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Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen)

The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) is a balanced everyday device, powered by the Apple S1 (28 nm), suited to light-to-moderate use (2014).

2014 · Lower-mid-range · watchOS 1.0
Overall
B+
Performance
B
Display
A
Battery
B+
ⓘ Grades compare this device against others in its own market segment (Budget), not against every device on the site.
⚡ Quick Specs
Size1.65" · 42 x 35.9 x 10.5 mm (1.65 x 1.41 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
✓1.65" OLED/AMOLED display with deep blacks and vibrant colours
✓Lightweight at 50g — easy to carry
⊗ Cons
✗Smaller 250 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, April
Also Known As
Version: A1554Compatible 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
OS
watchOS 1.0, upgradable to watchOS 4.3.2
RAM
512MB
Heavy multitasking without slowdowns
Storage
8GB
Memory Card
No
💻 Display
Size
1.65"
Resolution
390×312
Sharpness
303 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
250 mAh
May need midday charging with heavy use
Type
Li-Ion 250 mAh (0.94 Wh), non-removable
Charging
Wireless
📱 Design & Build
Weight
50g
Very light — comfortable for long use
Dimensions
42 x 35.9 x 10.5 mm (1.65 x 1.41 x 0.41 in)
Build
Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame
SIM
No
Colors
Stainless Steel/Red, White, Brown/Black/Blue/Marine Blue Buckle, Blue/Stone/White/Storm Gray 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
No
USB
No
🔊 Sound
3.5mm Jack
No
Loudspeaker
Yes
Radio
No
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) does not support 5G — it supports No cellular connectivity.
Yes, the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) has NFC for contactless payments and pairing.
Yes, the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) supports wireless charging (Wireless).
No reverse wireless charging mentioned for the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen).
Charging details: Wireless.
No, the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) does not support a memory card.
The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) SIM configuration: No.
No, the Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Speaker setup: Yes.
The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) uses No.
The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.
The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) has 4.0, LE.

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