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Apple Apple Watch Series 3 vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 ($37) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5 ($85) — 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 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $37 | $85 |
| Weight | 32.3g | 36.5g |
| Chip | S3, dual-core | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Display | OLED Retina, raise-to-wake only | Always-on Retina OLED, first Apple Watch |
| Case | 42mm Aluminum | — |
| GPS | Standalone GPS | — |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 32.3g (Apple published, 42mm Aluminum GPS) | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) |
| Compass | — | Built-in |
| Safety | — | International emergency calling |
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 5
- First Apple Watch you can actually glance at without raising your wrist
- Built-in compass, useful for hiking and orientation
- International emergency calling built in
- Same ECG and fall detection as Series 4
- Always-on mode measurably shortens battery life
- No blood oxygen sensor, that arrived with Series 6
- watchOS support window is closing
- Titanium and ceramic variants command a used premium over aluminum
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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