Which Should You Buy: Apple Watch Series 3 Or Apple Watch Series 5?

Smartwatches are great for anyone regardless of their fitness interest. Not only do they track exercise, but they can store music, keep your organized, and so much more. One of the leaders in smartwatches is Apple with its highly rated Apple Watch. Now offered in the latest Series 5, you may wonder which model is right for you. Apple has recently marked the Series 3 Apple Watch down, making it a fantastic option for those looking for a capable and reliable first smartwatch. As Apple no longer sells the Series 4, taking advantage of the cost savings of the 3 may be a great option for what you’re looking for. So, what are the main differences between Series 3 and 5? In truth, there aren’t many! We’ll take a look at the operating systems, display, sensors, battery life, and cost of Series 3 and Series 5 Apple Watches.

With the Series 3 watch, it will likely have watchOS 5 installed. However, with watchOS 6 available, it can be installed on the 3. So, you can run the latest operating system on a 3 without the cost of a 5 watch.

The Series 5 has a slightly larger screen that occupies more of the watch face than the 3. The watch face sizes for the 5 watch are 40mm and 44mm, whereas the Series 3 sizes are 38mm and 42mm. For a thinner profile, the 5 is just 10.7mm thick. One of the most obvious differences that sways buyers towards the Series 5 Apple Watch is the always-on display. Instead of shaking your wrist or tapping the watch to wake the screen, you can enjoy information like the time, fitness goals, heart rate, and other stats by simply looking down. The new Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxid OLED makes this possible without draining the watch’s 18-hour battery life. The Series 3 watch is mostly black and motionless when not in use.

With the Series 3 and 5, you get the benefit of the optical heart sensor, NFC, GPS, altimeter, speaker, Wi-Fi capability, LTE coverage, and a wireless chip. Plus, each can handle water up to 50 meters. However, the heart sensor of the 5 watch has the ability to take an electrocardiogram to identify irregular heart rhythms. It also has fall detection, which is a great perk for older users like grandparents. The 5 will provide the option to call emergency services from the watch, which could truly save a life. Alongside the GPS, the Series 5 Apple Watch also boasts a compass.

No difference here. Each of these Apple Watch models boasts an 18-hour battery life.

The cost of the Series 3 versus the 5 is one of the biggest differentiators. With its enhanced features, the Series 5 Apple Watch runs around $400, whereas the Series 3 will cost you about $200.

Whether you choose the budget-friendly Series 3 or the top-of-the-line Series 5 Apple Watch, i-Blason has protective cases for each. Without a quality case installed, your watch could suddenly fall from your wrist or off a countertop, resulting in a cracked screen. Both models are investments that should be kept safe from impact and scratches. In our collection of durable, designer Apple Watch cases, you’ll find a variety of styles and colors to complement your style. The Cosmo series is our fashion forward line with gorgeous marbled patterns. These Apple Watch cases are designed with shock-absorbent TPU and a PU leather strap. We also offer our Unity series, which is better suited for those that need cases for fitness and exercise. These are made of scratch-resistant polycarbonate material with TPU bumpers and elevated edge guards. You’ll find that a case gives your watch even more of a custom look while providing the crucial protection from drops, scratches, and other damage. Complete with a one year warranty, you’ll love the security and quality of our cases on your new Series 3 or 5 Apple Watch.