Apple Watch Series 5 Edition vs. Series 3 Aluminum: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Series 5 Edition offers a significantly improved experience with its always-on display, ECG, and brighter screen. However, the Series 3 Aluminum remains a capable smartwatch, especially for users prioritizing affordability and basic fitness tracking. The Series 5 is the clear winner for those seeking the latest features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Edition Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 3 Aluminum |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 / 800 - Europe, Australia (A1891) |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia (A1891) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | 1, 3, 39, 40, 41 - China (A1892) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2017, September. Released 2017, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, titanium frameGlass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, ceramic frame | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) | 42.5 x 36.4 x 11.4 mm (1.67 x 1.43 x 0.45 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 47.8 g (1.69 oz) | 34.9 g (1.23 oz) |
| 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | 50m water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Ion-X strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 390 x 312 pixels (~303 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.78 inches | 1.65 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| 3D Touch display Always-on display | 3D Touch display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S5 | Apple S3 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 6.0, upgradable to watchOS 10.6.1 | watchOS 4.0, upgradable to watchOS 8.7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 768MB RAM, 16GB 768MB RAM |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 296 mAh (1.13 Wh), non-removable | Li-Ion 341 mAh (1.34 Wh), non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium frame: Space Black, TitaniumCeramic frame: White | Silver, Gold, Space Gray |
| Models | A2156, A2157, A2094, A2095 | A1860, A1861, A1889, A1891, A1890, A1892, A1858, A1859 |
| Price | About 850 EUR | About 480 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.34 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Edition Series 5
- Always-on display
- ECG functionality
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Improved performance with S5 chip
- Slightly better battery life
- Higher price point
- Premium materials may be less durable for some
Apple Watch Series 3 Aluminum
- More affordable
- Still offers core smartwatch functionality
- Lightweight and comfortable aluminum case
- Reliable notifications
- Outdated processor
- No always-on display
- Less vibrant display
- Shorter battery life compared to Series 5
Display Comparison
The Series 5 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant always-on display, allowing you to glance at the time and complications without raising your wrist. The Series 3's display is functional but lacks this convenience and brightness. The Series 5's LTPO OLED technology provides superior color accuracy and contrast.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This is a consistent feature across Apple Watch models.
Performance
While both watches utilize dual-core processors, the S5 chip in the Series 5 offers a noticeable performance boost over the S3. Apps launch faster, and the overall user experience feels smoother on the Series 5. The S5 also benefits from improved power efficiency.
Battery Life
The Series 5 generally offers slightly better battery life than the Series 3, though both require daily charging. The Series 5's power efficiency improvements contribute to this advantage.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Series 5 Edition is ideal for fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, and those who appreciate premium materials and advanced features like ECG and always-on display. The Series 3 Aluminum is a great choice for first-time smartwatch users, budget-conscious buyers, and those who primarily need basic notifications and fitness tracking.