, the 1,000 nits maximum watches work just great in sunlight, and the ULTRAs are even better.
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Apple Watch "Series 0" or "1st Generation" |
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| Announced | 2023/09/12 |
2022/09/07 |
2022/09/07 |
2021/09 |
2020/09/15 |
2019/09 |
2018/09 |
2017/09 |
2016/09 |
2015/09 |
2015/04 |
| Available | 2023/09/22 |
2022/09/23 |
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| Case height | 49mm |
49mm |
45 or 41mm |
45 or 41mm |
44 or 40mm |
44 or 40mm |
44 or 40mm |
42 or 38mm |
42 or 38mm |
42 or 38mm |
42 or 38mm |
| Screen fills watch face? | Yes. Rounded-corner OLED fills most of watch face. The flat part of the black crystal is now much larger than the flat sections of earlier Watches, so the active area of the ULTRA 2 now rests entirely behind flat crystal. |
Yes. Rounded-corner OLED fills most of watch face. The flat part of the black crystal is now much larger than the flat sections of earlier Watches, so the active area of the ULTRA now rests entirely behind flat crystal. |
Yes. Even the smallest 41mm version has more screen area than the Series 3 and older's largest 42mm versions! |
Yes. Even the smallest 41mm version has more screen area than the Series 3 and older's largest 42mm versions! |
Yes. Rounded-corner OLED fills most of watch face. Even the smallest 40mm version has more screen area than the Series 3 and older's largest 42mm versions! |
Yes. Rounded-corner OLED fills most of watch face. Even the smallest 40mm version has more screen area than the Series 3 and older's largest 42mm versions! |
Yes. Rounded-corner OLED fills most of watch face. Even the smallest 40mm version has more screen area than the Series 3 and older's largest 42mm versions! |
No. Square-cornered OLED has to be smaller to clear the case's rounded corners. Therefore there are larger black borders between the screen and the case edges. |
No. Square-cornered OLED has to be smaller to clear the case's rounded corners. Therefore there are larger black borders between the screen and the case edges. |
No. Square-cornered OLED has to be smaller to clear the case's rounded corners. Therefore there are larger black borders between the screen and the case edges. |
No. Square-cornered OLED has to be smaller to clear the case's rounded corners. Therefore there are larger black borders between the screen and the case edges. |
| Screen area | 1185 mm2 |
1185 mm2 |
45mm: 1143 mm2 41mm: 904 mm2 |
45mm: 1143 mm2 41mm: 904 mm2 |
44mm: 977 mm2 40mm: 759 mm2 |
44mm: 977 mm2 40mm: 759 mm2 |
44mm: 977 mm2 40mm: 759 mm2 |
42mm: 740 mm2 38mm: 563 mm2 |
42mm: 740 mm2 38mm: 563 mm2 |
42mm: 740 mm2 38mm: 563 mm2 |
42mm: 740 mm2 38mm: 563 mm2 |
Rated Case Thickness, excluding heart rate sensor |
14.4mm* |
14.4mm* |
10.7mm |
10.7mm |
10.7mm |
10.7mm (Ceramic case: 11.0mm) |
10.7mm |
11.4mm |
11.4mm |
11.4mm |
11.4mm |
Case Thickness, actual measured including heart sensor |
14.36 mm |
14.36 mm |
13.1mm (stainless) |
13.1mm (stainless) |
12.94mm (stainless) |
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Case Materials |
Titanium. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Titanium. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Aluminum or Stainless. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Aluminum, Stainless or Titanium. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Aluminum, Stainless or Titanium. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Aluminum, Stainless, Titanium or Ceramic. Ceramic & sapphire back. |
Aluminum or Stainless |
Aluminum or Stainless |
Aluminum, Stainless or Ceramic |
Aluminum or Stainless |
Aluminum or Stainless |
| Discontinued | Current |
Current |
Current |
September 2022 |
September 2021 |
September 2020 |
10 September 2019 |
September 2018 |
24 September 2017 |
12 September 2018 |
17 September 2016 |
| Model Numbers | A2986 |
A2622 |
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Price |
Series 1 used prices (How to Win at eBay) | Original Apple Watch used prices (How to Win at eBay) |
* Including heart rate sensor.
Features
|
Apple Watch "Series 0" or "1st Generation" |
||||||||||
| Always-On display? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, 2.5× brighter in daylight than Series 5 |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
||
| Charge Speed | About 1.4% per minute with included USB-C charging cord. About ½% per minute with old USB-A charging cord. |
About 1.4% per minute with included USB-C charging cord. About ½% per minute with old USB-A charging cord. |
20% faster than Series 5 |
||||||||
| Sound-Pressure Level Meter? | Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA |
Yes, dBA, with at least Watch OS 6 |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Magnetic Compass? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| LTE/Cellular1 | Yes |
Yes |
optional |
optional |
optional |
optional |
optional |
optional |
no |
no |
no |
| International LTE Roaming? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes (optional) |
Yes (optional) |
Yes (optional) |
Yes (optional) |
no |
np |
no |
no |
no |
| GPS2 | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
| Programmable Action Button? | Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Water Depth & Temperature Sensors? | Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
Waterproof? (static pressure ratings, these are not usable depths) |
10 ATM 100 meters |
10 ATM 100 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
5 ATM 50 meters |
Splashproof IPX7 to 1m |
Splashproof IPX7 to 1m |
|
Apple Watch "Series 0" or "1st Generation" |
||||||||||
| OK for car washing? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| OK for swimming, snorkeling & surfing? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
| OK for SCUBA? | Rated to 40m (130'), when new. Also has a dive computer app. |
Rated to 40m (130'), when new. Also has a dive computer app. |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Fall detection & auto-dialing 911 | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Crash detection & auto-dialing 911 | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| EKG (ECG) | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Barometric Altimeter | Yes, always on |
Yes, always on |
Yes, always on |
Yes, always on |
Yes, always on |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
| Walkie Talkie | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no, needs OS 5 |
| Infograph and Infograph Modular faces | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Feelable "haptic" crown clicks? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Siri talks | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no, have to read it |
no, have to read it |
no, have to read it |
1.) Lets you make phone calls, connect to the Internet and do everything on your watch without needing your iPhone, but you'll have to pay your cellular carrier for a second line to use this feature. Watches with the LTE/Cellular option are identified by a thin red ring around the crown (Series 4) or a big red dot on the crown (Series 3).
2.) Lets you track workouts without needing your iPhone, but you won't be able to make calls or get to the Internet without the iPhone unless you have LTE and have it activated.
Details
|
Apple Watch "Series 0" or "1st Generation" |
||||||||||
| Maximum screen brightness | 3,000 nits |
2,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
450 nits |
450 nits |
| Screen PPI | 326 DPI |
332 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
326 DPI |
| Screen size, mm | 38.4×31.4 |
38.4×31.4 |
45mm: 37.7×30.9 41mm: 33.5×27.4 |
45mm: 37.7×30.9 41mm: 33.5×27.4 |
44mm: 34.9×28.67 40mm: 30.7×25.24 |
44mm: 34.9×28.67 40mm: 30.7×25.24 |
44mm: 34.9×28.67 40mm: 30.7×25.24 |
42mm: 30.4×24.2 38mm: 26.5×21.2 |
42mm: 30.4×24.2 38mm: 26.5×21.2 |
42mm: 30.4×24.2 38mm: 26.5×21.2 |
42mm: 30.4×24.2 38mm: 26.5×21.2 |
| Screen size, pixels | 502×410 |
502×410 |
45mm: 484×396 41mm: 430×352 |
45mm: 484×396 41mm: 430×352 |
44mm: 448×368 40mm: 394×324 |
44mm: 448×368 40mm: 394×324 |
44mm: 448×368 40mm: 394×324 |
42mm: 390×312 38mm: 340×272 |
42mm: 390×312 38mm: 340×272 |
42mm: 390×312 38mm: 340×272 |
42mm: 390×312 38mm: 340×272 |
| Haptic (feelable) feedback from crown? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Battery | 2.17 Wh, 564 mAh 9 g |
2.09 Wh, 542 mAh 9 g |
45mm: 1.2 Wh, 308 mAh 41mm: 1.1 Wh, 282 mAh |
45mm: 1.2 Wh, 309 mAh 41mm: 1.1 Wh, 284 mAh |
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| Rated battery life, up to* | 36 hours total or 72 hours in Low Power or 17 hours of workout in Low Power |
36 hours total or 18 hours LTE |
18 hours total |
18 hours total |
18 hours total or 6 hours of outdoor workout (GPS working without iPhone) |
18 hours total |
18 hours total or 6 hours of outdoor workout (GPS working without iPhone) |
18 hours total or 5 hours of outdoor workout (GPS working without iPhone) |
18 hours total or 5 hours of outdoor workout (GPS working without iPhone) |
18 hours total |
18 hours total |
| Processor | S9 SiP dual-core 64-bit, 5.6 billion transistors |
S8 SiP dual-core 64-bit |
S8 SiP dual-core 64-bit |
S7 dual-core 64-bit, "up to 20% faster than SE" |
S6 dual-core 64-bit, "20% faster than S5" |
S5 dual-core 64-bit, "up to twice as fast as S3" |
S4 dual-core 64-bit, "up to twice as fast as S3" |
S3 dual-core "70% faster than S2" |
S2 dual-core "up to 50% faster than S1" |
S1P Dual-core "up to 50% faster than the original Apple Watch" |
S1 monocore |
| Memory | 64 GB |
32 GB |
32 GB |
32 GB |
32 GB |
32 GB |
16 GB |
16 GB; 8 GB w/o LTE |
8 GB |
8 GB |
8 GB |
|
Apple Watch "Series 0" or "1st Generation" |
||||||||||
| WiFi | 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
5 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
5 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
5 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
5 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
2.4GHz only |
2.4GHz only |
2.4GHz only |
2.4GHz only |
2.4GHz only |
2.4GHz only |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
| Ultrawideband chip | U2 2nd generation |
U1 1st generation |
U1 1st generation |
U1 1st generation |
U1 1st generation |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Introduced with OS | OS 10 |
OS 9 |
OS 9 |
OS 8 |
OS 7 |
OS 6 |
OS 5 |
OS 4 |
OS 3 |
OS 3 |
OS 1 |
| Newest Compatible OS** | OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 10.3.1 as of 30 March 2024 |
OS 7 |
OS 6.3 |
OS 6.3 |
OS 4.3.2 |
| GPS & GLONASS | Yes. Adds L1 and L5 bands. |
Yes. Adds L1 and L5 bands. |
Yes. Adds L1 band. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
| Galileo (EU) & QZSS (JP) GPS variants | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
| BeiDou GPS variant | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
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| Accelerometer range | 256 G |
256 G |
256 G |
32 G |
32 G |
32 G |
32 G |
16 G |
16 G |
16 G |
16 G |
| Flashlight boost by turning crown | Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Speaker | Dual speakers, 40% louder than Series 8 |
Dual speakers, 40% louder than Series 8 |
"50% louder" than S3 |
"50% louder" than S3 |
"50% louder" than S3 |
"50% louder" than S3 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Weight*** | 45mm LTE: 51.5g SS, 39.1g Al 45mm GPS: 38.8g Al 41mm LTE: 42.3g SS, 32.2g Al 41mm GPS: 31.9g Al |
45mm: 51.5g SS, 45.1g Ti, 38.8g Al 41mm: 42.3g SS, 37.0g Ti, 32.0g Al 45mm LTE SS w/Milanese loop: 3.275 oz./92.9g total**** |
44mm: 47.1g SS, 41.3g Ti, 36.5g Al 40mm: 39.7g SS, 34.6g Ti, 30.5g Al |
44mm: 47.8g SS, 46.7g Cr, 41.7g Ti, 36.5g Al 40mm: 40.6g SS, 39.7g Cr, 35.1g Ti, 30.8g Al |
* In Regular mode; much longer in Low Power mode.
** These update faster than I update this page.
*** Watch only, no band, actual measured weights. The ULTRA with a cloth band weighs less than a stainless steel Series watch with stainless Milanese band!
**** My Series 7 is a 45mm Graphite Stainless Steel GPS+Cellular MKJJ3LL/A with included woven metal Milanese loop band ML743AM/A.
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