Considering swapping out my 38mm SS for a 42. Anyone else done this?

[bunnicula]

Title pretty much says it all.

The 42mm just barely works with my wrist size but I wonder if I'll find it to be a better choice in terms of overall performance (larger screen and battery) plus band selection.

Anyone else moved from 38 to 42?

 

[ToroidalZeus]

move up to an iPhone 6+ or mac mini

 

[bunnicula]

move up to an iPhone 6+ or mac mini

I have an iPhone 6+. Not seeing the relevance to my question.

 

[TJone]

I did this and never looked back. The screen is easier to read and battery life is noticibly longer.

 

[bunnicula]

I did this and never looked back. The screen is easier to read and battery life is noticibly longer.

Thanks! I swapped mine earlier. I really like the larger screen.

 

[psylence2k]

I would definitely go for the 42

 

[wchigo]

I went from a 38mm AW Sport to a 42mm AW. The performance is obviously the same (in terms of app speed, etc) but I do enjoy having the larger screen and significantly better battery life.

As for the band selection, it's basically the same amount of bands; the only difference is that for the 42mm you now have access to the Leather Loop and somewhat lose access to the Modern Buckle. However, I remember from one of your previous threads that you weren't too keen on the MB since it didn't feel substantial enough, so I suppose in your case it would be a net gain in band options.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Very happy with my 38. In fact whenever I see someone with a 42 I say to myself "thank Gd" I didn't order the big one. I tried one on after I ordered and it just looked goofy on my wrist. More screen real estate would be nice, but not at the expensive of looking like a tool.

Caveat: women can get away with oversized accessories and jewelry, esp., watches and glasses, and look "fashionable." Men cannot.

 

[Night Spring]

I preordered both the 42 and 38, and the 42 arrived first. I really liked the bigger screen for legibility and it was easier to hit touch targets. But 42 was just simply too big for my wrist. There was just no way to wear it comfortably. If you can wear it, then the 42 is definitely the better choice for ease of use.

 

[bunnicula]

I went from a 38mm AW Sport to a 42mm AW. The performance is obviously the same (in terms of app speed, etc) but I do enjoy having the larger screen and significantly better battery life.

As for the band selection, it's basically the same amount of bands; the only difference is that for the 42mm you now have access to the Leather Loop and somewhat lose access to the Modern Buckle. However, I remember from one of your previous threads that you weren't too keen on the MB since it didn't feel substantial enough, so I suppose in your case it would be a net gain in band options.

Yeah. When I swapped, I bought myself a leather loop along with the sport band that came with it.

I wanted to like the MB, but I'm just not a fan. I do love the larger screen. I really do.

 

[ATS]

I went from the 42 to a 38 and then back to the 42. I'm definitely happier with the 42.

 

[bunnicula]

I preordered both the 42 and 38, and the 42 arrived first. I really liked the bigger screen for legibility and it was easier to hit touch targets. But 42 was just simply too big for my wrist. There was just no way to wear it comfortably. If you can wear it, then the 42 is definitely the better choice for ease of use.

My wrists aren't so narrow on top that the 42 hangs over the sides. I still have a wee bit of room on either side. I think that the bands with lugs/adapters make the 42 look a bit largish on me, but the leather loop and the sport do not.

I'm right on the edge, I reckon. I love the ease of use/legibility of the screen.

My daughter is 14 and has very thin wrists (she's half-Asian ). She could not wear a 42 without it hanging over the sides and it wouldn't look right.

 

[sean000]

Very happy with my 38. In fact whenever I see someone with a 42 I say to myself "thank Gd" I didn't order the big one. I tried one on after I ordered and it just looked goofy on my wrist. More screen real estate would be nice, but not at the expensive of looking like a tool.

Caveat: women can get away with oversized accessories and jewelry, esp., watches and glasses, and look "fashionable." Men cannot.

I am planning to try on both, but I suspect the 38mm is the one I am going to prefer on my 170mm wrist. I know a lot of 170mm wrists rock the 42mm, but for my taste the 38mm seems to look better proportioned for my size (at least from what I can tell in online photos). I know some men who like big bulky watches, and they look good on some men. Or at least not out of proportion (if you're a larger person). I have not worn a watch in 15 years, but my last watch was a simple analog round face that was smaller than the 38mm and a brown leather band. When I was younger I had a Casio sport watch that I just felt was too big, so I almost never wore it. I recently saw one of the Samsung Android Gear watches in a store and man was it huge! It looked like a smartphone strapped to my wrist. I don't want a giant screen on my wrist... I just want a watch that can function as an extension of my iPhone.

So I suspect I will prefer the 38mm, but I realize the 42mm isn't that big compared to many men's watches out there. Yes a larger display is nice, but I have my iPhone 6 when I want a larger display.

Sean

 

[bunnicula]

Very happy with my 38. In fact whenever I see someone with a 42 I say to myself "thank Gd" I didn't order the big one. I tried one on after I ordered and it just looked goofy on my wrist. More screen real estate would be nice, but not at the expensive of looking like a tool.

Caveat: women can get away with oversized accessories and jewelry, esp., watches and glasses, and look "fashionable." Men cannot.

I agree. Men can wear a 42 only if their wrists make the 42 look like it fits from a proportional standpoint. My husband has a 38 and he's really happy with it because it looks like a regular watch when paired with the link band.

The guys I've seen most often who looked a bit odd with the 42 on were guys who had really skinny wrists with pretty much no hair on their arms. They looked a bit lost wearing the 42. I think a hairy guy and/or one with larger wrists (or both!) looks just fine in the 42. Depends totally on the individual.

I think I can barely pull off the 42, but I'm a woman and we can get away with stuff fashion-wise that men might have a harder time pulling off.

 

[bunnicula]

I am planning to try on both, but I suspect the 38mm is the one I am going to prefer on my 170mm wrist. I know a lot of 170mm wrists rock the 42mm, but for my taste the 38mm seems to look better proportioned for my size (at least from what I can tell in online photos). I know some men who like big bulky watches, and they look good on some men. Or at least not out of proportion (if you're a larger person). I have not worn a watch in 15 years, but my last watch was a simple analog round face that was smaller than the 38mm and a brown leather band. When I was younger I had a Casio sport watch that I just felt was too big, so I almost never wore it. I recently saw one of the Samsung Android Gear watches in a store and man was it huge! It looked like a smartphone strapped to my wrist. I don't want a giant screen on my wrist... I just want a watch that can function as an extension of my iPhone.

So I suspect I will prefer the 38mm, but I realize the 42mm isn't that big compared to many men's watches out there. Yes a larger display is nice, but I have my iPhone 6 when I want a larger display.

Sean

I think that is why I gravitated toward the 38 initially, Sean. I wasn't really a regular watch-wearer and only pulled out my nice watch for more formal occasions. After wearing a 38 since launch, I really wanted to give the 42 a shot because I loved the leather loop band and I wanted to see if I could get the larger screen. It's working for me so far. We shall see!

I think the old "38 is for women, 42 is for men" argument is ridiculous. They're watches, not undergarments.

 

[Night Spring]

My daughter is 14 and has very thin wrists (she's half-Asian ). She could not wear a 42 without it hanging over the sides and it wouldn't look right.

Well, I'd wear the 42 even if it looked ridiculous, because my eyesight is fairly bad and I find the 38 very hard to read, even with all the text enlargement options turned on. But it's not just that it looks funny, but because the 42 is too wide for my wrist, it doesn't sit right, ergo it sort of hangs off my wrist, making it feel very heavy. I almost wish I could gain some weight so I can wear the 42, but I have the kind of metabolism where I can eat all I want and still not gain a pound. I'm just the stereotypical tiny Asian woman.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Well, I'd wear the 42 even if it looked ridiculous, because my eyesight is fairly bad and I find the 38 very hard to read, even with all the text enlargement options turned on. But it's not just that it looks funny, but because the 42 is too wide for my wrist, it doesn't sit right, ergo it sort of hangs off my wrist, making it feel very heavy. I almost wish I could gain some weight so I can wear the 42, but I have the kind of metabolism where I can eat all I want and still not gain a pound. I'm just the stereotypical tiny Asian woman.

It is just not fair as I could walk by food and gain a pound. I have to constantly work at my weight control and exercise. Used to weight 270 and now down to a 185 and loving it! I am pretty big boned so the 42SS is perfect for me.

 

[bnmcj1]

I have small wrists, but went from 38 to 42. Found 38 childish/girly and everone I have met was surprised that my 42 is the big one. One said it was much more elegant than he thought. I originally ordered 38 mm as many classic male watches is 36 mm and above, but I found it too small. Especially too small to navigate, but also small for a male watch of this type. The password enetering was also ridiculous on 38.

Note that I have small wrists (16-17cm) and yet people say they did not think it was that small - without asking them. Dont believe in the pictures. Any real life or promo pic of Apple watch make even the 38 mm look big. But when you open the box, 38 mm is so small.

 

[caligurl]

i wanted the 42 for the larger screen until I tried them on.... plus none of the 42 bands would fit my wrist! even the small 42 sport band only goes down to 140 (I have a 136 wrist).....

now that I've had it a couple of months, I absolutely LOVE my 38...

what you need to do is try them both on and go with what YOU think fits and looks best!

 

[PrincessKick]

I had a 38mm Sport. After the 42mm was available in store I bought one to try. It has a little strap gap but I love the bigger screen and longer battery life. My perfect size would be a 40mm LOL. I sold my 38mm to a friend.

 

[DarthT]

Moved from a 38 sport to a 42 steel. 38 looked to small on my wrist and it was harder to launch apps. And it was very light (too light).

 

[Shanghaichica]

If you feel comfortable in it go for it. I have a 38 mm. I tried the 42 mm in store while I was waiting for my pre order. It looked ridiculous on me because I have small female wrists. The 38 mm fits me really well. I don't have good eye sight but I can still read it perfectly. I think it maybe because I have the sport which reportedly has a better screen than the SS. If I had the SS in 38 mm I might run into some problems.

OP if you think the 42 is better for you go for it. I've seen a women wearing a 42 mm. To me it looked huge but she was very tall, with an athletic build so it suited her. I'm small and petite so the 38 is a better fit.

 

[sean000]

I think that is why I gravitated toward the 38 initially, Sean. I wasn't really a regular watch-wearer and only pulled out my nice watch for more formal occasions. After wearing a 38 since launch, I really wanted to give the 42 a shot because I loved the leather loop band and I wanted to see if I could get the larger screen. It's working for me so far. We shall see!

I think the old "38 is for women, 42 is for men" argument is ridiculous. They're watches, not undergarments.

Agreed! And drumroll... I visited the Apple Store on Saturday. Tried on both sizes over and over, took a walk, returned and tried them on a few more times. I left with the 38mm blue Sport (shopping for a third party leather strap at the moment, although I do like the sport band more than I thought I would). The 42mm looked perfectly fine on my wrist, but I just couldn't get it comfortable. I kept adjusting the band and moving the watch up and down my wrist, but it never felt right. Maybe I would have gotten used to the 42mm, but the 38mm just felt right and looked right to me right from the start. I was happy to discover that I had no trouble reading the smaller display, or hitting the targets. I can unlock the watch without any problems. I n fact, I did not find the experience of using the two sizes to be very different at all. I suppose if you have bigger fingers the slightly larger display on the 42 helps, but I can use the 38 just as easily.

On a side note... The watch has so far exceeded my expectations in terms of the interface, speed and utility/convenience. While I have experienced the delay using third party apps, most of the time it is hardly noticeable. It's hard to believe there is so much negative press about it.

So I am totally happy with my purchase. Well... Almost totally happy. I did try on the Apple Watch SS with the leather loop. Part of me wishes I had bought that one.

 

[rowdt1]

I'm 2 meters tall (athletic build) and I went with the 42mm. The 38mm would look funny on me, I suppose. I even think the 42mm looks rather tiny in person, but who knows. I'm receiving mine today so we'll see!

 

[RodDavies]

Title pretty much says it all.

The 42mm just barely works with my wrist size but I wonder if I'll find it to be a better choice in terms of overall performance (larger screen and battery) plus band selection.

Anyone else moved from 38 to 42?

Yep. I had a 38. Thought it was a trifle small.. that's why I thought I wasn't completely sold on it..so I moved up to a 42. Ended up getting rid of that too. In the end, a half baked watch in my opinion. Just didn't... do enough. Laggy. Not enough watch faces (yet) and just an expensive bit of jewelry. But to those who enjoy them, good on yas.