Apple Watch Series 4 versus Series 3

If you are planning to upgrade your old Apple Watch to the new 4 Series, read and watch our direct comparison first.

This comparison focuses on the new 40mm model, which will be opposed to the Apple Watch Series 3 42mm, which allows us to see how the size, features and features have evolved.

Design

The new 40mm watch is significantly smaller, closer to the 38mm model from last year, but the actual display area is larger than the older 42mm versions.

There are also changes at the back, where Apple has incorporated new heart sensors into ceramic housings.

Aside from this improved back and the largest display area, the most notable hardware design changes are the speakers. They are much larger and occupy the entire side of Series 4. At least in part because of this change, the microphone has been moved to the opposite side between the digital crown and the side knob. Apple says the design reduces speaker echo during calls.

Strap in

Although all the watches in the 4 series are larger than the 3 and earlier series, the bracelet sizes have not changed. If you already have a 38mm series 3 and bought tapes, these tapes will fit the new 40mm Series 4 perfectly. And the same goes for the old 42 mm model.

Install

During the setup process, a new Heart Health detailing screen indicates that users will receive notifications when their heart rate is too high or too low.

Likewise, there is also a notification screen detailing the SOS emergency function and the fall detection function.

Even with these additional information screens, the configuration of Series 4 is much faster than that of Series 3.

Face up

The revamped Digital Crown, which now features a haptic feedback, lets you scroll through the different available watch faces. The mechanism gives the impression that the small pods sound as it turns, but this is not the case. Each movement is generated by a haptic motor that sends vibrations through the crown to the finger of the user. This movement combines with visual cues on the screen for a visceral experience close to the traditional crowns found in many mechanical watches.

The new crown is also thinner than the old version. This difference, combined with haptic feedback, makes the return to series 3 rather disappointing.

Another difference is that the side button is now fully aligned with the body of the series 4, while the side button of the series 3 brings out a significant amount.

Overall, the new 4 Series looks more elegant than its predecessors.

Among the new faces, the fire and water designs are perhaps the most striking. As before, Apple actually photographed them: these are not effects rendered by CGI, they are shot with fire and water.

Most new faces are available on older Apple watches once watchOS 5 is installed. However, instead of using all the display on these models, they simply fill a small circle on the screen.

As a result, all new faces of the live watch, including steam and liquid metal, as well as fire and water, are much better represented on the new Apple Watch Series 4 thanks to a larger screen.

The most useful new face is potentially Infograph, which has many complications. The options can be customized to your taste, and they are really beautiful, even very colorful.

Although some of these new watch dials are available on Watch's previous models, the face of computer graphics with its cornucopia of complications is not.

Show and say

See the difference in the faces below. We immediately notice the rounded corners of the series 4; it is so much better than the square display of the 3 series.

The sound is also improved. The new speakers are expected to be 50% more powerful, which is beneficial for both phone calls and the new Push-to-Talk Walkie-Talkie app. There is indeed an audible difference, as evidenced by listening to Siri's answer by asking a question.

The 4 Series also has a S4 system-on-chip that doubles the performance of the 3 Series, so everything on the new watch should be brighter.

Thanks to the new all-ceramic back of Watch, LTE models offer better cell reception than before because radio waves can cross the top and bottom of the device.

To have a heart

Perhaps the most impressive feature of Series 4 is the new ability to take an electrocardiogram out of the box. Although it is limited in terms of accuracy – equivalent to an ECG to a probe compared to the 12-lead medical standard – it is far more convenient than waiting for a doctor's appointment. And speaking of doctors, users can record and send the ECG results to healthcare providers. Or rather, they can do it once the ECG feature is put online in an upcoming update of watchOS.

Go and buy it

Finally, the Apple Watch Series 4 is really impressive. If you do not already have an Apple Watch and are thinking of buying one, go for Series 4.

While the 3 Series can be bought at a great price, the new model is well worth the premium. Collectively, its new features and hardware come with Apple's biggest evolution with its line of portable products.

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