Apple Watch Series 3 (Cellular, China, 38 mm) Specs (Watch Series 3 38 mm, MQQE2CH/A**, Watch3,1, A1890*, 3169*): EveryMac.com

Apple Watch Series 3 (Cellular, China, 38 mm) Specs

Identifiers: Watch Series 3 38 mm - MQQE2CH/A** - Watch3,1 - A1890* - 3169*

Apple Watch Series 3, Cellular, 38 mm Please note that this A1890 Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS+Cellular, China, 38 mm) model is compatible with LTE bands 1 (2100 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 39 (TD 1900), 40 (TD 2300), and 41 (TD 2500) as well as UMTS 2100 MHz in mainland China. It is not intended to work in other countries.

The Apple Watch Series 3 models look practically identical to the models that came before them, but they are considerably more powerful internally. All Apple Watch Series 3 models have a faster processor and architecture than their predecessors and add GPS and GLONASS capabilities, a barometric altimeter, and Siri support.

The more powerful Apple Watch Series 3 devices, including this particular model, the Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS+Cellular, China, A1890, 38 mm), also has wireless 3G capability, which means that it is capable of being connected to the Internet without a "tethered" iPhone and this line is the first Apple Watch series with that capability (although it only can be used on the same carrier as your iPhone).

Like earlier Apple Watch models, all Apple Watch Series 3 devices are controlled with a Force Touch capable display and a "Digital Crown," but the cellular capable models add a red dot to the Digital Crown for easy collective identification.

This particular Apple Watch, the A1890 Series 3 GPS+Cellular model in the 38 mm size, features a 272x340 OLED screen with strengthened, lightweight "Ion-X glass" for configurations with 7000 series anodized aluminum housings and even stronger sapphire crystal for configurations with 316L stainless steel housings.

Battery life is an Apple estimated "up to 18 hours" overall, but more specifically "up to 3 hours" of talk time connected to an iPhone, "over 1 hour" connected to LTE, "up to 10 hours" of audio playback, "up to 10 hours" working out indoors, "up to 5 hours" working out outdoors with GPS, and "up to 4 hours" working out outdoors with GPS and LTE.

There are eleven different options for this particular Apple Watch Series 3 model. It originally was available with a silver colored aluminum case and a light gray “Fog” fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band;" a gold colored aluminum case and a "Pink sand" fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band;" a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and a dark Gray fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band;" a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and a Black fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band;" a silver colored aluminum case and a Light Gray" Seashell" Sport Loop; a gold colored aluminum case and a "Pink Sand" Sport Loop (pictured, right); a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a "Dark Olive" Sport Loop; a stainless steel case and a “Soft White” Sport Band (pictured, left); a "Space Black" stainless steel case and a black Sport Band; a stainless steel case and a Milanese Loop; and finally, a "Space Black" stainless steel case and a "Space Black" Milanese Loop. On March 21, 2018, Apple discontinued the dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a "Dark Olive" Sport Loop option and replaced it with a "Black Sport Loop" option.

On September 12, 2018, Apple continued to ship the dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and a black fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band (albeit with a different order number) and introduced a silver colored aluminum case and a white fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band" option. The company also cut the price to RMB 2999. The other configurations were discontinued.

On September 10, 2019, Apple cut the price to RMB 2299. Finally, on September 15, 2020, the company discontinued this model entirely.

Also see:

What are all the differences between the Apple Watch Series 3 models?
What are the differences between the Apple Watch Series 3 and the models replaced?

Buy This Watch or Trade-In Yours at site sponsor OWC. Click for current options.

Sell This Watch at A+ BBB rated site sponsor Cash For Your Mac. Quick quote!

Headphones for This Watch from site sponsor OWC. Wireless options.

Tech Specs
Global Original Prices
Popular Q&As

Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.

Expand All Details | Contract All Details

Introduction Date:

September 12, 2017

Discontinued Date:

September 15, 2020

Details:

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Processor Speed:

N/A

Processor Type:

Apple S3*

Details:

*Apple reports that the processor in the Apple Watch Series 3 models is a dual core Apple "S3" processor. The clockspeed was not reported.

Onboard RAM:

768 MB*

Storage Capacity:

16 GB

Details:

Apple reports that the Cellular-equipped Apple Watch Series 3 models have 16 GB of onboard flash storage.

Song Capacity:

N/A

Photo Capacity:

N/A

Details:

*Apple does not provide an estimate of song and photo capacity instead opting just for GB.

Case Type:

Watch

Form Factor:

Apple Watch Series 3 (38 mm)

Details:

This Apple Watch Series 3 model has a 38 mm form factor and uses either a 7000 series anodized aluminum or 316L stainless steel housing.

Housing Color:

Aluminum/Steel*

Controller:

Digital Crown

Details:

*This Apple Watch Series 3 model uses either a 7000 series anodized aluminum or 316L stainless steel housing. Aluminum options are available in silver, gold, or dark "Space Gray" colors and stainless steel options are available in either silver or black colors.

Built-in Display:

1.5" OLED*

Display Resolution:

272x340

Details:

*The entire face of the watch contains a "second generation" roughly 1.5" OLED, but this is not all viewable area. All 38 mm models of this type have a viewable display resolution of 272x340 with a brightness rating of 1000 nits. Models with aluminum cases have the display covered by strengthened Ion-X glass and models with stainless steel cases have the display covered by even stronger sapphire crystal.

Standard Wireless:

802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, LTE*

Standard Bluetooth:

4.2

Details:

The Apple Watch Series 3 has built-in support for 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 4.2.

*This A1890 Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS+Cellular, China, 38 mm) model also is compatible with LTE bands 1 (2100 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 39 (TD 1900), 40 (TD 2300), and 41 (TD 2500) as well as UMTS 2100 MHz in mainland China. It is not intended to work in other countries.

Battery Type:

Lithium Ion*

Battery Life:

1-18 Hours*

Details:

*The Apple Watch Series 3 uses a built-in, proprietary Lithium Ion battery. Apple reports that this cellular-capable device provides "up to 18 hours" of battery life which includes "90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use and a 30 minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth." Battery life for other uses varies -- reportedly "up to 3 hours" of talk time connected to an iPhone, "over 1 hour" of talk time connected to LTE, "up to 10 hours" of audio playback, "up to 10 hours" of working out indoors, "up to 5 hours" of working out outdoors with GPS, and "up to 4 hours" of working out outdoors with GPS and LTE.

Apple Order No:

MQQE2CH/A**

Apple Subfamily:

Watch Series 3 38 mm

Details:

*Apple estimates that the Apple Watch Series 3 models completely charge in "about 2 hours" and charge to 80% capacity in "about 1.5 hours."

**MQQE2CH/A refers to this 38 mm model with a silver colored aluminum case and a light gray “Fog” fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band." With a gold colored aluminum case and a "Pink sand" fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band," the order number is MQQG2CH/A. With a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and a dark Gray or Black fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band," the order numbers are MR332CH/A and MQQF2CH/A, respectively.

With a silver colored aluminum case and a Light Gray" Seashell" Sport Loop, the order number is MQQH2CH/A; with a gold colored aluminum case and a "Pink Sand" Sport Loop, the order number is MQQK2CH/A, and with a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a "Dark Olive" Sport Loop, the order number is MQQJ2CH/A.

Finally, with a stainless steel case and a “Soft White” Sport Band, the order number is MQQL2CH/A; with a "Space Black" stainless steel case and a black Sport Band, the order number is MQQM2CH/A; with a stainless steel case and a Milanese Loop, the order number is MR212CH/A; and with a "Space Black" stainless steel case and a "Space Black" Milanese Loop, the order number is MR222CH/A.

The dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with Black Sport Loop, introduced March 21, 2018, is order number MRQJ2CH/A.

The dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and black fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band and silver colored aluminum case and white fluoroelastomer rubber "Sport Band" options introduced on September 12, 2018 are MTGL2CH/A and MTGK2CH/A, respectively.

Apple Model No:

A1890* (EMC 3169*)

Model ID:

Watch3,1

Details:

*This model number and EMC number are shared by a number of models. The model number is externally listed on the housing in the "groove" where the bottom strap connects. It also is listed on the box and within software. The EMC number only is listed within software under Settings > General > Regulatory.

Also see: All Apple Watch models with the A1890* Model Number, the 3169* EMC Number, and the Watch3,1 Model Identifier.

Pre-Installed OS:

watchOS 4.0 (15R607)

Maximum OS:

watchOS 8.8.1

Details:

This Apple Watch fully supports the last version of watchOS 4 and watchOS 5. It supports the final version of watchOS 6, although not all watch faces are available. It supports the final version of watchOS 7 and watchOS 8, but not all features are supported.

watchOS 6 also requires an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 13 or later, watchOS 7 also requires an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or later, and watchOS 8 also requires an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 15 or later.

Dimensions:

1.52 x 1.21 x 0.45

Avg. Weight:

1.01, 1.49 ounces

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth (38.6 mm x 33.3 mm x 11.4 mm, 28.7/42.4 grams).

Original Price:

N/A*

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

Details:

*The pricing for the 38 mm Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS+Cellular, China, A1890) models varied depending on case material, finish, and band. These models were not sold in the United States. They were sold only in mainland China. Models with an aluminum case and a rubber fluoroelastomer "Sport Band" or nylon "Sport Loop" were RMB 3188 regardless of case or band color. Models with a stainless steel case and a rubber fluoroelastomer "Sport Band" were RMB 4588. The model with a stainless steel case and a Milanese Loop (MR212CH/A) was RMB 5488 and the model with a "Space Black" stainless steel case and a "Space Black" Milanese Loop (MR222CH/A) was RMB 5888.

The models introduced on September 12, 2018, both with rubber fluoroelastomer "Sport Bands," originally were RMB 2999. Apple cut the price of these models to RMB 2299 on September 10, 2019. They were discontinued entirely on September 15, 2020.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

Global original prices for the Apple Watch Series 3 (Cellular, China, 38 mm) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for all Apple Watch models in one particular country on a single page, please refer to Everyi.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

Canada:

N/A

Brazil:

N/A

Mexico:

N/A

United States:

N/A*

Original Prices - Europe

Austria:

N/A

Belgium:

N/A

Denmark:

N/A

Finland:

N/A

France:

N/A

Germany:

N/A

Ireland:

N/A

Italy:

N/A

Luxembourg:

N/A

Netherlands:

N/A

Norway:

N/A

Portugal:

N/A

Spain:

N/A

Sweden:

N/A

Switzerland:

N/A

United Kingdom:

N/A

Original Prices - Asia

China:

RMB 3188-5888

Hong Kong:

N/A

India:

N/A

Indonesia:

N/A

Japan:

N/A

Korea:

N/A

Malaysia:

N/A

The Philippines:

N/A

Singapore:

N/A

Taiwan:

N/A

Thailand:

N/A

Vietnam:

N/A

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

Australia:

N/A

New Zealand:

N/A

If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Apple Watch line follow.

Permalink | Report an Error/Typo | Sign Up for Site Update Notices

<< Apple Watch (Home) | Also see: Apple Watch FAQ

Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.