Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

langl3y

macrumors member
Original poster
May 31, 2014
42
18
Hi Guys,

I am near the point of ordering the SS apple watch, but just want to ask for opinions of which watch looks best on my wrists.They are 180mm.

First is 42, and the second is 38.

Appreciate opinions.

Thanks
Lloyd

IMG_0681.JPG
IMG_0682.JPG
 
38. Keep in mind the real ones don't bend like the paper and therefore are going to feel and look larger than the paper versions.
 
38 looks better on most people, but the extra space on the 42 is certainly handy. I prefer the 38 as it looks a little more grown up and traditional.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhysicist
Paper cut-outs are hopeless. There's no substitute for the real thing.

All I can tell you is that the 42mm is really not as big as you think. I thought they'd sent the wrong one. The 42mm is easier to read. It may have more battery life but I never get anywhere near running low on battery. It's just not an issue.
 
I say 42. But you really need to go to the store and try it on. I was set on 38 then went to the store and realized 42 looked better. Your wrist looks similar to mine.
 
My wrist is 165 mm and I think 38 is too small...

180 mm? definitely 42 mm. 38 looks so much smaller in person. Everyone said it looks better on my wrist based on the pictures that I posted, but it is so small in real life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: profmjh
I have 170mm wrists and love my 38mm. I have had it for 4 months and would buy the 38mm again. I tried on a 42mm in the store. It didn't look huge on my wrist, so I figured why not go with the larger watch? Well I just couldn't get the 42mm to sit comfortably on my wrist. It looked fine, but it didn't feel fine. I kept fiddling with the strap. Maybe I would have gotten used to it, but the 38mm just felt right from the start...and I prefer the look of a smaller watch.

Trying them on in a store is highly recommended. Even then it can be tough. I tried them on, took a walk, and tried them on again. From a usability and readability perspective both sizes seemed fine to me, but if you have large fingers maybe the 42 is better.

Before I went to the store, I tried the same paper templates you are wearing and I folded some additional paper under them to try and approximate the thickness (and so the faces wouldn't bend). The template gives you an idea of how the sizes will look, but not how they will feel. Even in terms of the look, it makes a big difference seeing the real thing in person. The paper version of the 38mm looked too small to me, but the real thing looked a little larger even though the paper template was accurately sized.

Sean
 
I would get a 42 mm. I just bought a used 38 mm on Craigslist last Friday and although I have small wrists I think 42 is still a better choice. 38 just feels too small. Also 42 has a batter battery life by about 20%. I had my watch on for 15 hours now. I don't get much notifications and even turned off heart rate readings. I exercised for an hour with heart rate turned on. Right now I have 27% battery left.
 
Best bet is to try them on in person. I started out with a 38mm based on the paper cutouts. As soon as they became available in the stores I sold it and bought a 42mm instead. More screen real estate and better battery life. I'm super happy with the 42mm
 
the real question at your size is, how do you want it to look? couple that with, which SS watch are you after exactly? if you're after the leather loop (i only tried one on after I got my watch, and I loved it but I don't think its practical for me because i often get my wrists wet or might have my daughter sick up on me) then you're stuck with the 42. if the milanese loop is your cup of tea, the way the band attaches to the watch make it seem a little longer across your wrist than other band options and might distort how you see the watch on yourself - the 42 might also be close to overhanging your wrists and forming a D shape (flat on top with a weird U shape bracelet underneath, like a bicycle lock) which I don't really like at all, but others don't see a problem in that. similarly with the sports bands, I didn't like the way the sports band sticks out over the edge of my wrist with the 42, where it curves more nicely with the 38. the shape of your wrist might also affct how it sits, when i had a 38 sport i had the chance to swap for a 42 and hated it, because it instantly felt awkward. the heavier SS 42 with a leather loop, however, fit perfectly - i think the sports band jjust couldn't hold the lighter sport down against my wrist properly.

i guess the point of this ramble is, you really have to try them on. there's so many factors at play you can't get from a flat paper cutout. some people need the 38 because the 42 is bigger than their wrists. some people need the 42, because they have fat fingers. for others, it's a case of how you want it to look - and like i say, that starts with the band. i went with the 38, myself - partly due to my preference for that size with the milanese loop but partly because both it and the second one i ordered as a replacement (it was for my wife to begin with) arrived much quicker than the 42mm space grey i'd ordered after the first try on session.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Night Spring
I have 170mm wrists and love my 38mm. I have had it for 4 months and would buy the 38mm again. I tried on a 42mm in the store. It didn't look huge on my wrist, so I figured why not go with the larger watch? Well I just couldn't get the 42mm to sit comfortably on my wrist. It looked fine, but it didn't feel fine. I kept fiddling with the strap. Maybe I would have gotten used to it, but the 38mm just felt right from the start...and I prefer the look of a smaller watch.

interesting, was it the 42 sport you tried? i had the same problem. but it didn't happen with the stainless steel, i think the weight probably helped it sit better.

I would get a 42 mm. I just bought a used 38 mm on Craigslist last Friday and although I have small wrists I think 42 is still a better choice. 38 just feels too small. Also 42 has a batter battery life by about 20%. I had my watch on for 15 hours now. I don't get much notifications and even turned off heart rate readings. I exercised for an hour with heart rate turned on. Right now I have 27% battery left.

battery life is going to be bad the first few days while it beds in, regardless of size. are you running OS2.0.1? using the heart rate monitor for a solid hour will have used a lot of your battery life, but if you utilise the rest of that 27%, thats still over 20 hours - that's not exacty terrible.
 
Paper cut-outs are hopeless. There's no substitute for the real thing.

All I can tell you is that the 42mm is really not as big as you think. I thought they'd sent the wrong one. The 42mm is easier to read. It may have more battery life but I never get anywhere near running low on battery. It's just not an issue.
What profmatt said.

I ordered the 42 figuring I'd appreciate the larger screen. When I unboxed it I couldn't believe how much smaller and thinner it was than I'd imagined.

Don't waste time with the 38.
 
You could buy either watch. If you want to go the used watch way you will get better value with 38. Most sell them because someone said it looks to small or feminine on them. That's total garbage of cause. I have a skinny wrist of about 155mm or 160mm circumference but that's not the only deciding factor. What do you think looks good? Do you like "standard" watches then 38 will be fine.

For Workouts either watch will be sufficient. I can do a 3hour bike workout without going below 40% with my 38. I also did a 5.5h bike ride with it. It did die on me but I knew it will run to zero so I could end the workout before that happened.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sean000
42 for the battery and larger screen which will surprisingly make a difference in your interactions imo
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil
Paper cut-outs are hopeless. There's no substitute for the real thing.

All I can tell you is that the 42mm is really not as big as you think. I thought they'd sent the wrong one. The 42mm is easier to read. It may have more battery life but I never get anywhere near running low on battery. It's just not an issue.
Couldn't agree more - I was convinced I wanted a 38mm after messing about with cutouts, but when I tried them on in-store, the 42mm looked fine (and much better than it did from the cutout).
 
  • Like
Reactions: melman101
Couldn't agree more - I was convinced I wanted a 38mm after messing about with cutouts, but when I tried them on in-store, the 42mm looked fine (and much better than it did from the cutout).
From what I've read and my research, the actual on wrist experience between the 38 and 42 is nearly indistinguishable and again from those same reports the 42mm was getting better battery life then the 38.
 
From what I've read and my research, the actual on wrist experience between the 38 and 42 is nearly indistinguishable and again from those same reports the 42mm was getting better battery life then the 38.
I'd agree with that - my wife and daughter both have 38mm and they also look fine on my wrist: I went with the 42mm in the end simply for the better battery life and slightly bigger text (my eyes aren't getting any younger ;))
 
I played around with paper cutouts when thinking about whether or not 38 or 42. Thought the 38 would be OK with my 175mm wrist, but ordered the 42. When I opened the box and saw the 42, I was like wow, no way would I go smaller than this! Have to keep in mind what's displayed doesn't go all the way out to the edge.
 
  • Like
Reactions: profmjh
Both sizes look like they actually would go well. However, I'd recommend you go to your local Apple Store to try both on and compare.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.