Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm image 1
Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm image 2
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Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm

$120

Overview

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm is a budget Android smartphone released in 2016 with a 1.5-inch OLED, Apple S1P (28 nm) chipset, N/A main camera, and 205 mAh battery.

The device runs iOS with features like Face ID and Apple Intelligence. Priced at $120, it targets users seeking budget performance.

Specifications of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm

The display of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm measures 1.5 inches with OLED technology. Peak brightness reaches 450 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. The screen renders at 340x272 pixels resolution.

Size
1.5 inches
Type
OLED
Resolution
340x272 pixels
Refresh Rate
60Hz
Peak Brightness
450 nits
HDR
No

The battery of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm has 205mAh capacity with 2.5 wired charging. A full charge takes approximately 120 min minutes.

Capacity
205mAh
Wired Charging
2.5
Full Charge Time
120 min minutes

The performance of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm is powered by the Apple S1P (28 nm) chipset with PowerVR G6200 GPU. Geekbench scores reach 200 single-core and 350 multi-core. AnTuTu benchmark achieves 15000.

Chipset
Apple S1P (28 nm)
CPU
Dual-core 520 MHz Cortex-A7
GPU
PowerVR G6200
Geekbench Single
200
Geekbench Multi
350
AnTuTu Score
15000

The connectivity of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm includes Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0. NFC is supported for contactless payments.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
4.0
NFC
Yes

The build of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm weighs 25.0g with Aluminum frame and Plastic back. Water and dust resistance is rated IPX7. Dimensions measure 38.6 x 33.3 x 10.5 mm.

Dimensions
38.6 x 33.3 x 10.5 mm
Weight
25.0g
Frame
Aluminum
Back
Plastic
IP Rating
IPX7

The software of Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm runs watchOS 3.0, upgradable to watchOS 6.2.8 with watchOS. Software support extends 3 years through 2029.

OS
watchOS 3.0, upgradable to watchOS 6.2.8
UI
watchOS
Update Policy
3 years

Compare Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm vs Samsung Galaxy A34

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm offers competitive value at $120 compared to Samsung Galaxy A34.

$120 price point
Apple S1P (28 nm)
1.5" display

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm vs Motorola Moto G Power

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm offers competitive value at $120 compared to Motorola Moto G Power.

$120 price point
Apple S1P (28 nm)
1.5" display

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 13

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm offers competitive value at $120 compared to Xiaomi Redmi Note 13.

$120 price point
Apple S1P (28 nm)
1.5" display

Frequently Asked Questions about Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm with Apple S1P (28 nm) can handle casual gaming. For intensive gaming, consider phones with flagship chipsets.

Related: mobile gaming

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm receives 3 years of updates through 2029. This provides solid software support for the device's lifespan.

Related: software support

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm has IPX7 protection against dust and water.

Related: water resistance

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm has a 205mAh battery. Battery life varies based on usage patterns.

Related: battery life

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm at $120 is a budget device. It's worth buying if you prioritize affordability over premium features.

Related: buying decision

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm supports 2.5 wired charging with full charge in approximately 120 min minutes.

Related: fast charging

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm is available in 8GB storage options. Storage is not expandable, so choose your capacity based on your needs.

Related: storage capacity

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm has a 1.5-inch OLED with 60Hz refresh rate and 450 nits peak brightness. HDR support includes No.

Related: display quality

See how Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm ranks in these categories:

Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm delivers practical value for users prioritizing affordability over premium features. Pick this phone for essential smartphone functionality, if you prioritize affordability while still needing core features.

Key Specifications

Display

1.5"

Main Camera

Chipset

Apple S1P (28 nm)

Full Specifications

Network

TechnologyNo cellular connectivity
2G BandsN/A
3G BandsN/A
4G LTE BandsN/A
5G Sub-6 BandsN/A
5G mmWave BandsN/A
SpeedN/A
Carrier AggregationN/A
SIMN/A
Dual SIM Mode
eSIM Support
VoLTE SupportN/A
VoWiFiN/A
NR CA SupportN/A

Launch

Announced2016
StatusDiscontinued
AvailabilityN/A
Model VariantsN/A
Launch Price$269

Body & Design

Dimensions (mm)38.6 x 33.3 x 10.5 mm
Weight (g)25.0
Build MaterialsGlass front, composite plastic back, aluminum frame
FrameAluminum
Back FinishPlastic
Colors["Case colors: silver", "gold", "rose gold", "gray", "Band colors: gray", "white", "black", "pink", "Band types: sport"]
IP RatingIPX7
Rugged CertificationsN/A
Ingress GasketsN/A
Form FactorWatch
Hinge TypeN/A
Folded DimensionsN/A
Thermal SolutionPassive
Notification/Alert
HapticsBasic

Display

Panel TypeOLED
Size (inches)1.5
Resolution (px)340x272 pixels
Aspect RatioN/A
Pixel Density (ppi)290
Screen-to-body Ratio (%)55.0
Refresh Rate (Hz)60
Adaptive Refresh Rate
Touch Sampling Rate (Hz)60
Peak Brightness (nits)450
HDR Standards
Color GamutsRGB
Color Depth16
PWM Dimming (Hz)60
Glass ProtectionIon-X strengthened glass
Oleophobic CoatingN/A
CurvatureFlat
Always-on Display
Display Driver ICN/A
Cover Display

Platform (SoC)

OS at LaunchwatchOS 3.0, upgradable to watchOS 6.2.8
Update Policy3 years
ChipsetApple S1P (28 nm)
CPUDual-core 520 MHz Cortex-A7
GPUPowerVR G6200
NPU/AI TOPsN/A
ISP FeaturesN/A
ModemN/A
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ChipN/A
Throttling BehaviorN/A
Geekbench Single-Core200
Geekbench Multi-Core350
AnTuTu Score15000
3DMark ScoresN/A

Memory & Storage

RAMN/A
RAM TypeDDR3
Storage8GB
Storage Type8GB 512MB RAM
Storage SpeedeMMC 5.1
Expandable Storage
Slot TypeN/A
USB OTG
Filesystem EncryptionAES-256

Main Camera System

Rear Cameras0
Main SensorN/A
Main Sensor SizeN/A
Main Sensor ModelN/A
Main LensN/A
OIS
AutofocusN/A
Pixel Binning
UltrawideN/A
TelephotoN/A
MacroN/A
Depth/ToF/LiDAR
Flicker/Color SensorsN/A
FlashN/A
Video ResolutionN/A
HDR/Dolby Vision Video
Video CodecsH.264
Slow Motion
Video Stabilization
Night Mode Features
RAW/Pro ControlsN/A

Selfie Camera

ResolutionN/A
Sensor SizeN/A
ApertureN/A
AF/OISN/A
Secondary Front Cam
Front Flash
VideoN/A
HDR/Dolby VisionN/A
Face UnlockN/A

Audio

Loudspeakers
3.5mm Jack
Hi-Res Audio
Spatial Audio / Dolby Atmos
Microphones1
Bluetooth CodecsN/A
DAC/AmpN/A

Connectivity

Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Wi-Fi FeaturesWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth4.0
NFC
IR Blaster
UWBN/A
Positioning
Dual-Band GNSS
FM Radio
USBN/A
Display Out
eSIM Capacity

Sensors

Fingerprint SensorN/A
3D Face IDN/A
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Magnetometer
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light
Barometer
Thermo/HygrometerN/A
UV SensorN/A
Hall Sensor
Color Temp Sensor
Health Sensorsheart_rate, accelerometer, gyroscope
Satellite SOS

Battery & Charging

Capacity (mAh)205
TypeLi-Ion
Removable
Endurance RatingN/A
Wired Charging2.5
Wired StandardQi
0-50% Time (mins)60 min
Full Charge Time120 min
Wireless ChargingN/A
Wireless StandardQi
Reverse WirelessN/A
Reverse Wired
Charger in Box
Battery Health FeaturesBasic

Software

OS at LaunchwatchOS 3.0, upgradable to watchOS 6.2.8
Update Window3 years
UI Skin / LauncherwatchOS
Feature DropsN/A
App CloningN/A
Game Mode
Privacy FeaturesBasic
AccessibilityBasic
Satellite Messaging UI

Miscellaneous

In-Box Contentswatch, magnetic charging cable, charging puck
Recycled Materials (%)N/A
Repairability ScoreN/A
WarrantyN/A

Reviews & Ratings

4.6

186 ratings

5 star
120
4 star
45
3 star
11
2 star
5
1 star
5

Showing 3 of 186 reviews

A

Alex R.

2 weeks ago

Absolutely love the camera on this phone! The zoom is incredible and the photos are so crisp. Battery life is also a huge plus.

B

Ben C.

1 month ago

Great performance and beautiful display. My only complaint is that it feels a bit heavy, but you get used to it. Solid phone overall.

C

Chloe D.

3 months ago

The best phone I've ever owned. It's fast, the software is clean, and the build quality is top-notch. Highly recommend!

Review

Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm Review: Solid Performance for the Price

6.8/10
Good

Our comprehensive review of the Apple Watch Series 1 Aluminum 38mm covers display quality, camera performance, battery life, and overall value. A solid choice in its price segment.

(3.4 stars)
Pros
  • + Excellent value for money
Cons
  • - Performance may struggle with demanding tasks
  • - Camera performance is average

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