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What are the differences between the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4: which one to choose?

Apple, during its back-to-school conferencesummarized here, announced the new generation of Apple Watch, theSeries 4. More powerful, but with a larger screen, among many other improvements, this new watch stands out from previous models. To help you in your possible choice, especially if you already have an Apple Watch Series 3, here isthe differences between the two models Series 3 and Series 4constituting the current range of watches marketed by Apple:

Apple Watch Series 3 vs Series 4: Case, size and material

  • Small case size: 38 mm for Series 3,40mm for Series 4
  • Large case size: 42 mm for Series 3,44mm for Series 4

  • Thickness: 11.4 mm for Series 3, thinner with10.7 mm for Series 4

  • Material: ceramic back and sapphire crystal for the Series 3 with eSIM, ceramic and composite back for the version without eSIM,all-ceramic back for Series 4
  • Digital Crown : unhaptic feedback appears on the Series 4(small force exerted in return)

Screen

For the smallest Apple Watch model:

  • Definition of the smallest version: 272 x 340 pixels for Series 3,324 x 394 pixels for Series 4
  • Display surface of the small case size: 563 mm² for Series 3,759 mm²for Series 4

For the largest model:

  • Definition of the large version: 312 x 390 pixels for Series 3,368 x 448 pixelsfor Series 4
  • Display surface of the large case version: 740 mm² for Series 3,977 mm²for Series 4

Apple Watch Series 3 & 4 processor and sensors

  • Processor: S3 dual-core for Series 3,Dual-core S4 (64-bit) for Series 4
  • Wireless chip: W2 for Series 3, W3 for Series 4
  • Bluetooth: 4.2 for Series 4,5.0 for Series 4
  • Electrical heart rate sensor:only on Series 4(allows the Electrocardiogram but not in France initially,see the first details here)
  • Optical heart rate sensor: improved “2nd generation” on Series 4

  • Accelerometer: improved on Series 4
  • Gyroscope: improved on Series 4
  • Memory capacity: 16 GB for Series 3 with SIM and 8 GB without eSIM,16 GB for Series 4
  • Fall detection:only on Series 4

Finishes and design

  • Case finishes offered: Aluminum only for Series 3 and Series 4 without eSIM, Aluminum andStainless steelfor Series 4 with eSIM
  • Case colors available: space gray and silver for Series 3,gold more for Series 4
  • Digital Crown: red circle inside the crown on the Series 3 eSim, metal gray circle on the Series 4, with red border on the communicating version (eSIM)

Prices

  • Small case version with Sport bracelet without eSim: €299 for Series 3, €429 for Series 4
  • Large case version with Sport bracelet and eSim: €429 for Series 3, €529 for Series 4
  • Apple Care: €65 for Series 3, €99 for Series 4
  • USB power adapter included with Series 4, but only supplied with the Series 3 eSIM version

Bracelets

All bracelets compatible with Series 3 are also compatible with Series 4, and vice versa. Only, namely, upon purchase, the Series 3 is no longer soldonly with a limited choice of bracelet: Sport black, Sport white, and Nike anthracite/black.

Dials

The Series 4 can benefit from exclusive dials specially adapted to its large screen. In particular, there are dials that only react to the edges of the Series 4 screen, and others that can accommodate up to 8 different complications.

Conclusion

For the first year since the launch of the Apple Watch in April 2015, Apple haschanged the design of his watch. Slightly thinner, but above all with a larger screen (the small 2018 model is larger than the large 2017), this gives it aundeniable additional attraction.

For those who already have an Apple Watch, it's up to everyone to see if this argument (plus the various technical additions, improvements and performance gains made each year depending on the age of the model) can motivate change. Very clearly with respect to an original version or Series 1 it may be worth it, with respect to a Series 3, the added functions such as fall detection for example, or a need for readability must motivate the decision.

For those who don't have an Apple Watch and want to equip themselves, it's better to prefer the 4 to the 3, to have the design that will be kept for a few years! But the Series 3 can boast a more accessible price and many features shared with the Series 4.

So in the end, choosing between the Series 3 and the Series 4 is a bit like choosing between an iPhone and its large screen version, more expensive, but more comfortable to use, and with some exclusive features.

What is your choice for those who want to equip or re-equip?

And to know everything about the newiPhone XRand on theiPhone XS, seen during the conferencesummarized in our columns:

To choose and buy:

To discover:

Don't miss our articles on the news eitherApple Watch Series 4, dont :

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By : Keleops AG

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.

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