What Size Apple Watch Should You Buy?

The Apple Watch is a fantastic piece of technology that works best with your iPhone. Apart from simply displaying notifications on your wrist, it also includes several health features such as heart rate monitoring, ECG, and others.

When purchasing an Apple Watch, you can often choose between two different sizes depending on the model. But how are they different? This guide will compare the Apple Watch sizes and help you choose the best one.

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Why Apple Offers Different Sizes for the Apple Watch

Image Credit: Apple

Everyone has different wrist sizes, the most common being large, regular, and small. A standard-sized Apple Watch may appear tiny on a large wrist, while on a small wrist, it may appear massive.

To address this issue, Apple designed two sizes of the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch measures the watch case vertically, whereas traditional watches measure it horizontally.

Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, and SE are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes. Apple Watch Series 7 and 8 come in 41mm and 45mm sizes, respectively, a 1mm increase over previous generations. The Apple Watch Ultra is only available in a 49mm size. However, the Apple Watch Ultra isn’t a great choice for most people.

Apple Watch Models Compared: 40mm vs. 44mm (or 41mm vs. 45mm)

While the Apple Watch’s size does not affect its capabilities, internal and external differences exist. Here are some key differences to consider before deciding which is best for you.

Display and Ease of Viewing

Image Credit: Apple

The first difference you’ll notice between the two sizes is the display. Although they both feature an OLED display, the resolution and size vary because the 44mm and 45mm sizes are comparatively bigger than the 40mm and 41mm sizes, respectively.

The 40mm Apple Watch has a display resolution of 394×324 pixels, while the 44mm Apple Watch has 448×368 pixels. Similarly, the 41mm Apple Watch sports a display resolution of 430×352 pixels, and the 45mm has a resolution of 484×396 pixels.

The resolution fits right in line with the display size, so you won’t notice much difference between them, even if you go pixel-peaking. The most noticeable difference is when you read text or images, where larger sizes provide you with more information.

For instance, if you’re using Apple Maps, you’ll see more information on the larger variant. The difference might not be a big deal for you on paper, but it does make a difference in real life.

Weight

With the difference in dimensions comes a difference in weight for both sizes. Regardless of the model, the larger size Apple Watch is always on the heavier side. The weight is also affected by other factors, such as the finish, where you’ll have to choose between aluminum or stainless steel Apple Watch.

The large variant weighs approximately 0.14 to 0.18 ounces (4 to 5 grams) more than the small variant. If you want an Apple Watch Series 8 with an aluminum finish, for example, the 40mm size weighs 1.13 ounces (32 grams), while the 44mm weighs 1.37 ounces (38.8 grams).

Thickness

Image Credit: Apple

While other features such as the display, dimensions, battery, and weight may differ between sizes, the thickness of the Apple Watch remains the same in both models. Apple uses similar components for both variants, particularly the LTPO OLED display, leading to the same thickness. You don’t have to be concerned about the difference in thickness since there is none.

Availability of Bands

Image Credit: Apple

Apple only provides a limited number of bands for the Apple Watch, some of which are only available in a single size. You’re good to go if you want a band in both sizes; otherwise, you’ll have to settle for the band’s available size.

On the contrary, many third-party manufacturers produce Apple Watch bands in both sizes. Some of them, however, may be biased toward a specific size. As a result, it’s always a good idea to check the size of your favorite bands before purchasing an Apple Watch.

Battery Life

The larger the display, the more room there is for the battery; the same is true for Apple Watch. The 44mm and 45mm sizes have a larger battery than the 40mm and 41mm sizes. As a result, the large variants have longer battery life.

For example, the Apple Watch Series 8 has a 282 mAh battery on the 41mm variant and a 308 mAh battery on the 45mm variant. Although both sizes have all-day battery life, you may need to charge the smaller one slightly earlier.

Despite this, you can always use Apple Watch’s Low Power Mode to extend its battery life. However, if you’re looking for more than 24 hours of battery life, you should consider buying the Apple Watch Ultra.

Price

The pricing of both sizes primarily influences your decision. Due to factors like a slightly larger display and battery, the larger variants (44mm and 45mm) cost more.

The 41mm Apple Watch Series 8 costs $399, while the 45mm variant costs $429. Similarly, the 40mm Apple Watch SE costs $249, and the 44mm model costs $279.

The price difference between the large and small variants is $30. However, other factors such as finish, bands, and cellular support may also contribute to the price increase.

Which Apple Watch Size Should You Pick?

Image Credit: Apple

The size of the Apple Watch gets primarily determined by your wrist size and willingness to spend an extra $30 for the slightest advantage. If you have a measuring tape, you can use it to measure your wrist.

According to Apple, the 40mm and 41mm variants are best suited for wrist sizes ranging from 130mm to 200mm, while the 44mm and 45mm variants are best suited for wrist sizes ranging from 140mm to 220mm.

However, if your wrist size exceeds 140mm, we recommend 44mm or 45mm; otherwise, 40mm or 41mm should suffice. If you’re still undecided, you should go to your nearest Apple Store and see which size fits and looks best on your wrist.

In conclusion, the 40mm and 41mm variants will look good if you’ve got a small wrist, and the 44mm and 45mm variants will go hand-in-hand if you’ve got an average and large-sized wrist.

Pick the Right Apple Watch Size for You

It all comes down to your personal preference for the best size. Once you’ve decided on the best Apple Watch size, you can relax and start looking for the best band and different finishes for your Apple Watch, if any are available for your model.

You can start exploring the features of your new Apple Watch once you’ve received it. You might find hidden features on your Apple Watch if you look closely.