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42mm Apple Watch Series 4 to Feature Resolution of 384x480

Wednesday September 5, 2018 12:58 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 models will feature larger displays thanks to reduced bezel size, and information 9to5Mac discovered in the most recent watchOS 5 beta suggests the 42mm Apple Watch will likely have a screen resolution of 384x480.

The current 42mm Apple Watch Series 3 model, for comparison, has a resolution of 312x390.

With the higher resolution (and increased PPI), Apple Watch Series 4 apps will be able to display more information at a higher resolution on the display, as shown in the example image below that were taken from a modified Apple Watch Simulator using a guesstimated PPI of 345.


As was seen in leaked marketing materials last week, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 models will feature at least one new watch face capable of displaying up to nine complications at one time.

Additional new watch faces could be included, and information taken from the beta suggests there will be new types of complications for Apple Watch apps to use.

Given the increase in resolution, third-party app developers will need to tweak their apps to work with the new Apple Watch Series 4 screen sizes.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
[ 182 comments ]


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CaptMarvel
7 months ago
These should fly off of the shelves...just watch!!
Rating: 38 Votes
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syntax
7 months ago
And to think, the original iPhone was 320x480. (The original Mac was 512x342.)
Rating: 35 Votes
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redheeler
7 months ago
Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro's pixel density has not been improved since 2012. At least we know where Apple's priorities lie...
Rating: 24 Votes
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macduke
7 months ago

Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro's pixel density has not been improved since 2012. At least we know where Apple's priorities lie...

Is this actually, seriously a problem? I can't even see pixel edges until I get under a foot from the display. In normal use it's fine. However, it would be nice to be able to drive an @3X display down to @2X but with a smaller UI so you can fit more on the display if you wanted to. The thing is 95% of people would never do this so Apple is probably preferring to keep their margins high until 4320x2700 15" displays come down in price. They could go all weird on the scaling like the iPhone Plus but I think they prefer not to.

What I would rather have is a 120Hz refresh rate.
Rating: 23 Votes
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RodThePlod
7 months ago
Really looking forward to upgrading to the Series 4. In fact, I'm more excited to see the new Watch than the new iPhones!
Rating: 21 Votes
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lobbyist
7 months ago
9to5mac are on a roll
Rating: 20 Votes
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Goldfrapp
7 months ago
Bought version 1, sold a month later
Skipped version 2
Skipped version 3

Version 4 seems to have matured enough to be worth buying
Rating: 19 Votes
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iLoveDeveloping
7 months ago
Take. my. fricken. money.
Rating: 17 Votes
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iPhysicist
7 months ago
Just gift me one. I suffered day 1 Series 0 long enough!
Rating: 16 Votes
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Relentless Power
7 months ago

These should fly off of the shelves...just watch!!


The Series 4 Likely won’t even make it to the shelves. The reality is, the 15% larger display, increased battery life, additional health sensors, and a higher resolution, all while being Compatible with the existing watch bands, it could be quite some time waiting for those who don’t pre-order.
Rating: 11 Votes

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