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Apple Apple Watch Series 3 vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 ($37) vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) ($209) — 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 Ultra (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $37 | $209 |
| Weight | 32.3g | 61.3g |
| Chip | S3, dual-core | — |
| Display | OLED Retina, raise-to-wake only | 2000-nit, brightest Apple Watch at launch |
| Case | 42mm Aluminum | 49mm Titanium |
| GPS | Standalone GPS | Dual-frequency L1/L5 |
| WR | 50m | — |
| Weight | 32.3g (Apple published, 42mm Aluminum GPS) | 61.3g (Apple published) |
| Water | — | 100m WR, EN13319 dive rated |
| Battery | — | Up to 36h normal use |
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 Ultra (1st generation)
- Titanium case and sapphire crystal, the most durable Apple Watch build
- Dual-frequency GPS for genuinely more accurate outdoor tracking
- 100m water resistance with an official dive rating
- Brightest display of any Watch at the time, still class-competitive
- 61.3g is heavy on the wrist next to any Series or SE model here
- Orange Action Button placement takes adjustment
- Battery life trails Ultra 2's efficiency gains
- Case size doesn't suit smaller wrists
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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