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

Men with the 38

J

joejoejoe

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 13, 2006
1,428
110
Curious to know how men (or people with big wrists) like the 38, if they opted for that over the 42.

I like my watches to be small and light (if I'm wearing one at all) and wanted to see how the 38 looked on a bigger wrist and how it feels anecdotally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyeseeyou and Rons1199s
joejoejoe said:
Curious to know how men (or people with big wrists) like the 38, if they opted for that over the 42.

I like my watches to be small and light (if I'm wearing one at all) and wanted to see how the 38 looked on a bigger wrist and how it feels anecdotally.
Click to expand...
I have a space Grey one on order (38mm) my wrist size is like 190mm. I like a smaller lighter watch as well. The 42mm does look more appropriate, but I like the way the 38mm looked on MY wrist. Should have it by mid June.
 
I have a 38mm sport and I sometimes even forget it's on my wrist. It is light and unobtrusive. Battery life is perfectly fine. I've been using it often today for 8 hours and I have 70% left. Looks like a standard smaller men's watch, I also don't like the big clunky watches.
 
I ordered the 38 SS and 42 SS. The 38 came quickly and I like it a lot. I also like small watches that you forget you are wearing until you check it. The size is fine, battery life very good (I have been using it 10 hours and have 56% battery left with moderate use) and I like it a lot. I hope to get the 42 mm soon to compare. One is going back and if the 42 does not come soon I will cancel it and stick with the 38. My wrist is 165 mm. 42 probably would look a little better but I don't really care. The 38 mm feels great and screen is good for me.
 
I had a 38mm, and it looked and felt good. The lower PPI of the screen was obvious to me, though, so I swapped to a 42mm for the higher PPI and better battery. I'm glad that I did.
 
I have the 38 sg sport and I like the size of it. Ive never worn a watch so i wanted to go as small as possible. Its not too small to use (although I use the last hole in the band) and it doesnt really get in the way.
 
I've been wearing a 38mm SS BCB for a couple of weeks. (177mm wrist.) I have found it much more usable than I thought it would be given the small screen size. I do have a 42mm WSB arriving tomorrow so I can make my final size decision before it's too late to return the 38. Hopefully the 42 won't feel like I've strapped a deck of cards to my wrist now that I'm used to the 38. :D
 
Subdiv said:
I've been wearing a 38mm SS BCB for a couple of weeks. (177mm wrist.) I have found it much more usable than I thought it would be given the small screen size. I do have a 42mm WSB arriving tomorrow so I can make my final size decision before it's too late to return the 38. Hopefully the 42 won't feel like I've strapped a deck of cards to my wrist now that I'm used to the 38. :D
Click to expand...

The actual size difference isn't particularly noticeable, especially since they are the depth/thickness is the same. So long as you don't have very small wrists the 42 should be fine.
 
roddenshaw said:
I had a 38mm, and it looked and felt good. The lower PPI of the screen was obvious to me, though, so I swapped to a 42mm for the higher PPI and better battery. I'm glad that I did.
Click to expand...

But they both have the exact same pixel density and if the battery really is better on the 42, the battery must be huge to offset the extra pixels.

I doubt you could have seen a non-existant lower PPI.

EDIT: I believe you (and I) have been confused by the incorrect articles stating that the 38mm has 290 PPI and that the 42mm has 302 PPI. They're both 326 PPI.
 
Last edited:
roddenshaw said:
I had a 38mm, and it looked and felt good. The lower PPI of the screen was obvious to me, though, so I swapped to a 42mm for the higher PPI and better battery. I'm glad that I did.
Click to expand...

The 38 and the 42mm both have the exact same PPI: 326. The resolution is different on each of them.

----------
p3ntyne said:
But they both have identical pixel density's and if the battery life really is better on the 42 mm, then the battery munt be huge to offset the extra pixels.

I doubt you could have seen a non-existant lower PPI on the 38 mm.
Click to expand...

Ninja'd me by 1 minute. ;)
 
roddenshaw said:
The actual size difference isn't particularly noticeable, especially since they are the depth/thickness is the same. So long as you don't have very small wrists the 42 should be fine.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'll probably be okay. I'm in the credit card "b" range, so I'm not too worried.
 
I love the 38mm. It just looks and feels better on my 180mm/60mm wide wrist. Here's some shots of various 38's on my wrist:

V1X4weF.jpg


iDyjJs1.jpg


UwyoElg.jpg


7tZvn5a.jpg


FhS46Y7.jpg


As long as your wrist is under 200mm, you'll have no problem pulling off a 38mm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: miller06 and Hellenek
38mm on 180mm wrist. I personally like the smaller size.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    131.4 KB · Views: 1,538
I'm a 5' 11" man with 160mm wrists (a credit card will just hide them). 38mm Space Gray Sport looks and feels perfect. Both sizes are great, and are both smaller and better proportioned than the majority of the Android/Tizen watches. I don't think the 42 looks too big, just that the 38 felt instantly familiar.

I use the Small sport strap at third hole in. Very comfortable and easy to fasten once you get the hang of it. Doesn't get clammy either. I think the hollowed out underside helps with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blwade
When first trying it on, the 38mm seemed tiny, and I secretly wished I'd gone for 42 instead.

After wearing it since the 24th, I genuinely haven given its size another thought since that day. It matches the size of my wrist perfectly, and the 42mm just looks like a smart watch on me, rather than a regular watch.

Honestly though, I don't think the size you buy matters at all unless you have small wrists, then the 42 could look too big. You easily adapt to the smaller one after a few hours anyway.

If anyone questions it, just mention the 38mm screen is still bigger than the pebble's.
 
slicecom said:
I love the 38mm. It just looks and feels better on my 180mm/60mm wide wrist. Here's some shots of various 38's on my wrist:

As long as your wrist is under 200mm, you'll have no problem pulling off a 38mm.
Click to expand...

When you first posted your pictures with the white band awhile back, it was then that I decided it was the 38 I wanted, thanks!
 
178mm wrist - wore the 42mm SGS for a week, gone now. 38mm SS BSB arrives tomorrow. The 38mm looks more like a watch and the 42mm looks more like a giant slab of glass.
 
if your wrist is 160mm like mine you will be surprised that 38mm fit quite well. Holding 42mm and 38mm on a side by side comparison makes 38mm look small and unsuitable but once you tried it on it doesn't look that small after all.

I went for the Sport 38mm white band in the end.
 
I chose the 38 and glad I did. I don't particularly want a watch that shouts" look at me". I find most watches to be a bit oversized, and have always preferred a smaller inconspicuous device. I'm very happy with the fit, finish, and function of it thus far.
 
I love my 38mm Apple Watch and I'm a guy.

The thing is, they aren't that different in size. I don't think the 38mm looks like a "lady's watch" and I don't think the 42mm "looks ridiculous". They are really both medium sized watches where one is slightly bigger than the other. I think Apple could come out with a bigger watch yet later on.

In fact, on my 165mm wrist most people assume I have the 42mm. I think a 38mm on my wrist is proportionate to a big arm with a 42mm.

Maybe I just don't see them like others but I actually have a hard time telling the two sizes apart unless they are right next to each other like in the attached picture. And even then, they look similar to me. If you look at the "Show your Apple Watch thread" you will see that most people don't know if it is a 38 or 42 unless they ask.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    156.3 KB · Views: 1,198
I love my 38mm. My wrist is about 180mm. I like how it looks like a normal watch and not an oversized screen attached to my wrist.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    788.8 KB · Views: 1,620
joejoejoe said:
Curious to know how men (or people with big wrists) like the 38, if they opted for that over the 42.

I like my watches to be small and light (if I'm wearing one at all) and wanted to see how the 38 looked on a bigger wrist and how it feels anecdotally.
Click to expand...

I wore a 38 for a week on a wrist that is 200 mm or a touch more. It was tight. Now I have a 42 that is connected on the 3rd hole of the large band and is perfectly comfortable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back