Apple Watch Series 3 Edition vs. Series 8: A Generational Leap?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the clear winner. While the Series 3 Edition remains functional, its outdated processor, limited features, and shorter battery life can't compete with the Series 8's advanced health tracking, faster performance, and modern design. The Series 8 offers a significantly improved user experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Edition Series 3 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
| 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, China, HK |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia (A1891) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International, China, HK |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 3, 39, 40, 41 - China (A1892) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, September. Released 2017, September | 2022, September 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, September 16 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic back, ceramic frame | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel 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) | 42.3 g (41mm), 51.5 g (45mm) (1.48 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 | Sapphire crystal 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 S8 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 4.0, upgradable to watchOS 8.7 | watchOS 9.0, 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 | 5.3, 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, temperature (body) |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) 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 308 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Gray | Graphite, Silver, Gold |
| Models | A1860, A1861, A1889, A1891, A1890, A1892 | A2773, A2775, A2772, A2774, A2857, A2858, watch6,16, watch6,17 |
| Price | About 1450 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| SAR | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.18 W/kg (body) | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Edition Series 3
- Affordable
- Wireless Charging
- Basic Notifications
- Outdated Processor
- Short Battery Life
- Limited Features
- Smaller Display
- Less Responsive
Apple Watch Series 8
- Advanced Health Tracking (ECG, Blood Oxygen)
- Faster Performance
- Brighter Display
- Longer Battery Life
- Always-On Display
- Modern Design
- Higher Price
- Still Requires Charging Daily
Display Comparison
The Series 8 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with thinner bezels, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The Series 3's display, while functional, appears dated in comparison, lacking the clarity and responsiveness of the Series 8's OLED screen. The Series 8 also features the Always-On display, a major convenience.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This is a consistent feature across Apple Watch models.
Performance
The S8 chip in the Series 8 provides a massive performance boost over the S3. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, and overall responsiveness is dramatically improved. The Series 3 can feel sluggish at times, especially when multitasking.
Battery Life
The Series 8 offers significantly improved battery life, with Apple claiming up to 18 hours of use. It also supports fast charging, reaching 80% in just 45 minutes. The Series 3's battery life is considerably shorter, typically requiring daily charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 3 Edition? Primarily those on a very tight budget who need basic timekeeping and notification functionality. Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 8? Anyone seeking a modern smartwatch with advanced health features, a vibrant display, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.