If you’ve looked around lately you’ve probably noticed more and more people are sporting Apple Watches. Apple launched the product in 2015. They’ve now sold over 50 million units and now account for 50% of the entire smartwatch industry.
It’s more tempting than ever to upgrade to a smartwatch. While they might not be as revolutionary smartphones, the Apple Watch is a fantastic product. And its Apple must customizable product ever released. We’ll walk you through differences from each model in this guide to help you choose which Apple Watch is best for you.
What Do I Need to Know About Apple Watches?
The Apple Watch is now in its fifth version—Apple Watch Series 5. To truly unlock its potential, its need to paired with an iPhone. However, there are tons of things you can do without your paired iPhone or a WiFi/Data connection including:
- Play music
- Listen to podcasts and audiobooks
- Record and play voice memos
- Displays photos from synced apples
- Use Apple Pay to make store purchases
- Use activity, heart rate, and workout activity
- Ride transit and use student ID card
The Apple Watch Generations
The Apple Watch spans five generations. Nowadays, few retailers market the original one though you should be able to find them secondhand. The original watch isn’t compatible with the latest WatchOS, so you should get a newer one so you don’t miss out on the latest features.
In September 2016, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 1 with Bluetooth 4.2 and a faster dual-core chipset. This should be the earliest Apple Watch you obtain. In true Apple fashion, the original Apple Watch is now called the Series 0.
Apple Watch Series 2-5
If you’re purchasing a used Apple Watch, it’s likely to be from one of these series. Apple Watch 2 added new technology including water resistance, longer battery life, and built-in GPS. Apple Watch 3 came with optional LTE technology and added fitness tools.
2018 saw the release of Apple Watch Series 4 with an even larger display and new heart rate feature. 2019 saw the release of Apple Watch 5 with more storage and other options.
However, the upgrades between Watch 4 and Watch 5 aren’t too significant except for the “Always-On “ screen feature which makes it operate much more like a traditional watch.
Apple Watch Price Comparison
Like all electronic, the price is determined by product age. You can probably find a very cheap Apple Watch Series 1 compared to a brand new one. However, discontinued products are not able to finance through Apple’s product leasing program. LTE compatible devices are also on contract from telecom carriers so you may be eligible for a free device with a contract.
Note: Apple currently retails the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 5 on their website and in-store.
Design and Display
All of the Apple Watches are fairly similar in terms of design. Most changes have been pretty minor. The Apple Watch 4 was the first upgrade in screen size to 40mm or 44mm variants compared to the 38mm and 42mm in the Apple Watch 3 and earlier.
Apple Watch 2 and newer are waterproof
with increasing depth and time functionality. All generations feature a square OLED display though newer models feature significant enhancements and haptic touch compatibility.Performance
Apple Watches don’t need much power, but each generation has newer chips that speed it up. Original watches features 512MB of Ram. Apple Watch 3 saw that bumped to 768MB. Both Apple Watch 4 and Watch 5 have 1 GB of ram.
Connectivity
All versions of the watch have built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. From Series 3, you can also use the cellular options that’s compatible with eSims technology.
Fitness
All Apple Watches feature accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, and heart rate monitors. NEwer molders also include altimeter and ECG features. From Apple WAtch 2, Apple has a built-in GPS along with swimming modes.
Battery
The battery life is basically the same between generations. Larger case sizes have larger batteries to power larger displays. You can expect about 18 hours operation on a single charge of a fully functional battery.
Which iPhone Do You Need for the Apple Watch?
Apple Watches are only compatible with iPhones. You can use them alone, but they work best when paired with an iPhone. For Apple Watch Series 3 and below, you’ll need an iPhone 6 or newer operating OS 11. Watch OS 6 and newer is only compatible with devices that can run iOS 13 (iPhone 6S or newer).
Apple Watch Colors, Sizes, and Straps
Apple Watches come in a variety of colors, finishes, straps, and two sizes. Each model has unique options so if style is your biggest concern, you should take some time to compare options. For example, the Apple Watch Series 3 featured a famous ceramic model (the Series 5 does too).
Sizes range from the 38 and 44 mm to 40 and 44 mm generations. If you don’t mind spending a little more, you should go for a bigger screen. However, it’s more helpful to try some on instore to get a better sense of the right size for you.
Apple sells a huge variety of different watch bands. You can also find a truly massive selection from third party retailers.
For your watch face, you have many display options both from Apple and other developers. The sky’s the limit when it comes to customization here.
Which Apple Watch Should I Buy?
All of the Apple Watches are fantastic. And most of them are still supported by the latest WatchOS. When it comes to buying a used or older Apple products, a good guideline is purchasing anything still sold new by Apple. This means it’s likely to be supported for the foreseeable future.
With that in mind, you should opt for Apple Watch Series 3 or newer. The Apple Watch 5 does offer a few great new features, but if you find a great deal on an Apple Watch 4, you may want to go for that instead.
Ready to Upgrade to the Latest Apple Watch?
Apple continues to set the standard when it comes to smartwatches. Its latest releases pack the newest features and tech, fantastic design, and maximum customizability. Whichever Apple Watch you choose, you’re going to get an excellent product. So stop waiting and find your perfect match today.
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Discover more about Apple Watches, iPhones, and more on the Buyback Boss Blog. Learn how to troubleshoot an Apple Watch that won’t restart. Understand the differences between the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy and more. Uncover all things tech on the Buyback Buss Blog!
