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Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen)

Name: Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen)
Brand: Apple

The Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) is a budget-focused device, powered by the Apple S1 (28 nm), built for basic everyday tasks (2014).

2014 · Lower-mid-range · watchOS 1.0

Overall

Performance

Display

B+

Battery

C+

ⓘ Grades compare this device against others in its own market segment (Budget), not against every device on the site.

⚡ Quick Specs

Size1.5" · 38.6 x 33.3 x 10.5 mm (1.52 x 1.31 x 0.41 in)

ChipsetApple S1 (28 nm)

RAM512MB

Storage8GB

⚖️ Compare With

✓︎ Pros

✓512GB of RAM — plenty for heavy multitasking and keeping many apps open

✓1.5" OLED/AMOLED display with deep blacks and vibrant colours

✓Lightweight at 40g — easy to carry

⊗ Cons

✗Smaller 205 mAh battery — may need midday charging

✗Basic Apple S1 (28 nm) for simple tasks only

✗No headphone jack — requires wireless or USB-C audio

⚠️ Not ideal for

Heavy usage daysGamingMultitasking

ℹ️ Overview

Status

Discontinued

Announced

2014, September. Released 2015, May

Also Known As

Version: A1553Compatible with Apple iPhone 5 (or newer)

⚙️ Performance

Chipset

Apple S1 (28 nm)

Entry-level — basic tasks only

CPU

520 MHz Cortex-A7

GPU

PowerVR SGX543

watchOS 1.0, upgradable to watchOS 4.3.2

RAM

512MB

Heavy multitasking without slowdowns

Storage

8GB

Memory Card

💻 Display

Size

1.5"

Resolution

340×272

Sharpness

290 ppi

Adequate sharpness for daily use

Panel

Retina OLED, 450 nits (peak)

OLED: perfect blacks, vivid colours, power-efficient

Protection

Sapphire crystal glass

🔋 Battery

Capacity

205 mAh

May need midday charging with heavy use

Type

Li-Ion 205 mAh (0.78 Wh), non-removable

Charging

Wireless

📱 Design & Build

Weight

40g

Very light — comfortable for long use

Dimensions

38.6 x 33.3 x 10.5 mm (1.52 x 1.31 x 0.41 in)

Build

Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame

SIM

Colors

Stainless Steel/Red, White, Brown/Black/Blue/Red/Marigold/Jay Buckle, Blue/Stone Leather Loop, Silver/Space Black Milanese Loop, Link Bracelet, Space Black Stainless Steel/Black, Black Link Bracelet, Pearl Woven Nylon

Sensors

Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate

📶 Network

Technology

No cellular connectivity

📡 Connectivity

WiFi

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth

4.0, LE

NFC

Yes

GPS

USB

🔊 Sound

3.5mm Jack

Loudspeaker

Yes

Radio

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

No, the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) does not support 5G — it supports No cellular connectivity.

Yes, the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) has NFC for contactless payments and pairing.

Yes, the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) supports wireless charging (Wireless).

No reverse wireless charging mentioned for the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen).

Charging details: Wireless.

No, the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) does not support a memory card.

The Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) SIM configuration: No.

No, the Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Speaker setup: Yes.

The Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) uses No.

The Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

The Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen) has 4.0, LE.

Apple Watch 38mm (1st gen)

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