S3 VS S5?

[shuffles]

Hi,

I'm looking to get two Apple Watches and now that the Series 3 has dropped in price I can get two S3 models for the price of one S5 (here in Spain).

My question is, what are the main differences between the S3 and S5?

I know there's no ECG in the S5 and the S4/S5 have a redesigned body. Is there anything else I'm missing?

Also, from an OS perspective, what does the S3 miss out on?

For example, do the complication faces that were introduced with the S4 work on the S3?

I know the S5 is the better version as it's the newest but I'm wondering if the leap is gigantic. I.E. I have an iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 is clearly better but my XR is still perfect. I'm wondering if it's the same with the Watch?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[deeddawg]

Screen size and performance jump from S3 to S4 were substantial gains, which translate to a S3->S5 comparison. Storage capacity is as much as quadrupled from S3 to S5.

I also think the always on screen of the S5 is going to be a substantial improvement.

My suggestion would be skip the S3 -- either buy a used S4 or just pony up for an S5.

 

[matrix07]

If you can get S3 with watchOS 5 it will be great since it works perfectly on S3. OS 6 might tax S3 a bit.
I think what you don't get for S3 are all the new things, namely ECG, Noise app, Compass among other things.

 

[mdjasrie]

I have the series 3 GPS version. I have ordered the series 5 and will be collecting at the store on the 20th September. For those with series 4, are there improvements to battery life between the series 3 and series 4?

 

[d.steve]

I have the S3. It's...fine. Yeah, the responsiveness can get a little slow from time to time but it's totally serviceable for the built-in functions. Have rebooted it a handful of times in the last year and that helped each time.

No, it doesn't get the new faces introduced with the S4. IDK which, if any, of the new faces it'll get in WatchOS 6.

I ordered the S5 because I'm handing down my S3 to replace someone's S1. Will probably replace that way every 1-3 years, depending on the feature cycle.

I am looking forward to it just being a bit less pokey and the additional watch faces, though.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I have the series 3 GPS version. I have ordered the series 5 and will be collecting at the store on the 20th September. For those with series 4, are there improvements to battery life between the series 3 and series 4?

No it's slightly worse I would say.

 

[1rottenapple]

Hi,

I'm looking to get two Apple Watches and now that the Series 3 has dropped in price I can get two S3 models for the price of one S5 (here in Spain).

My question is, what are the main differences between the S3 and S5?

I know there's no ECG in the S5 and the S4/S5 have a redesigned body. Is there anything else I'm missing?

Also, from an OS perspective, what does the S3 miss out on?

For example, do the complication faces that were introduced with the S4 work on the S3?

I know the S5 is the better version as it's the newest but I'm wondering if the leap is gigantic. I.E. I have an iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 is clearly better but my XR is still perfect. I'm wondering if it's the same with the Watch?

Many thanks in advance.

Processor speed is a big thing. 3rd party apps are too slow with series 3 even.