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Anyone switch from a 38mm to 42mm? Why?

E

eyeseeyou

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Feb 4, 2011
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I just sold my 42mm and have seen some deals on 38mm AW's for close to $200.

IMO they'll never be as nice as standard watches at $350+ but I still want the notifications and activity tracking.

With functionality being the priority are there any major differences to call out besides size?
 
There's probably a battery life benefit, but the crux will be the face and screen size - a priority for most, given the various types and amount of info available.

These vs. traditional watches - subjective. Hard to argue capability for the latter, though.
 
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I really used the aw for general notifications and activity tracking.

Would making the font bigger not resolve most of the issue of what information is displayed?

Also has anyone actually put together a chart of what types of aesthetically pleasing watches you can get in the Apple Watch price range?
 
Here's an interesting video
comparing the UI of the 38mm and 42mm.

You will see the text size difference between the 38mm and 42mm is not as much as you would expect. It's more a shrinking of empty space. The battery in the 42mm is larger and should get better life but in real world usage I have not noticed much difference. The 38mm is powering a smaller lower pixel display than the 42mm and that seems the biggest source of power drain.
 
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I kind of switched. I went to the Apple Store expecting to by the 38mm, but after trying them on I decided the 42mm was the way to go.
 
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bcaslis said:
Here's an interesting video
comparing the UI of the 38mm and 42mm.

You will see the text size difference between the 38mm and 42mm is not as much as you would expect. It's more a shrinking of empty space. The battery in the 42mm is larger and should get better life but in real world usage I have not noticed much difference. The 38mm is powering a smaller lower pixel display than the 42mm and that seems the biggest source of power drain.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the video. Very informative.
 
Before buying my watch, I did a lot of research and from what I found the 42mm had better battery life. I also read that the actual on wrist experience was nearly identical. Regardless that the 38mm was smaller it didn't feel or look smaller so why not get the larger one
 
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The first Apple Watch I bought was a 38mm and the next one I buy will be a 42mm. Bigger display and better battery life are my main reasons and as long as it doesn't look clunky on me I'm happy with the bigger screen.
 
maflynn said:
Before buying my watch, I did a lot of research and from what I found the 42mm had better battery life. I also read that the actual on wrist experience was nearly identical. Regardless that the 38mm was smaller it didn't feel or look smaller so why not get the larger one
Click to expand...

For me price is a an issue. I understand there is a luxury tax that comes with apple products(my desktop, laptop, tablet and media streamer are all apple) but $350+ is a hard pill to swallow for what you get when compared to other similar products.

At $200, $350 is looking way overpriced.
 
Well you need to weigh what's important with you and your budget. I agree the AW is a luxury product and if you don't think you are getting value for your money with the 42mm watch then yeah it doesn't make sense to get it
 
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maflynn said:
Well you need to weigh what's important with you and your budget. I agree the AW is a luxury product and if you don't think you are getting value for your money with the 42mm watch then yeah it doesn't make sense to get it
Click to expand...

I agree and also know that everyone's needs are different which is why I created this post to see what I could be missing besides size.

Battery life could be a concern although it's not like I ever went more than 24 hours without charging my Apple Watch. I did leave it at home when I went camping.
 
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I have always been a fan of the 38mm. For the most part, I think it looks better on everyone. It looks more traditional. Battery life is irrelevant. I don't think an extra hour is making of breaking anyone here.
 
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JayLenochiniMac said:
Why sell in the first place if you still wanted notifications and activity tracking? Why get the AW at all if they don't matter to you?
Click to expand...

Want vs need?

For me $200 for actionable notifications and fitness tracking seems to fit my needs more than $400 for actionable notifications and fitness tracking. Obviously using apple products with other apple products has its benefits.


This post was to get some insight on the $1-200 difference in experience from the 38mm to 42mm
 
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mattopotamus said:
I have always been a fan of the 38mm. For the most part, I think it looks better on everyone. It looks more traditional. Battery life is irrelevant. I don't think an extra hour is making of breaking anyone here.
Click to expand...

This. With my 38mm on the link bracelet, people barely even notice that I have an Apple Watch. The 38mm reads more like a regular watch from a distance. My sister just stayed with us last week, and it took her over a day to even notice that I wasn't wearing my usual analog watch. Of course, by the end of her trip, she went and bought one. :)
 
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douglasf13 said:
This. With my 38mm on the link bracelet, people barely even notice that I have an Apple Watch. The 38mm reads more like a regular watch from a distance. My sister just stayed with us last week, and it took her over a day to even notice that I wasn't wearing my usual analog watch. Of course, by the end of her trip, she went and bought one. :)
Click to expand...

People being unable to notice you have an Apple Watch on might actually be an issue lol.
 
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eyeseeyou said:
People being unable to notice you have an Apple Watch on might actually be an issue lol.
Click to expand...

Ha! My point is simply that the 38mm doesn't read as much like a computer screen on the wrist. It's a bit more DateJust in size, and that was one of the main things I was hoping for in the Apple Watch, after seeing the preceding Android watches.
 
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douglasf13 said:
Ha! My point is simply that the 38mm doesn't read as much like a computer screen on the wrist. It's a bit more DateJust in size, and that was one of the main things I was hoping for in the Apple Watch, after seeing the preceding Android watches.
Click to expand...

Good to know considering being an attention getting object on my wrist isn't high on my personal "needs" list.
 
douglasf13 said:
This. With my 38mm on the link bracelet, people barely even notice that I have an Apple Watch. The 38mm reads more like a regular watch from a distance. My sister just stayed with us last week, and it took her over a day to even notice that I wasn't wearing my usual analog watch. Of course, by the end of her trip, she went and bought one. :)
Click to expand...

Perfectly stated. Especially with the link bands. I usually wear the leather band and people only notice I have the AW if I am wearing the sport bands. I think it looks pretty damn good and not "techie" at all b.c of the size
2226e161ae97f18b7a22115824326e7c.jpg
 
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eyeseeyou said:
I just sold my 42mm and have seen some deals on 38mm AW's for close to $200.

IMO they'll never be as nice as standard watches at $350+ but I still want the notifications and activity tracking.

With functionality being the priority are there any major differences to call out besides size?
Click to expand...
Where have you seen them for around 200? You've caught my interest
 
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