Watch Series 3 42 mm

This A1861 Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS+Cellular, 42 mm) is designed for North American markets, including the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with corresponding LTE/UMTS support. Despite a familiar appearance, Series 3 models feature a faster processor, GPS, GLONASS, a barometric altimeter, and Siri. As the first Apple Watch with cellular capability, this model can connect online independently and is distinguished by a red dot on its Digital Crown. The 42 mm model's 312x390 OLED display is covered by Ion-X glass (aluminum cases) or sapphire crystal (stainless steel cases). Battery life is rated for up to 18 hours. Originally available in eleven configurations, the options were streamlined and the price reduced on March 21, 2018, and September 12, 2018. After another price cut in 2019, it was discontinued on September 15, 2020.

North American users embraced the Series 3 cellular model as a significant step toward smartwatch maturity, with reviews highlighting improved carrier support compared to international markets. The model's performance improvements over Series 2 were immediately noticeable in daily use, making interactions more fluid and responsive than previous generations. However, many users ultimately found that despite cellular capability, they rarely ventured out without their iPhones due to the watch's limited interface for extended digital activities, leading some to question the additional monthly carrier fees.