Apple Watch Series 1 Vs. Series 2 | Spec Comparison - Digital Trends

Maybe your like

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Smartwatches have been around for a while now, which means there are more choices than ever to choose from. Even if you’re a dedicated Apple fan, you still have many options that will be compatible with your iPhone. Although the original Apple Watch (also known as the Series 0) is no longer made or supported, it’s still rather easy to pick up a Series 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Specs

Apple Watch Series 1 Image used with permission by copyright holder	Apple Watch Series 2 Image used with permission by copyright holder
GPS-enabled	No	Yes
Processor	S1P	S2
Operating system	WatchOS 5	WatchOS 5
Body (dimensions)	Aluminum case 38mm 1.52 x 1.31 x 0.41 inch 42mm 1.67 x 1.43 x 0.41 inch	Aluminum and stainless steel case 38mm 1.52 x 1.31 x 0.45 inch 42mm 1.67 x 1.43 x 0.45 inch White ceramic case 38mm 1.54 x 1.34 x 0.46 inch 42mm 1.68 x 1.44 x 0.45 inch
Resolution (pixels)	38mm: 272 x 340 42mm: 312 x 390	38mm: 272 x 340 42mm: 312 x 390
Weight	Aluminum case 38mm: 25 grams 42mm: 30 grams	Aluminum case 38mm: 28.2 grams 42mm: 34.2 grams Stainless steel case 38mm: 41.9 grams 42mm: 52.4 grams Ceramic case 38mm: 39.6 grams 42mm: 45.6 grams
CPU	Dual core	Dual core
Screen	Ion-X strengthened glass (aluminum cases)	Ion-X strengthened glass (aluminum cases) Sapphire crystal glass (stainless steel and ceramic cases)
Waterproof	Splash-resistant only	Waterproof up to 50 meters
Available ceramic casing	No	Yes
Display	OLED Retina display with Force Touch (450 nits)	Second-gen OLED Retina display with Force Touch (1,000 nits)
Base Price	$190	$175
Review	4 out of 5 stars	4 out of 5 stars

In 2016, Apple updated the original Apple Watch with an S1P dual-core processor and called it the Apple Watch Series 1. The company also introduced the Series 2 at the same time, which is a significant upgrade over the Series 1. The Series 2 is a more feature-rich device overall, and uses a dual-core processor known as the S2. The S1P and S2 processors are 50-percent faster than the original Apple Watch’s S1 chip, and showcase the ability to run 60 frames per second. They may feel a bit clunky if you compare them to the dual-core S3 processor found in the Series 3 and the 64-bit dual-core S4 processor in the Series 4, but they’ll get the job done.

The biggest knock against the original Apple Watch was the absence of standalone GPS. You always needed your phone for GPS tracking, which was a hassle for active types. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. The Apple Watch Series 2 incorporates built-in GPS, so you can map your route and exercise without being tethered to your iPhone. This means you should be able to go out the door with just your Apple Watch Series 2 and get running.

The Series 2 also received a battery upgrade and features a slightly larger battery than its first-gen counterpart. The 38mm model features a base capacity of 273 mAh, which is 32-percent larger than its predecessor. Apple estimates up to 18 hours of battery life. There hasn’t been much change in the batteries since then, though, so that means you aren’t sacrificing power just because you decide to opt for an older model.

The Series 1 and Series 2 run WatchOS 3 out of the box, but remain compatible with WatchOS 5, which launched in September. The hardware that defines each watch isn’t massively different, but the standalone GPS and improved battery life on the Series 2 puts it a step ahead.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 2

Design

When it comes to design, the Series 2 doesn’t look much different from the original Apple Watch or the Series 1. It has the same rectangular casing, digital crown, and button on the side. The Series 3 and 4 are noticeable sleeker and have much smaller bezels, but considering the wide array of smartwatches that are currently available, there is nothing crazy about these ones.

The Series 1 and 2 are smaller than the newest model, but only slightly. Whereas the Series 4 comes in 40mm and 44mm configurations, other models only come in either a 38mm and 42mm configuration, though, they all support Apple’s proprietary strap system. You can get the Apple Watch in a variety of styles and materials, and Apple has a number of bands to choose from.

The Apple Watch Series 2 is even more customizable than the first-gen Apple Watch, namely because it’s available in three casings. The least expensive option is the aluminum casing, with the next step up being one made of stainless steel. The top-of-the-line model, on the other hand, uses a ceramic exterior, which is supposedly four times harder than stainless steel.

Previous Next 1 of 5

Apple Watch Series 2 Image used with permission by copyright holder

apple watch 2 news lifestyle female runner pr print — Apple Watch Nike+ Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple WatchOS 3 Beta — Apple Watch Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Apple Watch Image used with permission by copyright holder

heres a tiny game of pong for your apple watch iphone ios 7 — Apple Watch Sport Image used with permission by copyright holder

The biggest change from the Series 1 has to do with the display, which received a welcome upgrade in the Series 2. The Series 2 featured the brightest screen Apple had ever used in a product at the time, one that remains on par with the screen in the Series 3 and 4. The display brightness is 1,000 nits, compared to only 450 nits with the Series 1. The screen is not going to be quite as sharp or colorful as the those found on the newer models, but it still has Force Touch.

Another big boon for fitness enthusiasts is the waterproofing on the Series 2. The first-gen Apple Watch was merely “splash-resistant,” meaning swimmers were left out of the loop, but its successor is hermetically sealed. This design upgrade makes the Series 2 waterproof in up to 50 meters of water, so you can actually swim with it. That’s a huge plus for swimmers and people who love water sports.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 2

Pricing and availability

This is where things start to get a little tricky, since both the Series 1 and Series 2 have technically been discontinued. Availability for both devices probably isn’t going to be great, but it is still possible to find new and refurbished options out there.

You may even be able to find the Series 2 for cheaper than the Series 1, depending on the exact configuration you chose. That being said, the savings between the Series 1 and 2 and Series 3 and 4 aren’t as significant as you might expect, with generally only about $100 separating the two.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 2

Overall winner: Apple Watch Series 2

If you’re deciding between the Series 1 and Series 2, the Series 2 is the clear winner, as it touts GPS functionality, waterproofing, a brighter display, and a faster processor than the Series 1. However, the differences between the Series 2, and the Series 3, for example, are substantial as well, with the latter offering a variant with LTE cellular connectivity and further improved processing and displays.

Your best bet? If you can find a Series 2 for cheap (like under $100 cheap), go for it. The Apple Watch Series 2 is a solid choice for anyone looking to get a smartwatch for the first time, but it’s going to feel a little dated if you compare it to the newer models. The longevity of the device is also far from certain, so you’d probably be better off getting a Series 3 at least.

Brie Barbee Former Staff Writer twitter Brie is a writer from Portland, Oregon. She received a bachelor's degree from Portland State University in 2016, where she… Topics

Apple
Mobile
Apple

Phones

You could soon ask ChatGPT how healthy your week really was A rumored Apple Health integration would let AI read your activity and sleep data. Apple iPhone with Apple Watch Using both

Apple iPhone with Apple Watch Using both

What’s happened? Even though Apple might be moving on to Gemini soon, leaks suggest that ChatGPT hasn't given up on Apple, yet. Recent code analysis of the ChatGPT iPhone app revealed a hidden Apple Health icon, which could be a clue that OpenAI may soon let ChatGPT access data from Apple Health. Though the feature isn’t active yet, the hidden “connector” suggests it could roll out as early as 2026. If implemented, this would allow ChatGPT to read metrics like activity, sleep, diet, breathing, and more (with your permission), and tailor responses based on real health data.

As noted by MacRumors, Strings inside the app reference health categories such as activity, sleep, diet, breathing, and hearing, suggesting the range of data that could be shared.

Wearables

Apple Watch will soon get enhanced emergency warnings for natural disasters A major watchOS update boosts real-time disaster alerts with rich maps and links toward official guidance, and sharpens Apple Watch’s health insights. Side view of Apple Watch Series 11.

What's happened? Apple has pushed the watchOS 26.2 release candidate, the next upgrade for Apple Watch, and it contains Enhanced Safety Alerts.

In the United States, Apple Watch will deliver alerts for imminent threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies (via 9To5Mac).

Wearables

Samsung has a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 rival in development, and it could arrive next year Samsung’s next rugged smartwatch aims to push past the first Galaxy Watch Ultra with bigger upgrades and bold Apple Watch competition. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra's case and screen.