Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 3
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springsup
macrumors 65816
It doesn't matter; the Apple Watch has always (since gen 1) had great hardware.
The major problem is that the toolkit Apple provides for 3rd-parties to write software (WatchKit) is total junk. This new watch has a dual-core, 64-bit processor, yet basic things like drawing a sprite at an arbitrary location are literally impossible with the software Apple provides.
It's so useless that Apple themselves don't use it; they have no idea how little is possible. See also: https://marco.org/2018/02/26/watchkit-baby-apps
The major problem is that the toolkit Apple provides for 3rd-parties to write software (WatchKit) is total junk. This new watch has a dual-core, 64-bit processor, yet basic things like drawing a sprite at an arbitrary location are literally impossible with the software Apple provides.
It's so useless that Apple themselves don't use it; they have no idea how little is possible. See also: https://marco.org/2018/02/26/watchkit-baby-apps
BorderingOn
macrumors 6502
Personally speaking, I'll be upgrading from S2 and am very excitedMine has just become super slow and unresponsive, makes even selecting a workout a chore.
My wife's and my Series 2 are the same way. As much as people want to believe Apple's software updates don't change core functionality, they just do. Workouts just hang for a while.
Uhm, I personally feel my series 2 is already bordering at being too bulky for me. As I said, "only 1 mm" can be a lot when it comes to small things. For examples in optics, 1 mm thicker lenses, let alone 2, makes it appear magnitudes thicker. Making a cardboard mockup alone won't help anything, because it doesn't account for thickness (or the way the bands react)
It all sounds nice on paper, thinner, less volume....but how that translates in reality is a very different matter.
At the end of the day, it's a matter of taste. But I prefer smaller and thinner watches...
[doublepost=1536879530][/doublepost]
Personally speaking, I'll be upgrading from S2 and am very excited
I noticed that, too, but only recently. Particularly workouts have become really slaggish. It's a bummer, I tend to keep my Apple devices for a minimum of 4 years before upgrading, but it seems the watch will get a faster upgrade cycle for me...
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Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Yeah I have one of these and I'm wondering if it will fit. My guess is no.
https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/actionsleeve
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Depends on the amount of "give" in the case. The arm band I linked to above seems slightly flexible, but I'm still guessing its a no go. We'll know soon enough
Macaholic868
Contributor
Agreed. I’m not going to get up at 3:00 AM Eastern to pre-order one but I’m upgrading from the Series 0. It’s a no brainer at this point. LTE and the ECG seal the deal for me. I don’t have AFIB per say but there have been a few times over the course of the last few years where I can tell my heart rate is accelerated and I don’t know why. By the time I make it over to an after hours clinic everything has been fine. I’d love to use the ECG if that ever happens again and take that data to my doctor.
T-Will
macrumors 65816
I haven't seen any sites mention that Apple is now using an LPTO screen in the Series 4.
Here's an article from about a month ago mentioning this rumor.
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-4/design/
Here's an article from about a month ago mentioning this rumor.
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-4/design/
teknikal90
macrumors 68040
i have a skinny wrist, but not skinny enough to use the 38mm without it looking odd, but skinny enough that the 42mm already looks big and the sportband always looks loose.
im concerned the 44mm will get comically big for me. 40mm may be the way to go for me.
im concerned the 44mm will get comically big for me. 40mm may be the way to go for me.
Kaitain4
macrumors member
The only way they found my ventricular tachycardia was because my Apple Watch was catching the spikes in heart rate and recording them on my phone. I was able to go back through the history in the Health app and show the cardiologist (he was amazed). They were sporadic, which led to the decision to fit me with a 30 day heart telemetry device instead of the normal 3 day. The 3 day would not have caught it. Apple Watch really saved my bacon!
Does the Cellular version have the red line on the crown or not? On the apple website, it looks like it, but when I zoom in by clicking the gallery, the red line is not there. Maybe it's just a shadow?
[doublepost=1536882300][/doublepost]Looks like the Apple Store App has this issue. But the website version shows the red line
[doublepost=1536882300][/doublepost]Looks like the Apple Store App has this issue. But the website version shows the red line
Kaitain4
macrumors member
The cellular version has a small red line circling the crown.
Thanks! I think it's just an issue w/ the Apple Store App. If i tap the cellular version, then tap Gallery, it shows the non-cellular picture. The desktop apple website doesn't have this issue. Thanks!
G5isAlive
Contributor
I don’t get the fascination about stainless steel... for me the features are the same for a lighter watch that costs a lot less...and my aluminum looks fine
WannaGoMac
macrumors 68030
Waiting for series 20 when the watch is a replacement for my iPhone. until then I just find it funny folks want these stupid things. Oh look, i can get my messages on my wrist now instead of on my iphone on the table...oooh!
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Kaitain4
macrumors member
Sapphire crystal, more durable metal, and a richer, more polished look.
B4U
macrumors 68040
Thanks for the tip.That's correct. The red areas are how much larger the 44mm watch is compared to the 42mm, not to mention being slightly thinner. The crown is in a slightly different location as well.
Even less reason to get this to replace my perfectly functional series 3 then.
The all-new Apple Watch Series 4 is just hours from being available for pre-order, with orders opening on Apple.com at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. If you're still on the fence about jumping to the new generation, this post should help you discern all of the pros and cons between sticking with your Apple Watch Series 3 or going with the upgraded Apple Watch Series 4.
Display
Perhaps the first thing you'll notice about the Series 4 is its bigger display, which is up to 35 percent larger than the Series 3. Specifically comparing the larger 42mm Series 3 and 44mm Series 4 models, the Series 3 has a 740 sq mm display area while the Series 4 has a 977 sq mm display area. This means that the 44mm Series 4's display is 32 percent larger than the 42mm Series 3.
Likewise for the smaller models, the 38mm Series 3 has a 563 sq mm display area, compared to the 40mm Series 4 with a 759 sq mm display area. This results in a 35 percent display size increase between generations. In essence, this means that the Series 4 packs more screen into what is nearly the same package as the Series 3, with slimmer bezels that are somewhat visually similar to the rounded corners of the iPhone X and iPhone XS.
The increased display area also results in increased resolution, with the 44mm Series 4 including 368x448 pixels, compared to 312x390 on the 42mm Series 3. The 40mm Series 4 has 324x394 pixels, while the 38mm Series 3 has 272x340 pixels. Thanks to all of these changes, app icons and fonts are now bigger and easier to read as well.
Case Size
Although the display sizes have been increased, there are minimal changes to the actual size of the cases for Apple Watch Series 4, despite the new measurements. 38mm in Series 3 and prior has become 40mm, and 42mm in Series 3 and prior has become 44mm, with both of these numbers representing the height of the Apple Watch Series 4 case.
This is a change that shouldn't be too noticeable, unless you're comparing the Series 4 with a previous generation model side-by-side. And don't worry about this update affecting your current band collection, as Apple made it clear during yesterday's keynote that all previous Apple Watch bands will fit with the Series 4 case.
Looking at the thinness, Apple Watch Series 4 is just under 1mm slimmer compared to Series 3. Series 4 measures in at 10.7mm thin, compared to 11.4mm thin for Series 3.
Processor
As expected with an Apple update, the Series 4 has received a beefed up processor in the form of the 64-bit dual-core S4 processor.
Apple says that this is up to two times faster than the S3 processor found on the Series 3, enabling the Series 4 to be speedier when opening apps and performing other functions.
Watch Faces
Exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4 are a collection of watch faces that take advantage of the enlarged displays to showcase as many as eight complications.
These complications have been enhanced to be more precise and provide more information, thanks to the increased display area.
There are also a few watch faces that will uniquely react to the edges of the Series 4's display, like Vapor, Liquid Metal, and Fire and Water.
Health
For the first time in a wearable device, you'll be able to take a full ECG reading on Apple Watch Series 4. Using electrodes built into the Digital Crown and a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back crystal, an included ECG app will perform a reading when you touch the Digital Crown and hold it for 30 seconds.
The app can classify if your heart is beating in a normal pattern or if there are signs of Atrial Fibrillation, which could hint at potential health complications. You'll be able to save your ECG recordings in the iOS Health app and create a PDF to share with your doctor. While Apple Watch has always been able to track your heart rate, the ECG app is a major update to Apple's wearable line.
The ECG app will be added to Apple Watch Series 4 later this year, and will only be available to customers in the United States at launch.
Tidbits
Below you'll find a quick list of features that are new and exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4, which are unavailable on Series 3 and prior devices. We've also listed everything that hasn't changed further down, one notable constant being 18-hour battery life.
Changes between Series 3 and Series 4:
[*]Series 4 now includes haptic feedback on the Digital Crown
[*]The black ceramic and sapphire crystal back allows radio waves to easily pass through Series 4 for better cellular service
[*]The speaker on Series 4 is 50 percent louder
[*]Apple has relocated the microphone so that it reduces echo for better sound quality on the receiving end of phone calls
[*]With a new accelerometer and gyroscope, Series 4 can detect if you fall down and ask if emergency services should be alerted
[*]The improved accelerometer can measure up to 32 g-forces, increased from up to 16 g-forces on Series 3
[*]Series 4 has Apple's new W3 wireless chip instead of the previous generation W2
[*]Connectivity improvements also include new Bluetooth 5.0, up from 4.2 on Series 3
[*]Now all models have 16GB storage capacities, instead of just GPS + Cellular on Series 3
[*]Second-generation optical heart sensor No changes between Series 3 and Series 4:
[*]Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery with an 18-hour battery life
[*]GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and GZSS
[*]LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models
[*]802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
[*]Barometric altimeter
[*]Water resistance up to 50 meters
[*]Ambient light sensor
[*]Force Touch
[*]Display with 1,000 nits brightness
[*]Magnetic charging cable and USB power adapter included If you're interested, Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders will kick off at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. Our pre-order post can help you figure out when pre-orders go up for you if you're in a different time zone. We also went hands-on with Apple Watch Series 4 after yesterday's "Gather Round" event, which you can read here.
Article Link: Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 3
**** no I',m not buying this. Thank god I bought the series 3 on day 1! At this point no matter what I wouldn't buy an apple watch
The all-new Apple Watch Series 4 is just hours from being available for pre-order, with orders opening on Apple.com at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. If you're still on the fence about jumping to the new generation, this post should help you discern all of the pros and cons between sticking with your Apple Watch Series 3 or going with the upgraded Apple Watch Series 4.
Display
Perhaps the first thing you'll notice about the Series 4 is its bigger display, which is up to 35 percent larger than the Series 3. Specifically comparing the larger 42mm Series 3 and 44mm Series 4 models, the Series 3 has a 740 sq mm display area while the Series 4 has a 977 sq mm display area. This means that the 44mm Series 4's display is 32 percent larger than the 42mm Series 3.
Likewise for the smaller models, the 38mm Series 3 has a 563 sq mm display area, compared to the 40mm Series 4 with a 759 sq mm display area. This results in a 35 percent display size increase between generations. In essence, this means that the Series 4 packs more screen into what is nearly the same package as the Series 3, with slimmer bezels that are somewhat visually similar to the rounded corners of the iPhone X and iPhone XS.
The increased display area also results in increased resolution, with the 44mm Series 4 including 368x448 pixels, compared to 312x390 on the 42mm Series 3. The 40mm Series 4 has 324x394 pixels, while the 38mm Series 3 has 272x340 pixels. Thanks to all of these changes, app icons and fonts are now bigger and easier to read as well.
Case Size
Although the display sizes have been increased, there are minimal changes to the actual size of the cases for Apple Watch Series 4, despite the new measurements. 38mm in Series 3 and prior has become 40mm, and 42mm in Series 3 and prior has become 44mm, with both of these numbers representing the height of the Apple Watch Series 4 case.
This is a change that shouldn't be too noticeable, unless you're comparing the Series 4 with a previous generation model side-by-side. And don't worry about this update affecting your current band collection, as Apple made it clear during yesterday's keynote that all previous Apple Watch bands will fit with the Series 4 case.
Looking at the thinness, Apple Watch Series 4 is just under 1mm slimmer compared to Series 3. Series 4 measures in at 10.7mm thin, compared to 11.4mm thin for Series 3.
Processor
As expected with an Apple update, the Series 4 has received a beefed up processor in the form of the 64-bit dual-core S4 processor.
Apple says that this is up to two times faster than the S3 processor found on the Series 3, enabling the Series 4 to be speedier when opening apps and performing other functions.
Watch Faces
Exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4 are a collection of watch faces that take advantage of the enlarged displays to showcase as many as eight complications.
These complications have been enhanced to be more precise and provide more information, thanks to the increased display area.
There are also a few watch faces that will uniquely react to the edges of the Series 4's display, like Vapor, Liquid Metal, and Fire and Water.
Health
For the first time in a wearable device, you'll be able to take a full ECG reading on Apple Watch Series 4. Using electrodes built into the Digital Crown and a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back crystal, an included ECG app will perform a reading when you touch the Digital Crown and hold it for 30 seconds.
The app can classify if your heart is beating in a normal pattern or if there are signs of Atrial Fibrillation, which could hint at potential health complications. You'll be able to save your ECG recordings in the iOS Health app and create a PDF to share with your doctor. While Apple Watch has always been able to track your heart rate, the ECG app is a major update to Apple's wearable line.
The ECG app will be added to Apple Watch Series 4 later this year, and will only be available to customers in the United States at launch.
Tidbits
Below you'll find a quick list of features that are new and exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4, which are unavailable on Series 3 and prior devices. We've also listed everything that hasn't changed further down, one notable constant being 18-hour battery life.
Changes between Series 3 and Series 4:
[*]Series 4 now includes haptic feedback on the Digital Crown
[*]The black ceramic and sapphire crystal back allows radio waves to easily pass through Series 4 for better cellular service
[*]The speaker on Series 4 is 50 percent louder
[*]Apple has relocated the microphone so that it reduces echo for better sound quality on the receiving end of phone calls
[*]With a new accelerometer and gyroscope, Series 4 can detect if you fall down and ask if emergency services should be alerted
[*]The improved accelerometer can measure up to 32 g-forces, increased from up to 16 g-forces on Series 3
[*]Series 4 has Apple's new W3 wireless chip instead of the previous generation W2
[*]Connectivity improvements also include new Bluetooth 5.0, up from 4.2 on Series 3
[*]Now all models have 16GB storage capacities, instead of just GPS + Cellular on Series 3
[*]Second-generation optical heart sensor No changes between Series 3 and Series 4:
[*]Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery with an 18-hour battery life
[*]GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and GZSS
[*]LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models
[*]802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
[*]Barometric altimeter
[*]Water resistance up to 50 meters
[*]Ambient light sensor
[*]Force Touch
[*]Display with 1,000 nits brightness
[*]Magnetic charging cable and USB power adapter included If you're interested, Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders will kick off at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. Our pre-order post can help you figure out when pre-orders go up for you if you're in a different time zone. We also went hands-on with Apple Watch Series 4 after yesterday's "Gather Round" event, which you can read here.
Article Link: Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 3
fpsBeaTt
Suspended
When connected to your phone. In every other metric (LTE and workouts), battery life is either equivalent, or superior. Don’t be selective in order to generalise about its overall specs; it’s disingenuous.
PBG4 Dude
macrumors 601
Increment each letter in HAL by one and you get IBM.
The new watch is much more tempting than the new phones for me. I always did want a Dick Tracy 2-way wristwatch when I was a kid.
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TheRealDGD
macrumors member
I'm guessing you won't want to travel outside certain countries wearing this device.... it may become the NIKE shoes of the past.....
