Apple Watch Series 3 Edition vs. Series 7 Aluminum: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 7 Aluminum is the clear winner. While the Series 3 remains functional, the Series 7’s significantly improved display, faster performance, advanced health features, and faster charging make it a worthwhile upgrade for most users. The Series 3 is only a viable option for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Edition Series 3 | Apple Watch Series 7 Aluminum |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 / 800 - Europe, Australia (A1891) | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia (A1891) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 3, 39, 40, 41 - China (A1892) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, September. Released 2017, September | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, October 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic back, ceramic frame | Glass front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 42.6 x 36.5 x 11.4 mm (1.68 x 1.44 x 0.45 in) | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 46.4 g (1.62 oz) | 32 g (41mm), 38.8 g (45mm) (1.13 oz) |
| 50m water resistant | IP6X certified 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Ion-X strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 390 x 312 pixels (~303 ppi density) | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.65 inches | 1.9 inches |
| Type | Retina OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| 3D Touch display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S3 | Apple S7 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 4.0, upgradable to watchOS 8.7 | watchOS 8.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB 768MB RAM | 32GB 1GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 341 mAh (1.34 Wh), non-removable | Li-Ion 309 mAh (1.19 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Gray | Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Green, Red |
| Models | A1860, A1861, A1889, A1891, A1890, A1892 | A2473, A2474, A2475, A2476, A2477, A2478, watch6,6, watch6,7, watch6,8, watch6,9 |
| Price | About 1450 EUR | About 500 EUR |
| SAR | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.18 W/kg (body) | 1.10 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Edition Series 3
- Affordable
- Wireless Charging
- Functional for basic notifications
- Outdated processor
- Smaller display
- Slower charging
- Limited features compared to newer models
Apple Watch Series 7 Aluminum
- Larger, brighter display
- Faster performance
- Advanced health features (ECG, Blood Oxygen)
- Faster charging
- Always-On display
- Full keyboard
- More expensive
- Still requires charging daily
Display Comparison
The Series 7 boasts a significantly larger and brighter Always-On Retina display with thinner borders, offering a much more immersive and readable experience. The Series 3's display is smaller and lacks the Always-On functionality, making it feel dated in comparison. The Series 7's display also supports a full keyboard for quick replies.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This is a consistent feature across Apple Watch models.
Performance
The Apple S7 chip in the Series 7 provides a noticeable performance boost over the S3 in the Series 3. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, and overall responsiveness is improved. The Series 3 can feel sluggish at times, especially when multitasking.
Battery Life
While both offer all-day battery life, the Series 7’s charging speed is dramatically faster, reaching 80% in just 45 minutes. The Series 3 takes considerably longer to charge.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 3 Edition? Primarily those on a very tight budget who need basic smartwatch functionality and don't require the latest features. Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 7 Aluminum? Anyone looking for a modern, feature-packed smartwatch with a vibrant display, improved performance, and advanced health tracking capabilities.