Apple watch first series. How do Apple Watch models: classic, Edition, Sport differ from each other?

Sales of Apple Watch Series 4 recently started in Russia. The new generation of smart watches has received the most significant list of innovations for the entire existence of this line. We decided to compare Watch 4 with Series 3, 2 and even 1 so that you have a clear idea of ​​the key differences.

Watch Series 3 and Watch Series 4

First, let's evaluate the difference between the 2018 Watch Series 4 and its direct predecessors, the Series 3 models from 2017. Of course, the key change is the larger display and design change. However, there are other differences between the two generations of Apple smartwatches.

• Case height: Series 3 – 38 and 42 mm models. Series 4 – 40 and 44 mm models;
• Display area: Series 3 – 563 sq. mm and 740 sq. mm. Series 4 – 759 sq. mm and 977 sq. mm (on average 33% more than Series 3);
• Pixel Density: Series 3 – 290 PPI and 303 PPI in the larger model. Series 4 – 326 PPI for both models;

Apple Watch 4 (two models on the right) differs from all previous generations of Watch with a larger display with rounded corners, thinner bezels and higher resolution

• Display type: Series 3 – OLED. Series 4 – OLED LTPO (consumes approximately 15% less energy with similar characteristics to conventional OLED);
• Sound: Apple claims that Watch 4 has a significantly louder speaker (~50% more powerful), but there are no independent tests yet;
• Microphone: Series 3 - next to the speaker. Series 4 – was moved to the opposite side from the speaker, so as not to create inconvenience when receiving calls (in the LTE version) and using Siri;

Compared to its predecessors, the screens for Watch in 40 and 44 mm cases were increased by 35 and 32%, respectively.

• CPU: Watch 3 – S3 (dual core, 32-bit). Watch 4 – S4 (dual core, 64-bit). Apple promises an almost twofold increase in performance in the S4 compared to its predecessor;
• Coprocessor: Watch 3 – W2. Watch 4 – W3 (the coprocessor takes on tasks related to wireless communication);
• Permanent memory: Series 3 – 16 GB in LTE version, 8 GB in basic versions. Series 4 – 16 GB in all versions;

Official announcement video for the fourth Apple Watch series

• ECG: only in Watch Series 4 (and the built-in application for working with the new sensor will initially be available only in the USA);
• Tactile feedback on the Digital Crown: Series 4 only;

The key control element of the Watch - the Digital Crown wheel in the new generation of watches received tactile feedback, and is also used during ECG readings

• Heart rate sensor: Series 3 – first generation. Series 4 – second generation;
• Accelerometer and gyroscope: Series 3 – basic versions (measuring overloads up to 16 g). Series 4 – updated, more accurate versions (measuring overloads up to 32 g);
• Fall detector: Series 4 only (if you fall and don't move for a while, the watch can automatically call for help);

Apple assures that the watch reacts specifically to falls and should not be bothered by false alarms during outdoor activities and sports. In addition, Watch 4 does not start an alarm immediately, but only if you do not rise for more than 60 seconds

• Bluetooth: Watch 3 – 4.2. Watch 4 – 5.0 (data transfer up to two times faster, increased range);
• Thickness: Series 3 – 11.4 mm. Series 4 – 10.7 mm;
• Back panel material: Series 3 – composite. Series 4 – ceramics + sapphire glass to protect sensors;
• Case colors: Series 3 – silver, dark (space gray). Series 4 – silver, dark, gold.

As with the Watch Series 3, some important features and options are still unavailable for the Apple Watch 4 in Russia and the CIS in 2018. For example, we do not sell LTE versions of the Apple Watch, where it is possible to receive calls on the watch, since mobile operators are still thinking about eSIM support.

With the release of Watch 4, Watch Series 3 did not disappear from sale and even fell slightly in price. For example, the most basic version now costs $279 instead of $329. Watch 4 prices in the West start at $399

Among the new functions of Watch 4 for Russia, ECG is not yet supported. The hardware of the watch can do this, but the corresponding application in the Russian Federation, at least at the start, is not available. Because of this, the measurement itself is also unavailable. In addition, many straps and accessories will not be sold in the Russian Federation.

Also note that some features (for example, a fall detector) may be disabled by default and to work they will need to be first enabled in the device settings.

First impressions of Watch 4 and visual comparison with Series 3

Watch Series 2 and Watch Series 4

Now let’s compare Series 4 with the second generation of Apple smartwatches – Series 2. Of course, there will be more differences between the Watch series 2 and 4 than in the previous comparison. Therefore, in order not to repeat ourselves, let us clarify: everything written above about the differences between the 3rd and 4th series of watches is also relevant in this comparison.

The Watch 4 home screen looks noticeably different and more informative than before, with larger displays allowing for more information to be shown

That is, on the Series 4 side there is immediately a larger display with lower power consumption, better sound, a new microphone location, an electrical heart rate sensor (responsible for ECG), updated and more accurate other sensors, a wheel with tactile feedback and Bluetooth 5. But it is added and a few more points are clarified:

• CPU: Series 2 – S2 (two cores, 32-bit, 70% weaker than S3). Series 4 – S4 (two cores, 64-bit, twice as powerful as S3);
• Coprocessor: Series 2 – not available. Series 4 – W2 (mainly responsible for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections);
• Cellular version (LTE and UMTS): Series 2 – not available. Series 4 – yes, but not available in Russia and a number of other countries;

Watch 4 in 44mm and 40mm cases side by side

• Permanent memory: Series 2 – 8 GB and media file limits. Series 4 – 16 GB, unlimited;
• RAM: Series 2 – 512 MB LPDDR2. Series 4 – 768 MB LPDDR3;
• Barometric altimeter (altimeter): Series 4 only;
• Siri: Series 2 – text only. Series 4 – talking Siri.

Details about the fourth series of watches

Watch Series 1 and Watch Series 4

Now, some information in case you want to upgrade to Series 4, being already familiar with the watches of the first series or even with the even earlier, very first (relatively: zero series) generation of Apple smartwatches from 2015.

What is the difference between the first generations of Watch and the current Series 4? Let's briefly evaluate the most important things:

• Display: the size did not change until Watch 4, and then it became a third larger, had rounded corners and smaller frames at the edges (relevant for both the basic and larger versions of the watch);
• Maximum display brightness: more than doubled starting with Watch Series 2 (1000 nits vs. 450 nits);

With a larger display for the first time, Watch 4 is instantly recognizable from any previous Apple Watch series

• Sound: starting with Watch 4, the speaker became one and a half times louder;
• CPU: the dual-core S4 with increased clock speeds from Watch 4 should be many times faster than the first processors in the Apple Watch;
• Coprocessor: appeared starting with Series 3, takes on some specialized tasks;
• Electrical heart rate sensor: appeared in the fourth series of Watch, but in Russia this function, as we already wrote, does not yet work;
• Heart rate sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope: have been with Watch from the very beginning, but received a major update in Watch 4;

Thanks to improved sensors that can read data up to eight times faster, the Watch 4 debuted some new features, including fall detection

• Built-in GPS/GLONASS: debuted in Watch 2 and is present in all current models;
• Version with support for cellular networks and voice calls: available starting with Watch Series 3, but still not sold in Russia;
• Permanent memory: in the first generations of Watch – 8 GB, now – 16 GB;

Restrictions on the volume of stored media files and even the number of photos existed through Series 2 inclusive, but starting from the third series they were removed

• RAM: in the first generations of Watch – 512 MB. Now – 768 MB;
• Bluetooth: in the first generations of Watch – 4.2. Now, in Watch 4, it’s 5.0 (up to two times faster);
• Water protection: in the first Watch there is only splash protection, in Watch 2 and later – the ability to dive up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water ( important: protection is no longer guaranteed when immersed in salt or chlorinated water).

Apple Watch versions

Finally, if you are confused, let’s once again briefly go over the chronology of the release of Apple smartwatches and their main innovations.

• Apple Watch: sales start in spring 2015. Unofficially – series zero, the very first Apple smartwatch. Important: at the moment they no longer support updating to the latest version of WatchOS;
• Apple Watch Series 1: autumn 2016. Identical to the first Watch in everything except the processor: the single-core S1 was replaced by the dual-core S1P;

Key slide of the Watch 4 presentation, which shows all the innovations of the fourth series

• Apple Watch Series 2: autumn 2016. We received a display with double brightness, reliable protection from water and a GPS/GLONASS module;
• Apple Watch Series 3: fall 2017. Added altimeter and coprocessor for wireless networks. The amount of RAM has been increased by one and a half times, Siri now speaks. A version of the watch with LTE has appeared. It comes with double the amount of flash memory (16 GB);
• Apple Watch Series 4: autumn 2018. A third larger display, smaller frames, higher resolution, one and a half times more powerful speaker. Double processor performance, 16 GB flash for all versions, wheel with tactile feedback. ECG, updated sensors, fall detector, Bluetooth 5.

Comparison of all generations of Apple Watch

Hi all! How good it was before... there is one iPhone model - you choose a color and buy it. There is one Apple Watch model - I chose the size, color, strap... bought it. Now the range of gadgets from the company from Cupertino has grown greatly, and at the same time, if we talk about watches, they are not so different. It is absolutely unclear what to choose.

In this article we will not analyze case materials, colors, straps, individual models that differ only in appearance and pre-installed software (such as the Apple Watch Nike+), since the company is constantly adding/removing various options (a lot has changed) and keep track of everything this is simply impossible.

Therefore, let's focus exclusively on the main differences between Apple Watch of different generations.

Well, anyone who wants to look at the current models and choose a strap can do this on the official website.

All. The introduction has been delayed - it's time to start. Let's go!

What's the difference between Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2?

I decided to summarize all the main characteristics in one table, here they are:

For those who are too lazy to study, I will highlight the most important points of difference between Series 2 and Series 1:

1. Screen brightness. In the 2nd generation Apple Watch, the screen became twice as bright - 1000 nits versus 450 in Series 1. The display resolution did not change.
2. Water protection. Series 2 can be submerged in water up to 50 meters deep and nothing will happen to it. The very first model could only withstand splashes.
3. Dual core processor. Everything should work even faster!
4. GPS. Apple has equipped the second Watch with a GPS module - now you can track the distance traveled directly on the watch.
5. Slight increase in battery capacity. Most likely, this is due to the advent of GPS. It consumes some additional energy, and in order for the second generation of watches to work no less than the previous one, the battery had to be slightly larger.

As you can see, on the one hand, the changes are not very significant. On the other hand... in my opinion, water protection and GPS are very useful things that perfectly complement the image of a sports watch.

What is the difference between Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3?

Most recently, Apple presented the 3rd generation watch - let's take a look at what the company has been working on for the whole year and what has changed since the Watch Series 2?

This time we will do without a comparison table, because Apple in the 3rd generation of its watches also added a model with a built-in SIM card, which means we have to compare as many as 6 “different” devices! Considering the fact that the dimensions have remained virtually unchanged (a couple of millimeters does not count), we will focus exclusively on the most important differences between Series 3 and Series 2.

So, what's new in Watch 2017?

Nothing else has changed - these are the same good Apple Watch Series 2. With water protection, GPS, a promised operating time of 18 hours (with mixed use), etc.

So which Watch should you choose - first, second or third generation?

Actually, after all these comparisons, this is the most important question. Considering the fact that Apple releases new models approximately once a year, now we will find out what watch to buy in 2017-2018?

It would seem that now we should have a choice of Series 1, 2 and 3. But the company makes money, so after the release of the 3rd generation, it left only Apple Watch 1 and 3 on sale. The second model was discontinued. This means that we will choose between the first and third versions:

1. The Series 1 is worth buying if you want the watch as a companion to your iPhone and nothing else. Receive notifications, watch the time, control music - the first generation of Watch does an excellent job with all these and many other functions.
2. Series 3 is more “about sports”. GPS, full moisture protection, barometric altimeter are useful assistants during training.

And finally, let me remind you of the most important difference - the price.

The difference between Series 3 and Series 1 is on average 6,000-8,000 rubles. Agree, the amount is not small and it’s worth thinking about... Are the additional features of version 3 worth that kind of money? Are they necessary? Or is this complete and absolutely useless nonsense? It's up to you to decide!

P.S. It seems to me that the comparison turned out to be quite complete. However, if you have questions or comments, welcome to the comments!

P.S.S. Is everything clear and there are no questions? Support the author with a “like”! It’s not hard for you, but I’m very pleased :) Thank you very much in advance!

New version of the most popular smartwatches

Having released the new iPhone, Apple did not forget to update its smartwatches. The product has received many improvements, the main ones being water resistance and special modes for swimming, built-in GPS, a new Apple S2 SoC and a brighter screen. In addition, Apple Watch Series 2 (this is the official name of the new product) runs a new version of the watchOS 3 operating system (but owners of last year's model can also download it). How much did the described innovations affect the consumer qualities of the product? We will talk about this in our article.

Before we get straight to the story about the watch, let's understand the rather confusing lineup of Apple smartwatches. The fact is that Apple not only released the Apple Watch Series 2, but also replaced the first generation with the Apple Watch Series 1, which retains the previous version of the case and lacks GPS, but is equipped with the same Apple S2 processor as the Apple Watch Series 2.

Thus, in addition to differences in display size (38 and 42 mm) and case material (aluminum or stainless steel), there are now two generations (Series 1 and Series 2) simultaneously introduced to the markets. And this is not counting the “real” first generation of watches, with the Apple S1 processor: such models can no longer be bought in the official Apple Store, but they will probably be available for a long time from resellers who have retained old stocks.

On top of that, Apple changed the name of the series within the generation. The aluminum version, which used to be called Apple Watch Sport, is now simply Apple Watch, as is the stainless steel version. Simply, when purchasing on the website, you indicate the case material. In turn, the elite Apple Watch Edition series has been preserved, but instead of gold models, it now features a new ceramic one, at a price several times lower.

And in addition to this, there are also the Apple Watch Hermes and Apple Watch Nike+ series, which differ in straps and box design, as well as a huge variety of straps that can be purchased both with the watch and separately (with the exception of Nike straps). Moreover, Hermes straps are now also available for purchase without a watch.

In general, the devil will break his leg :) On the other hand, the possibilities for combining technical characteristics, case design and straps are now almost limitless. Because it remains compatible with the first-generation Apple Watch bands, you can reattach your old band to any watch. Therefore, if you need “the same blouse, but with mother-of-pearl buttons,” this is not a problem.

Since the site is, after all, a site about technology, and not about style, we made a table in which we included only technical characteristics, leaving out case materials and straps (we will talk about them in the “Design” section).

*according to manufacturer information

Apple has not disclosed details about the S2 and S1P SoCs. Even the frequency of the CPU cores is not reported. We only know that in both cases there are two of them. Overall CPU+GPU performance has also doubled (according to Apple). We cannot check this, and, apparently, the full difference will be felt after the release of the next version of watchOS. We assume that on the very first Apple Watch it will be slow (or will be completely incompatible with them). But watchOS 3.0 works quite correctly on the Apple S1. So, presumably, this is a foundation for the future.

We have already written about other differences above. But I would like to draw your attention to one more detail. Based on the fact that the dimensions of the first generation Apple Watch and Apple Watch Series 1 are completely identical, we can conclude that the body of the watches is the same. To be precise, we are talking about Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Series 1. But Apple Watch Series 2 is almost a millimeter thicker than previous versions. This is quite significant.

Well, let's get acquainted with the Apple Watch Series 2 and evaluate its differences from the first version of the watch.

Equipment

The packaging of the aluminum version of the Apple Watch Series 2 looks very similar to the box of the first generation Apple Watch Sport. This is an elongated box made of thick cardboard.

But inside there is no longer a white plastic case, but just a niche for a watch. To be honest, this seems to us a less interesting solution (however, this does not affect the reliability of transportation).

The equipment of the new product is identical to that of the Apple Watch Sport. The only difference is that now you can choose between a nylon and silicone strap when purchasing (the price is the same). And if you choose nylon, then be prepared to have only one size included, while buyers of a silicone strap get two options at once. As a result, for those with large hands, the nylon strap option may not be very suitable.

To charge the watch, a wireless charger is used, which in appearance resembles a large tablet. It is connected with a USB cable to a 5 V 1 A charging unit. That is, instead of the supplied unit, you can use any smartphone charger.

An important point: the charger from the first generation Apple Watch is fully compatible with Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1. Therefore, accessories will also work - for example, a convenient docking station.

Design

The appearance of the new product is almost no different from its predecessor. This is the same rectangular body with rounded corners and edges, as well as two buttons on the right side.

One of these buttons is oblong, the other is round, and at the same time serves as a wheel that can be rotated (Digital Crown). The screen size remains the same. We had the 42 mm version, and the 38 mm version is also available for sale.

On the back we see a heart rate sensor and buttons for detaching the strap. And here it is worth pointing out one nuance: if earlier in the aluminum version of the watch (Apple Watch Sport) plastic was used in the round area around the sensor, and ceramic material was used only in the stainless steel Apple Watch, now in all versions of the Apple Watch Series 2 - from the cheapest to the most expensive - this zone is ceramic.

Another difference is two microphone holes instead of one. The speaker hole has not changed.

As we have already said, the new product has become a little thicker. This is basically noticeable in a direct comparison, but if you just start wearing the Apple Watch Series 2, you won’t feel any discomfort. They look no worse on the hand than the first generation model.

It can be assumed that the thickening is due to the need to install a more capacious battery in order to maintain battery life at the same level with increased screen brightness and SoC performance. Another assumption is related to the key innovations of the Apple Watch Series 2: the appearance of full water resistance (5 ATM) and the presence of built-in GPS. Obviously, both of these features should have affected the engineering features of the device. And the fact that it was possible to maintain the same design and practically not change the dimensions (except for the thickness) is a real victory.

Why is it important to maintain dimensions (length-width)? Because, in addition to aesthetic aspects, compatibility with released straps depends on this. Considering that some of these straps cost more than the watch itself (such as the steel block bracelet), it would simply be unfair to the people who bought them to change the way the straps are mounted on a new generation of watches.

At the same time, Apple continues to expand its range of straps. Firstly, due to new colors (in the photo above you see an asphalt gray nylon strap and a dark gray silicone strap with a brown tint), and secondly, due to the development of cooperation programs. In addition to Hermes, Apple has entered into a similar partnership with Nike. A special feature of the silicone straps on the Apple Watch Nike+ series are large holes, which should provide comfort during active sports, and a two-color surface (with Nike brand colors).

However, Nike straps are currently only available with watches.

Screen

The Apple Watch Series 2 screen size and resolution have not changed compared to the first generation. The watch is available in two display sizes: 38mm and 42mm. Accordingly, their resolution also differs: 272×340 and 312×390, respectively. We had a 42mm watch with a screen resolution of 312x390.

We conducted a detailed examination of the screen using measuring instruments. Below is the conclusion of the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a scratch-resistant glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface curved towards the edges. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, slightly better than Google Nexus 7 (2013)), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 2013 screen. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off:

The screen of the Apple Watch Series 2 is slightly darker (photo brightness is 111 versus 115 for the Nexus 7). There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value we recorded was about 660 cd/m², the minimum was 15 cd/m². Automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor always works. The user can only make adjustments to the operation of this function by choosing one of three levels. As external lighting conditions change, the brightness of the screen increases, but it decreases only when moving from very bright external light to, for example, the conditions of an artificially lit office. When switching from the latter option to darkness, the brightness of the watch screen decreases after a cycle of entering standby mode and activating the device. In general, the range of brightness changes and excellent anti-glare properties allow you to use the device both on a summer day outside and in complete darkness - even after the eyes adapt, the watch screen will not seem overly bright. At any brightness level there is modulation with a frequency of 60 Hz, but its amplitude is small, so flickering is not visible. Graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) illustrate the above:

This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:

However, there is also cross-mixing of components (programmatically), so the coverage is not overly wide, but adjusted to the sRGB boundaries:

Accordingly, the images on the Apple Watch screen have a natural saturation. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 7000 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is 2-3 units. Color balance is good. Black is just black from any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when viewed from an angle compared to LCD screens, but at higher angles the whites fade noticeably to blue. Overall, the screen quality of the Apple Watch Series 2 is very high.

watchOS 3 and new features

Along with the new watch, Apple released an update to the watchOS operating system. Already the third version is fully compatible with previous Apple Watch models. I must say, there is nothing radically new here, but some pleasant improvements have appeared. The main one is the Dock (in the Russian interface it is also called in English), from which it is convenient to launch applications. Previously, applications were launched only from the main menu, and this was very inconvenient, because the round icons were very tiny, and getting into them the first time was problematic. Now we will need the main application menu much less often, because frequently used applications can be launched directly from the Dock.

The Dock is called up by briefly pressing the oblong button. I must say, this decision is very correct, because previously this button was practically not used at all (it was assigned a function that was completely unnecessary in everyday life). So, in the Dock you see thumbnails of open applications. Moreover, some of them are pinned to the Dock, and some were simply recently opened. Accordingly, you can pin those that are not pinned to the Dock if you plan to access them often, and if you don’t need some of the pinned ones, they can be easily removed.

Let's add to this that if you press the oblong button with a long press, a menu will open with options to turn off the watch and make an emergency call (see screenshot on the top right). The latter is an important feature (though hopefully no reader will need it). In addition, the quick settings menu has been redesigned (accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen; see screenshot top left). There is now a waterdrop icon to indicate the screen is locked when used in water. Of course, this option is only available on the Apple Watch Series 2.

Other innovations include new watch faces (including a dynamic watch face with jellyfish and a cartoon Minnie Mouse in addition to the pre-existing Mickey Mouse), as well as easier switching between them. To change the watch face, just swipe your finger from the left edge of the screen to the right. This is useful because different dials may be useful in different situations. For example, if you are at home, then you are more comfortable with one option, but if you go for a run, then you need a dial that displays activities.

In addition, do not forget that a number of dials are modular, that is, we can ourselves determine what information will be displayed on them and where. Therefore, if desired, you can very finely customize the dials directly to suit you.

Fitness options

But the main thing to note about the Apple Watch Series 2 and watchOS 3 is, of course, the significantly expanded fitness capabilities. Let's start with the less important ones. Two new applications have appeared among the pre-installed applications. One contains breathing exercises, and the other measures the pulse.

The circle-flower icon helps us take deep breaths for a minute, gradually increasing in size as we inhale. At the same time, the feedback of the watch is also involved during the exercise, and this gives a very interesting feeling - as if we are filling some old bellows and they are squeaking. Of course, there are plenty of such simple utilities in the App Store, but it is this detail with the Taptic Engine that makes the Apple application special.

As for measuring the pulse, everything here is very primitive, but it’s better this way than nothing at all. True, you can get detailed statistics about your heart rate for the day by opening the “Health” application on your iPhone (information about all heart rate measurements on the watch is exported there).

In general, it cannot be said that the two new applications significantly expand the capabilities of the Apple Watch. But new training regimes are really valuable. Thanks to the advent of water resistance, the watch can now be used for swimming. Moreover, there is a separate mode for swimming in the pool and in open water. We couldn’t check the second one for obvious reasons, but apparently GPS is turned on there. But when swimming in a pool, GPS does not work, but other sensors collect all the basic information, including, for example, the number of strokes.

Post-workout details can be viewed on your iPhone in the Activity app.

By the way, when you start a swim, the watch locks the screen and buttons, and to unlock it you need to spin the Digital Crown or press both buttons at the same time (the same action takes a screenshot, but in watchOS 3, taking screenshots is disabled by default, it can be enabled through the smartphone application) .

Now let's see how the advent of GPS can help us. To do this, we turn on the training mode, which involves moving outdoors. For example, this could be walking or running. In theory, everything should be simple: you move, the watch builds a track and, when connected to the iPhone, transmits information there. In practice, it turned out that this function does not work entirely smoothly - until you calibrate it. Here is an example of the walking results.

Well, first of all, “average pace” would be better called average speed and indicated in kilometers per hour. This is a parameter that is clear to everyone, unlike the time for one kilometer. Secondly, for some unknown reason, the Apple Watch did not build a track. This can be seen in the screenshot from the smartphone (see on the left under this paragraph). Next to it is a screenshot of running, and the distance is the same (relatively speaking, we walked quickly in one direction and ran back).

As you can see, there is already a track here, but there is no pulse. It can be assumed that the watch did not fit very tightly to the hand, but we did not move it after the journey there. That is, apparently, in the mode of more active shaking, the watch loses its pulse. Another oddity: in the first case, the distance is defined as 0.38 km, and in the second - 0.33 km (although, again, these are the same route). An error of 50 meters, at first glance, is not so critical, but it is still clearly more than acceptable for a device with GPS. Now let's look at the track itself.

I’ll say right away that it has nothing to do with reality. The author did not cross any highway, the shopping center is located in a completely different place than what is shown on the map... But the main thing is that the path itself was completely different. He wasn't direct at all.

To understand the problem, you need to divide it into its components. There are two of them: inaccurate Apple maps (alas, we can’t do anything about this) and an incorrectly working GPS. The latter, as it turned out, can be “treated” by calibration. There is a page on the Apple website that explains how to calibrate GPS. After following these instructions, Apple Watch Series 2 began to build a track absolutely correctly, including in difficult conditions (for example, if you enter a room on the way). Below are screenshots that prove this.

A separate topic beyond the scope of this article is the use of third-party applications on the Apple Watch Series 2 that use GPS.

Autonomous operation

It is impossible to test the battery life of the watch with any accuracy, and you must understand that the 18 hours indicated by Apple is a very approximate value. But based on daily use, we get the impression that the Apple Watch Series 2 lasts the same amount of time as the first-generation Apple Watch: about two days. We are talking about models with a 42 mm screen (38 mm models work less).

Intensity of use - moderate: receiving notifications, half an hour of training in the pool, five minutes of walking/jogging (with a track), one answer to a call using a microphone and speaker, dynamic screen. In this mode, the watch can be charged overnight. But, of course, if you slightly increase the duration of GPS use, the situation will change for the worse. In addition, the weather may affect the results. On a sunny day, if you stay outside for a long time, the watch will probably discharge faster, since the screen brightness will automatically rise higher than on cloudy days and when used indoors.

conclusions

Apple has taken an important step in the direction of sports gadgets. Now Apple Watch can not only measure heart rate and count steps, but also track swimming results and build a track during outdoor activities. True, they still do both worse than specialized devices (like Garmin fitness watches). In particular, the swimming information is less detailed, and the track is built correctly only during calibration and only on Apple maps (very imperfect). But we have no doubt that Apple will improve these features. In addition, there will likely be third-party applications on the App Store that can do all the same things, but better. After all, the main thing is that the hardware of the Apple Watch Series 2 is practically in no way inferior to GPS sports watches. And software improvements are a matter of time.

However, in terms of software, the situation is now generally much better than it was before. First of all, we are talking about innovations in watchOS 3. The appearance of the Dock and the ability to finally use the oblong button for really useful things are very positive developments. By the way, unlocking the screen while swimming by turning the Digital Crown is also a great find, because previously it was almost impossible to use the Digital Crown as a wheel. Another great innovation is the convenient change of dials. It would seem like a small thing, but such a small thing allows you to use your watch more widely and more productively. Before, you’ll think ten times whether you really need to change the dial that’s installed right now. Now you can have several watch faces for different situations and instantly (even on the go) switch between them.

Of course, one can complain that the appearance of the Apple Watch has not improved compared to the first generation. But here Apple follows the same path as with the iPhone/iPad: one update expands functionality without practically affecting the appearance, the next update changes the appearance of the device. We must assume that we will see a truly new design in the Apple Watch Series 3. However, let's hope Apple will maintain compatibility with old straps, as it is now. From a fashion accessory point of view, this is very important.

So, the big question is: is it worth upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 2 for those who have the first generation watch? The answer is simple: if you don’t swim in the pool (or it’s not important for you to track your swims), then you can safely wait another year. You'll get all the benefits of watchOS 3 on last year's model. But we would not recommend buying a new watch for the sake of built-in GPS, since there are still some complaints about the construction of the track.

A more difficult question is what to choose: Series 1 or Series 2. The difference in price between models of identical sizes and materials is 9,000 rubles. In our opinion, it all depends on how important the sports application is to you and whether you plan to deal with third-party software (for example, look for applications for swimming and track building). If the answer to both questions is “no”, and you were going to buy an aluminum model with a silicone strap, then you should save money and get the Series 1. Otherwise, and if you want a stainless steel watch with a sapphire crystal, the choice is obvious: Apple Watch Series 2.

Apple Watch Series 2 deserves our Original Design award for significantly expanding functionality (water resistance, GPS) while maintaining the same design.

In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review of the Apple Watch Series 2 smartwatch:

What is the Apple Watch series 3, which has outsold all the world's famous brands, such as Rolex? How are they different from the previous IW atch series 1 and 2 generations? In this review, we will make a detailed comparison and briefly talk about the main functions of the device.

The design of the I watch 3 remains the same, only the thickness of the case has increased slightly, and the Digital Crown has acquired a bright red color. Firstly, they haven’t become boring, and secondly, the recognition of smartwatches from the best brand is, in our opinion, a plus. And the visual compatibility of all Apple devices is also an important factor. Apple offers us 2 modifications of watches in the third series - 38 and 42 mm, the price of which is practically the same. Therefore, if you want to get a new Apple Watch series 3, make your choice based on the size of the brush.

As with the Series 2 model, the ceramic rear panel with heart rate sensor is available in the LTE version with a virtual SIM card (which is not yet available in Russia!). And in the GPS version, the back panel is made of plastic. In the case of a watch, this doesn’t really matter, and it doesn’t feel any different on the hand.

Finally, let's move on to the differences. Naturally, the year between the releases of Series 2 and 3, Apple developers did not sit idly by. The latest watch has increased in terms of performance - it works noticeably (70%) faster due to the updated dual-core processor. The wireless connection has been improved, and this, you know, is a key point for fast communication with a smartphone. Wi-Fi speed, compared to its predecessor, is 85% faster on the new watch! The RAM was also upgraded, and now it is 1.5 times more - 768 MB (versus 512 for the second series). This is very noticeable when you hold 2 devices of the previous and new generations in your hands at once. But the memory of the smartwatch GPS version has not changed (8 GB).

Improvements have also been made to the quality of communication. The developers tried to work on noise reduction. Compared to the second watch - heaven and earth. Apple Watch 3 can be charged wirelessly, if, of course, you have a Docking Station.

Siri has now become full-fledged and has learned to respond to the owner with a voice, just like in an IPHONE or IPAD. Your “Hey Siri” will not go unanswered.

Let's summarize: if you are going to buy such a gadget for the first time, you definitely need to buy the latest current model, with the best hardware, a set of useful functions and excellent performance. To change or not to change the first generation iwatch to the 3rd? - We will answer “Yes”, since technology has already advanced rapidly. And if you are the happy owner of an Apple Watch series 2, we will not advise you anything. You decide!

We all loved this smart Apple Watch, but even the most devoted fans of this manufacturer are already confused about the difference between series 1, 2 and 3. If there are practically no external differences and the first series is similar to the third, then the most important changes lie inside. And the characteristics may differ significantly. Let's try to figure out what the difference is and which watch is right for you.

To clearly and clearly see what the difference is, we will create a table where we compare 1, 2 and 3 series according to their characteristics. And then we’ll tell you about all the differences in more detail.

Comparison of characteristics of Apple Watch 1, 2, 3 using 38 mm as an example

As we can see from the table, with each series the watches became better, faster and smarter. If in the first watch there was not enough processor power and the watch could freeze, then in the second series they made a dual-core processor.

Appearance of Apple smart watch:

The iWatch Series 1 was released in four colors (Silver, Gold, Rose Gold and Space Gray). 2 types of sizes - 38 and 42 mm. The body is made of aluminum.

Apple Watch Series 2 has become a little thicker (almost a millimeter), the color scheme remains the same. But in this series, in addition to aluminum, stainless steel and ceramics are used. A sports series with a bright design also appeared - Nike + with special sports functions.

Watch Series 3. Same case with the same colors. Similar to Watch 2 in design and color.

Apple watch display.

The first and second and even the third series did not undergo significant differences in the display. All watch series use OLED technology. Screen brightness. In Apple Watch 2nd and 3rd generations, the screen became twice as bright - 1000 nits versus 450 in Series 1. The display resolution did not change.

Water protection.

Series 2 and 3 can be safely immersed in water to a depth of 50 meters and nothing will happen to them. In the third series, water training appeared, so you can safely go to the pool and set records in 50 and 100 meter swims. But don't forget to click on the special drop icon to activate the waterproof mode. After water procedures, the watch itself will push out excess water. The very first model could only withstand splashes and is afraid of immersion in water.

Processor and memory.

In the first watch, the main drawback was the rather weak processor, which was developed by Apple and was called S1. This is a single-core processor with a frequency of 520 MHz. Its power is barely enough for applications and comfortable work. In the second and third series, this drawback was taken into account and a new dual-core processor was created, which was called S2. 512 MB of RAM turned out to be enough for any tasks and applications, so both in the first and in the second watch the amount of RAM is the same. Due to new features and more resource-intensive applications in the third series, the memory capacity was increased to 768MB.

With GPS or not?

Apple Watch 1 is completely dependent on the iPhone and therefore they used data from the smartphone. Apple has equipped the second and third Watch with a GPS module - now you can track the distance traveled directly on the watch. Feel free to go for a walk and leave your phone at home. Running with a smartphone is also not convenient, so GPS is a very important improvement in series 2 and 3.

Battery in a watch.

This is the main drawback of perhaps all watches and the Watch is no exception. It is not possible to fit a large battery into a small case. The battery life of the watch will only last for a day, and if you do not charge it before bed, you will only be able to use the watch for a couple of hours the next day. In the second and third series there is a slight increase in battery capacity. Most likely, this is due to the advent of GPS. It consumes some additional energy, and in order for the second and third generations of watches to work no less than the previous one, the battery had to be slightly larger.

What is the difference between Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3?

Most recently, Apple presented the 3rd generation watch - let's take a look at what the company has been working on for the whole year and what has changed since the Watch Series 2? This time we will do without a comparison table, because Apple in the 3rd generation of its watches also added a model with a built-in SIM card, which means we have to compare as many as 6 “different” devices! Considering the fact that the dimensions have remained virtually unchanged (a couple of millimeters does not count), we will focus exclusively on the most important differences between Series 3 and Series 2.

So, what's new in the 2017 Apple Watch 3?

Is there a version with LTE now? this is the most important difference. True, it is absolutely useless for us - this function does not work in Russia yet, although telecom operators are already thinking about introducing it in Russia. The fact is that the watch uses a built-in SIM card - our operators do not yet provide such services and capabilities.

1. Design element. By the way, the version with LTE has one fundamental difference in terms of design - the scroll wheel now has a red dot! A distinctive feature of the Watch Series 3 LTE is the red scroll wheel
2. CPU. Of course, the Apple Watch Series 3 received a new S3 processor (which is said to be 70% faster than the Series 2), as well as a special microchip for wireless communication - W2 (similar to that used in AirPods).
3. RAM. The RAM value also increased to 768 MB (in the second generation it was 512 MB).
4. Inner memory. For the version without LTE, nothing has changed; the size of the internal storage is still 8 GB. But Series 3 with a SIM card will receive an increased volume - 16 GB.
5. Barometric altimeter. Now the watch can count how many floors you have ascended or descended.
6. Bluetooth 4.2. The blue tooth version has become a little higher (in Series 2 - Bluetooth 4.0). What's the plus? Data transfer speed increases. Considering that a lot of data is first downloaded to the iPhone, and then via Bluetooth to the Apple Watch, this will obviously not be superfluous. Nothing else has changed - these are the same good Apple Watch Series 2. With water protection, GPS, promised operating time 18 hours (with mixed use), etc. So which Watch should you choose - first, second or third generation?

Comparison of Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 3.

Actually, after all these comparisons, this is the most important question. Considering the fact that Apple releases new models approximately once a year, now we will find out what watch to buy in 2017-2018?