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Jepp6464

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 29, 2015
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hi I really want the Apple Watch but I don't know about it would be to big.. Because my wrist is not so big.. Please help
 
Definitely go try one on in an Apple Store... that's the only way to know for sure.
 
I have small wrist too and I ordered the 38mm SS Space Grey Sport. I literally requested a return straight away as it looked way too small on my wrist. Now have the 42mm SS Space Black and loving it.

But like @friedmud said, best to booked an appointment with Apple and try on the sizes. Try before you buy!
 
All the reviews I've seen, the actual on the wrist size difference is negligible and given the superior battery life of the 42mm, I'd go out on a limb and recommend that model.

Of course, a visit to the apple store is definitely needed, but I think over all you'll see so little difference in the size that the 42mm may make more sense.
 
I don't agree the 42mm has superior battery life. I've used both and the 38mm is giving me the same battery life with the same usage. I think people make too many snap judgements about new devices. On both the 42mm and the 38mm I've seen it take a couple of days for the battery life to stabilize. The 42mm has a bigger battery but also a bigger screen. It seems like it averages out about the same.
 
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I don't agree the 42mm has superior battery life. I've used both and the 38mm is giving me the same battery life with the same usage. I think people make too many snap judgements about new devices. On both the 42mm and the 38mm I've seen it take a couple of days for the battery life to stabilize. The 42mm has a bigger battery but also a bigger screen. It seems like it averages out about the same.

Apple says the 42mm has more battery though?

http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/battery.html

Apple Watch battery performance claims are based on test results from the 38mm Apple Watch. A 42mm Apple Watch typically experiences longer battery life.
 
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Much of it depends on personal style. I'm a 6'1" male with average wrists, and I went 38mm, as I'm used to more classically sized watches, like a Rolex DateJust and Submariner. Having a black screen take up most of the watch makes the it read larger, and the 38mm looks plenty big on my wrist.

As for battery life, Apple says the 42mm has potentially better battery life, but I'd bet it's negligible. I go to bed with a 30%-45% charge just about every night with my 38mm.
 
When I got my 42mm I was surprised by how small it was. I even measured it and checked the back to make sure they'd sent me the right one.

No amount of looking at photos or making cutouts will give you the real experience. Photos seem incredibly deceptive and tend to make the watch look much bigger than it actually is.
 
The 38mm actually looks a little big for my wrist. So there's no way I would wear the 42mm. I'm really glad Apple made the 38mm an option, as it's one of the only smart watches people with small wrists like myself can wear.

And the battery life has been great so far.

Go to the store, try them out. Get whichever one you think looks better.
 
All the reviews I've seen, the actual on the wrist size difference is negligible and given the superior battery life of the 42mm, I'd go out on a limb and recommend that model.

Of course, a visit to the apple store is definitely needed, but I think over all you'll see so little difference in the size that the 42mm may make more sense.

While this is good advice for the majority, you really have to be careful if your wrist is less than 150mm. In that case, most of the 42 bands would be too large for you.
http://www.apple.com/shop/watch/sizing-guide
 
Apple says the 42mm has more battery though?

http://www.apple.com/uk/watch/battery.html

Yes, the 38mm has a smaller battery. But it also has a smaller screen with fewer pixels to power also, so it's not valid just to compare battery capacity. My experience with both showed no significant difference between them in my real world usage. I've also seen similar comments from other owners of the 38mm on this forum. So the automatic dismissal I've seen by some of worse battery life of the 38mm is not really valid. Especially when the comment says the size difference is very small so that the 42mm is a no brainer. No it's not. I would agree that those with a larger wrist should probably get the 42mm but there seems a severe bias that the 42mm is automatically better than the 38mm.
 
Apple don't just say it has a bigger battery. They say "A 42mm Apple Watch typically experiences longer battery life." It would be amazing if they hadn't tested the battery performances under highly controlled conditions. An individual's experience of everyday use (and therefore filled with variables) doesn't make me question their claim.
 
When I got my 42mm I was surprised by how small it was. I even measured it and checked the back to make sure they'd sent me the right one.

No amount of looking at photos or making cutouts will give you the real experience. Photos seem incredibly deceptive and tend to make the watch look much bigger than it actually is.
Exactly my experience. The 42mm is far more compact than most photos on forums would have you believe.
 
It really just depends on taste, in my experience. Here is my 38mm Watch and my Submariner. While the body of the Sub is a little larger, the screen of the Apple Watch is larger than the Rolex dial, and I find they wear similar in size. Also, the band of the 38mm Apple Watch, at 22mm, is closer to the 20mm of the Rolex band. The 42mm watch has a 24mm wide band, which I don't like.

fullsizerender-1-jpg.580943
 
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Apple don't just say it has a bigger battery. They say "A 42mm Apple Watch typically experiences longer battery life." It would be amazing if they hadn't tested the battery performances under highly controlled conditions. An individual's experience of everyday use (and therefore filled with variables) doesn't make me question their claim.

Yes, but what if the "longer battery life" is an hour?

I don't disbelieve Apple's claim, but I also think that the difference in battery life shouldn't really factor in when picking your watch size. Like, when you are deciding between the 13 inch and 11 inch MacBook Air, if your goal is ultimate portability, you wouldn't say the 13 inch is a no-brainier because of better battery life. With the watch, the ultimate goal is to find one that is comfortable to wear and fits your style. Focus on that, and forget the battery life. It's not like there are going to be that many days where a 38 runs out of battery before you go to bed. I've had the watch since May, and so far it happened only once, when I got up at 8 and didn't get home until 3am.
 
I thought the 38mm would be right as well, ordered one for pickup at an apple store about 50 miles away. Drove up, paid, tried it on...and immediately asked to see the 42mm. Tried that one on, and exchanged it on the spot.

38mm was just too small , 42 looked "right".
 
Yes, but what if the "longer battery life" is an hour?

I don't disbelieve Apple's claim, but I also think that the difference in battery life shouldn't really factor in when picking your watch size. Like, when you are deciding between the 13 inch and 11 inch MacBook Air, if your goal is ultimate portability, you wouldn't say the 13 inch is a no-brainier because of better battery life. With the watch, the ultimate goal is to find one that is comfortable to wear and fits your style. Focus on that, and forget the battery life. It's not like there are going to be that many days where a 38 runs out of battery before you go to bed. I've had the watch since May, and so far it happened only once, when I got up at 8 and didn't get home until 3am.

Absolutely. I don't doubt that the 42mm "can" get better battery life but posts here dismissing the 38mm because of it's battery are shortsighted. Apparently those on this thread that have never owned a 38mm are more interested in specs than in real world experiences.
 
Make photos: Place your current (or any with prefered size) watch beside your iPhone with screens showing Apple Watch real sizes. For me it is easy to go: 42 mm (see image).

View attachment 588323

I think it's important to realize that it's not only the dimensions of the watch case that determines how it reads on the wrist, but also the case proportions and dial (screen) size. When on the wrist, the 38mm Apple Watch will read more similarly to your watch, because the OLED screen on the Apple Watch is much larger, proportionally.

Those of us who frequent watch forums know, for example, that a 39mm Nomos is going to look larger on the wrist than a 39mm Seiko, because the Nomos has such a large dial.
 
I think it's important to realize that it's not only the dimensions of the watch case that determines how it reads on the wrist, but also the case proportions and dial (screen) size.
It is true, but this (about 20 years old and still working, cheap) „SHARP” ;) is really small (it is men's watch, it is not too small, but: small). Its size on man's wirst was OK in mode and trends 15÷20 years ago, but not in 2015. However (what's visible on photo) 42 mm is not so big. I do not try to force anybody which size to choose. It is just to show photo-method to compare and decide. In my country we have premium (etc.) resellers only and not real Apple Store(s). I can buy (and return) with courier only.
 
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I think the paper cutouts were really helpful in helping me to decide the key was that taking pictures of it directly on your wrist (just like the actual watch) makes it look larger than it is. When I put on the paper cutouts and looked at it in the mirror or took pictures of it that way it was true to real life.

I had both 38 for the return period and 42 for months and did not notice a significant difference in battery so I wouldn't base your decision on that I would base it on how it looks on you and which band would fit better. Measure your wrist and compare it to the band length chart as well for a good idea.
 
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