Apple Watch Series 3: The Smartwatch That Cut the Cord
Hey there, tech lovers and Apple fans! Cast your mind back to September 12, 2017. Remember what happened? If you can’t, let me jog your memory. It was the day Apple held its “Let’s meet at our place” event, and it was a special event, especially for the lovers of the Apple watch. That’s right, we’re talking about the Apple Watch Series 3, the smartwatch that dared to cut the cord!
We all know the poetic statements that came out of Tim Cook’s mouth, This time not different, Apple’s CEO, enthusiastically proclaimed during the event, “This is the ultimate device for a healthy life, and it’s now more powerful than ever!” And let me tell you, he wasn’t kidding around. The Series 3 was about to change the game in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
So, get ready, folks! We’re about to dive deeply into the Apple Watch that brought cellular connectivity to our wrists and redefined what a smartwatch could do.
A New Era of Connectivity:
The Apple Watch Series 3 wasn’t just an incremental update, it was a quantum leap in smartwatch technology. With the introduction of cellular connectivity, Apple essentially said, “Hey, leave your phone at home! Your watch has got you covered!” But that wasn’t all. Let’s break down what made the Series 3 different.
Technical Specifications:
Alright, tech lovers, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. What made the Apple Watch Series 3 so special? Here’s the lowdown:
Processor:
The Apple Watch Series 3 was powered by the T8004 processor, also known as the S3. This little Mitochondria gave the watch a significant performance boost over its predecessors.
Display:
The Series 3 sported a gorgeous Retina OLED display. Crisp, clear, and easy to read, even in bright sunlight.
Screen Material:
Apple gave two options:
- Ion-X glass for the aluminum models
- Sapphire crystal for the stainless steel models
Connectivity:
Here’s where things got exciting. The Series 3 came in two flavors:
- GPS only
- GPS + Cellular (LTE)
GPS:
Building on the Series 2, the Series 3 continued to include built-in GPS for accurate fitness tracking.
Compatibility:
- GPS models: iOS 11 or later running on an iPhone 5s or newer
- GPS + Cellular models: iOS 11 or later running on an iPhone 6 or newer
Internal Designations:
For the tech nerds out there:
- 38mm Cellular: N111sAP (Watch3,1)
- 42mm Cellular: N111bAP (Watch3,2)
- 38mm GPS: N121sAP (Watch3,3)
- 42mm GPS: N121bAP (Watch3,4)
Cellular Connectivity: The Game Changer
The standout feature of the Apple Watch Series 3 was undoubtedly its cellular connectivity. For the first time, an Apple Watch could operate independently of an iPhone. This meant:
- Making calls directly from your wrist.
- Streaming Apple Music without your phone.
- Sending messages and emails on the go.
- Getting directions without pulling out your phone.
As Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO, put it during the launch event, “Now you have the freedom to go with just your watch.”
Here’s a quick comparison of the GPS and GPS + Cellular models:
| Get Directions | GPS Model | GPS + Cellular Model |
|---|---|---|
| Make calls | When connected to iPhone | Anytime |
| Stream music | When connected to iPhone | Anytime |
| Send messages | When connected to iPhone | Anytime |
| Get directions | When connected to iPhone | Anytime |
Design and Materials:
The Apple Watch Series 3 maintained the sleek, square design of its predecessors, but with some noteworthy improvements:
- Aluminum: The standard model, perfect for everyday use and workouts.
- Stainless Steel: For those who want a more premium look.
- Ceramic: The ultra-premium Edition model.
Despite adding cellular connectivity, Apple managed to keep the watch case the same size as the Series 2, its it too good? As Jony Ive, Apple’s former Chief Design Officer, noted, “We believe technology is at its very best when it’s invisible when you’re conscious only of what you’re doing, not the device you’re doing it with.”
Fitness and Health Features:
Building on the strong foundation of previous models, the Apple Watch Series 3 continued to push the limit in health and fitness tracking:
- Improved heart rate monitoring.
- New barometric altimeter for elevation tracking.
- Enhanced workout app with new features for swimmers and other athletes.
- GymKit integration for connecting to cardio equipment.
Performance and Battery Life:
The S3 processor gave the Series 3 a significant performance boost. Apple claimed it was 70% faster than the previous generation. Despite the addition of cellular connectivity, Apple managed to maintain all-day battery life, a feat that impressed many in the tech community.
watchOS 4:
The Apple Watch Series 3 launched with watchOS 4, which brought a variety of new features and improvements:
- New watch faces, including Siri and Kaleidoscope.
- Enhanced heart rate app with new metrics.
- Improved Workout app.
- Apple Music streaming (for cellular models).
Impact and Legacy:
The Apple Watch Series 3 marked a significant milestone in Apple’s wearable journey. By adding cellular connectivity, Apple transformed the Watch from an iPhone accessory into a standalone device capable of replacing your phone in many situations.
As tech analyst Ben Bajarin noted, “The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular was a watershed moment for wearables. It showed that smartwatches could be more than just accessories – they could be primary computing devices in their own right.”
A Note on Security:
For the tech-savvy and security-conscious readers out there, it’s worth noting that the T8004 Processor in the Series 3 is vulnerable to the checkm8 exploit. While no public jailbreak has been developed for watchOS using this vulnerability, it’s an interesting tidbit for those interested in device security and potential future developments in the watchOS modding community.
Conclusion:
The Apple Watch Series 3 was a great upgrade from the series 2, with its cellular connectivity, improved performance, and enhanced health and fitness features, it redefined what we could expect from a smartwatch.
As we look at the latest Apple Watch models today, with their ECG capabilities, blood oxygen monitoring, and always-on displays, it’s clear that the Series 3 laid the groundwork for much of what was to come, It pushed the boundaries of what a smartwatch could do and set a new standard for the industry.
So, the next time you leave your phone at home and still manage to stay connected with your Apple Watch, take a moment to appreciate the legacy of the Series 3. It might not have been the first Apple Watch, but it was the one that truly cut the cord and set our wrists free.
Want to see how the Series 2 helped Apple to break into a new genre? Check out this article: Apple Watch Series 2: Taking Smartwatches to New Depths