Detailed Technical Specifications

Product Information

• Product Name: Apple Watch Series 3
• Model: GPS, 38mm
• Brand: Apple
• Series: Series 3 (3rd Generation)
• Category: Smartwatch
• Case Material: Aluminum
• Color Options: Space Gray, Silver, Gold (depending on availability)
• Release Date: September 2017
• Status: Discontinued (no longer sold by Apple)

Display

• Screen Size: 1.5 inches (38mm) diagonal
• Display Type: Retina OLED
• Resolution: 272 × 340 pixels
• Brightness: Up to 1000 nits
• Always-On Display: No
• Screen Protection: Ion-X strengthened glass (aluminum models)
• Features: Force Touch, 3D Touch

Processor & Memory

• Chipset: Apple S3 SiP (System in Package)
• Processor: Dual-core
• Storage: 8GB (approximately 5GB available for use)
• Wireless Chip: Apple W2 wireless chip

Sensors

• Optical heart sensor: For heart rate monitoring
• Accelerometer: Up to 16 g‑forces
• Gyroscope:
• Ambient light sensor: For automatic brightness adjustment
• Barometric altimeter: For elevation tracking
• Note: No ECG or blood oxygen sensors

Health & Fitness Features

• Heart Rate Monitoring: Continuous and resting heart rate
• Workout App: Multiple workout types including running, cycling, swimming, yoga
• Activity Rings: Move, Exercise, Stand rings
• Water Resistance: Swimproof - suitable for pool and open water swimming
• Elevation Tracking: With built-in altimeter
• Emergency SOS: Call emergency services with side button hold
• Fall Detection: Available with watchOS 6 or later (on by default for age 65+)
• Noise Monitoring: Available with watchOS 6 or later
• Cycle Tracking: Available with watchOS 6 or later

Connectivity

• GPS: Built-in GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS
• Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz
• Bluetooth: 4.2
• NFC: For Apple Pay
• Cellular: Not available on GPS-only model
• Compatibility: iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later

Smart Features

• Siri: Voice assistant with raise-to-speak
• Notifications: Calls, messages, and app notifications
• Apple Pay: Contactless payments
• Music: Control iPhone music or store up to 2GB for offline playback
• Podcasts: Play and control podcasts
• Walkie-Talkie: Available with watchOS 5 or later
• Maps: Turn-by-turn navigation with haptic feedback
• Weather: Current conditions and forecasts
• Calendar: View and manage events
• Reminders: View and check off reminders
• Camera Remote: Control iPhone camera

Battery

• Battery Type: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
• Battery Life: Up to 18 hours (all-day battery life)
• Charging: Magnetic charging cable (USB-A connector included)
• Charging Time: 0 to 80% in about 1.5 hours, 0 to 100% in about 2.5 hours
• Power Reserve: Time-only mode extends battery life

Water Resistance

• Rating: Water resistant 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010
• Swimproof: Suitable for swimming in a pool or ocean
• Water Lock: Ejects water from speaker after swimming
• Not Suitable For: Scuba diving, water skiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water

Physical Specifications

• Dimensions: 38.6mm height × 33.3mm width × 11.4mm depth
• Weight: 26.7 grams (aluminum case with sport band)
• Case Material: Aluminum
• Back Material: Composite (with heart rate sensors)
• Strap Compatibility: All 38mm Apple Watch bands
• Digital Crown: With haptic feedback
• Side Button: For contacts and power

Operating System

• Original OS: watchOS 4
• Latest Supported OS: watchOS 8 (final update)
• Note: Does not support watchOS 9 or later

Audio & Haptics

• Speaker: Built-in speaker for calls, Siri, and audio playback
• Microphone: Built-in microphone for calls and Siri
• Haptic Feedback: Taptic Engine for subtle vibrations

Environmental Requirements

• Operating Temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Storage Temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Maximum Operating Altitude: Tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

In the Box

• Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS, 38mm)
• Sport Band (size: S/M and M/L)
• 1m Magnetic Charging Cable (USB-A)
• 5W USB Power Adapter (included with older purchases, later removed)
• Documentation

Warranty & Support

• Limited Warranty: 1 year (from original purchase date)
• AppleCare+: Optional extended warranty (if purchased within 60 days)
• Software Support: Received updates until watchOS 8 (2021-2022)
• Current Status: Obsolete product (no hardware service available)

Certifications

• Water resistant 50m (ISO 22810:2010)
• CE, FCC, ICES, MIC, RCM, UKCA

Important Notes & Limitations

• Does not support latest watchOS versions (stuck on watchOS 8)
• 8GB storage is limited (only about 5GB available for user)
• No Always-On Display feature
• No ECG or blood oxygen monitoring
• No fall detection by default (except for users 65+ with watchOS 6+)
• No family setup (requires iPhone for pairing)
• No U1 Ultra Wideband chip
• Slower performance compared to newer models
• Bluetooth 4.2 (slower than Bluetooth 5.0+ in newer models)
• No Wi-Fi 5GHz support (only 2.4GHz)
• No support for latest watch faces and features
• Apple no longer provides hardware service for this model
• Considered obsolete by Apple as of 2022