Skip to main content

You can now compare Apple Watch 38mm and 42mm actual sizes right on your iPhone

Apple Watch Space Black Stainless Steel, 38mm & 42mm

When the Apple Watch becomes available for pre-order on April 10th next month, customers will have to decide between two different sizes: 38mm and 42mm. Deciding between the two sizes may be difficult if you want to buy one before they begin shipping on April 24th, so the Watch will go on display at Apple Stores two weeks ahead of its launch.

You might not be able to visit a crowded Apple Store just to make that decision, and Apple (mostly) has that covered too. Buried inside the Apple Store app for iPhone is an actual size comparison for each case size. The mockup shows the casing of the Apple Watch with the home screen icons displayed, and you can tap to toggle between the smaller and larger cases.

The size comparison makes one thing very clear: both Apple Watch sizes are much smaller than what you’re probably used to seeing. If you put your iPhone over your wrist to simulate trying on each Watch size, you’ll likely decide that one either feels too small or too big, helping you make your decision easier.

As mentioned above, the Apple Watch size comparison is somewhat buried within the Apple Store app on iPhone. To find it, open the Apple Store app, tap the ‘Learn more’ link under the Apple Watch banner at the top, tap the ‘VIEW PRICING’ button on the top right corner, then tap ‘Compare case sizes’ near the top center.

Now can you virtually try on both Apple Watch case sizes. For a more mathematical approach, you can follow Apple’s official sizing guide with band sizes to prepare for your purchase.

Like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the Apple Watch with the larger display will have better battery life, but the smaller display will obviously serve people who do not want a larger watch on their wrist. The smaller Apple Watch is also less expensive in each collection.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Jolene Warbington - 10 years ago

    this is awesome, great way to try on now!!! love the smaller size!

  2. Jordan Biffle - 10 years ago

    Correction on the pricing. On some of the gold Apple Watches the 38mm is actually more expensive than the 42mm.

  3. Gazoo Bee - 10 years ago

    I don’t see how a picture of the thing life-size or otherwise actually helps people “try it on.”

    I would encourage people to download one of the paper templates and try that on though as Apple is being ever so slightly disingenuous about the sizing. If they say a band “fits” from one size to another size, all they mean is that it physically expands to that size. It’s not the same meaning as “does this watch fit?” in the watch world.

    I have 165mm wrists (6 inches) which isn’t abnormally thin for either gender. The way I figure form my calculations, the ONLY watch that will fit is the 38mm one. On top of that, I’m getting the steel link bracelet which only has six removal links, so the size can only be changed in 10mm increments. If you have to remove an odd number like I do you might have trouble with the clasp placement too.

    There is no substitute for actually trying one of these things on, but I don’t see how Apple can really accommodate that.

    It seems to me that lots of folks are going to end up ordering a thousand dollar watch that doesn’t even fit their wrists.

    • Joe - 10 years ago

      As with the rest of its products, Apple will have its Apple Watch line in Apple Stores beginning April 10 for you to play with. This would be your chance to try one on for size.

  4. cjt3007 - 10 years ago

    How much is a space black with leather band? The steel band is it much for me, but that was the only config in the Apple Store app :(

  5. Dan (@danmdan) - 10 years ago

    Re: “Buried inside the Apple Store app for iPhone is an actual size comparison for each case size.”

    If you give this sort of info, then please also say WHERE – because it appears to be so well buried as to be entombed !

  6. This is slightly better for testing. Print, cut, paste and try.
    It is a Dutch website but google can translate: http://www.appletips.nl/welke-apple-watch-past-het-beste-om-jouw-pols-knip-plak-en-probeer/

  7. crateish (@crateish) - 10 years ago

    Wow! That’s extraordinarily helpful. Thanks for posting this. The image even ‘auto-sized’ for my iPhone 6 Plus screen. (measured with a metric ruler)

    I was afraid that the 42mm would be too much for my slightly slender wrists. But it’s actually smaller than my Divers watch. C’mon April 10th! Got my a-la-min-ee-um 42mm picked out.

  8. Eddy Suwito - 10 years ago

    sound like interesting to buy apple watch next month lol

  9. Mani Kan Dan - 8 years ago

    I prefer 42

  10. Kathy Gatzemeyer - 7 years ago

    What EXACTLY do the 38 & 42 mm refer to?
    Is it the length of the case? If so, on the Apple Watch we have that has 38mm engraved on the case back, It actually is 38.55

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications