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Apple Apple Watch Series 3 vs Apple Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 ($37) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 4 ($73) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 3 | Apple Apple Watch Series 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $37 | $73 |
| Weight | 32.3g | 36.7g |
| Chip | S3, dual-core | S4, 64-bit dual-core |
| Display | OLED Retina, raise-to-wake only | 30% larger Retina OLED vs Series 3 |
| Case | 42mm Aluminum | — |
| GPS | Standalone GPS | — |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 32.3g (Apple published, 42mm Aluminum GPS) | 36.7g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) |
| Sensors | — | Electrical + optical heart sensor, ECG |
| Safety | — | Fall detection |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 3
- Cheapest working Apple Watch by a wide margin
- Still runs core fitness and notification features
- Compact 42mm case body many later Watches abandoned
- Standalone GPS without needing a phone nearby
- No always-on display, screen sleeps between raises
- watchOS support has ended, no further security updates
- Battery is old on any used unit, expect a shorter day
- Chip is genuinely slow navigating menus by modern standards
Apple Apple Watch Series 4
- First Apple Watch with an ECG sensor
- Meaningfully larger display in the same case size class
- Fall detection, a safety feature that debuted here
- Digital Crown haptic feedback, still felt today
- No always-on display
- watchOS support window is closing
- Speaker and mic are a generation behind current models
- Battery health on a used unit is unverifiable before buying
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 is the better value at $37. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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