Apple · 2017
Watch Series 3 - 42mmSize, Dimensions & Wrist Fit
Case Width
36mm
Thickness
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
42mm
Weight
42g
The Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm sits best on flat wrist widths of about 44–60mm (≈ 11.7–16.0cm wrist circumference). Adjust the slider below to check your wrist.
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The Watch Series 3 - 42mm in short
The figures that decide whether this watch suits you, pulled out of the full specification sheet further down.
- Between 18 hours and 0.75 days per charge depending on the power mode — smartwatch at best, gps at worst.
- Water rated to 50 m.
- 42g on the wrist. Heavier than 84% of the 36mm watches we have weights for.
- 1.65 inches OLED/AMOLED display, always-on capable.
Does the Watch Series 3 - 42mm fit your wrist?
Drag the slider to your wrist width and see the Watch Series 3 - 42mm overlaid at true scale. Lug-to-lug — not case diameter — decides whether a watch overhangs your wrist.
Happy with the fit? Check current availability for the Watch Series 3 - 42mm.
Check offer2D Dimension Schematics
The Watch Series 3 - 42mm drawn to scale — from above, and in profile against the wrist.
- Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm36mm × 42mm · 11mm thick
3D preview
Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm on a wrist
On an arm sized to your own wrist — the view a product photo never gives you.
Shapes are built from published measurements, not manufacturer 3D models — accurate proportions, generic dial.
Which Watch Series 3 size fits you?
This model comes in 4 versions. Set your measurement and each one reports its own verdict — tap any size to open its page.
Which of these fits your wrist?
Roughly a 14.7cm wrist circumference — the measurement a tape gives you. Compared against lug-to-lug where we have it, case width otherwise.
All 4 Watch Series 3 variants fit this wrist. The 36.4mm · GPS gives you the most presence without overhanging; the smallest is the discreet end of the range.
- Width
- 33.3mm
- Thick
- 11.4mm
- Weight
- 26.7g
8.2mm clear a side
View this size- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 11mm
- Weight
- 42g
6.5mm clear a side
- Width
- 36.4mm
- Thick
- 11.4mm
- Weight
- 32.3g
6.3mm clear a side
View this size- Width
- 36.4mm
- Thick
- 11.4mm
- Weight
- 34.9g
6.3mm clear a side
View this sizeHow long the Watch Series 3 - 42mm lasts, by power mode
Runtime changes by a factor of 1 depending on what you leave switched on. Bars are scaled against the longest mode.
- Smartwatch0.75 days
- GPS18 hours
How the Watch Series 3 - 42mm ranks on battery
Against the 77 Apple watches in our database, ranked on each figure Apple publishes.
- Everyday use18 hours#15 of 77
- GPS tracking18 hours#1 of 10
- Capacity273 mAh#35 of 44
Top three in the Apple range for continuous GPS tracking.
Watch Series 3 - 42mm specifications
The figures that decide a purchase, followed by every line Apple publishes.
- Battery life
- 0.75 days
- Display
- 1.65 inches
- Resolution
- 312 x 390 px
- Water rating
- 5 ATM
- Storage
- 16GB
- Charging
- 2 hours
Full specification sheet
89 published lines across 8 groups, unedited
Design
- width
- 36
- height
- 42
- volume
- 16.63 cm³
- weight
- 42 g
- thickness
- 11
- ATM rating
- 5 ATM
- resolution
- 312 x 390 px
- screen size
- 1.65 inches
- Display type
- OLED/AMOLED
- Has a display
- pixel density
- 302 ppi
- water resistance
- Waterproof
- Always-On Display
- has a touch screen
- waterproof depth rating
- 50 m
- Watch band is replaceable
- Has sapphire glass display
- maximum operating temperature
- 35 °C
- has branded damage-resistant glass
- lowest potential operating temperature
- 0 °C
Battery
- charge time
- 2 hours
- battery life
- 0.75 days
- battery power
- 273 mAh
- has wireless charging
- battery life with GPS on
- 18 hours
- has a rechargeable battery
Sensors
- has GPS
- has a compass
- Has a barometer
- has a gyroscope
- has an accelerometer
- Has a heart rate monitor
- Has a temperature sensor
- Monitors blood oxygenation levels
Features
- RAM
- 0.5GB
- release date
- 2017-09-12
- Has a stopwatch
- Has smart alarm
- Has call control
- Has silent alarm
- internal storage
- 16GB
- Has notifications
- Locates your phone
- has fall detection
- has voice commands
- Has vibrating alerts
- number of microphones
- 1
- Can be used to answer calls
- has irregular heart rate warnings
- Has a built-in camera remote control function
Connectivity
- has NFC
- SIM cards
- 1 eSIM
- Wi-Fi version
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
- supports Wi-Fi
- supports Galileo
- Bluetooth version
- 4.2
- has a cellular module
- Is compatible with iOS
- Is compatible with Android
Miscellaneous
- Has passcode
- Has auto pause
- Is compatible with Mac OS X
- Compatible with smart scales
- has a battery level indicator
- Compatible with external heart rate monitors
App & Software
- Ad-free
- Free app
- Has coaching
- Has achievements
- Has goal setting
- Has exercise diary
- Can be personalised
- Has weight tracking
- Predicts start date
- Has inactivity alerts
- Has period notifications
- Has temperature tracking
- Provides activity reports
- Counts how many calories you've burned
Activity tracking
- Measures pace
- Tracks distance
- Tracks elevation
- Tracks your sleep
- Tracks steps taken
- Has a route tracker
- Has exercise tagging
- Provides sleep reports
- Detects activities automatically
- Has a stroke counter for swimming
Alternatives to the Watch Series 3 - 42mm
Watches that cover a similar amount of wrist, with the measurements that separate them.
Apple
Watch Series 11 - GPS · Aluminium · 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 9.7mm
- Weight
- 30.3g
Apple
Watch Series 11 - GPS + Cellular · Aluminium · 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 9.7mm
- Weight
- 29.7g
Apple
Watch Series 10 - GPS + Cellular · Titanium · 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 9.7mm
- Weight
- 34.4g
Apple
Watch Series 10 - GPS · Aluminium · 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 9.7mm
- Weight
- 30g
Apple
Watch Series 10 - GPS + Cellular · Aluminium · 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 9.7mm
- Weight
- 29.3g
Apple
Watch Series 2 - 42mm
- Width
- 36mm
- Thick
- 11mm
- Weight
- 34g
Watch Series 3 - 42mm — Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm fit my wrist?
The Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm looks balanced on flat wrist widths of roughly 44–60mm (about 11.7–16.0cm circumference). Drag the slider above to check it against your own measurement.
How long does the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm battery last?
Between 18 hours and 0.75 days per charge, depending on the power mode. Apple rates Smartwatch at 0.75 days and GPS at 18 hours; the chart above lists all 2 modes.
How does the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm battery compare with other Apple watches?
At 18 hours in everyday use it ranks #15 of the 77 Apple watches in our database — the top 19% of the range. The full ranking, including GPS and power-saving figures, is on our Apple battery life comparison.
Is the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm thick for a 36mm watch?
At 11mm, thicker than 72% of 36mm watches — it will sit noticeably high on the wrist. Thickness, not case width, is what decides whether a watch catches on a shirt cuff.
Should I get the 33.3mm, 36mm or 36.4mm Watch Series 3?
The Watch Series 3 comes in 3 case sizes — 33.3mm, 36mm, 36.4mm. Which one suits you depends on the flat width of your wrist rather than preference: the larger sizes need a wider wrist to sit inside the edge. Set your measurement in the size picker above and each variant reports its clearance in millimetres.
What other watches are the same size as the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm?
Zenith Defy Skyline 36 Stainless Steel - Diamond / Silver, TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 36 Stainless Steel / Blue Gradient - Diamond / Rubber, Tissot Seastar 1000 36 Quartz Stainless Steel - Rose Gold / Black / Bracelet, Huawei Watch Fit 3 all sit within half a millimetre of the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm's 36mm case, so they cover the same amount of wrist.
What is the lug-to-lug of the Apple Watch Series 3 - 42mm?
42mm, against a 36mm case width. Lug-to-lug is the measurement that decides overhang: if it exceeds the flat width of your wrist, the lugs sit past the edge no matter how modest the case diameter looks.
