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Apple Watch Series 3 (Nike+, US/CA, 42 mm) Specs

Identifiers: Watch Series 3 42 mm - MQLC2LL/A** - Watch3,2 - A1861* - 3167*

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Apple Watch Series 3, Nike+, US/Canada, Cellular, 42 mmPlease note that this A1861 Apple Watch Series 3 Nike+ (GPS+Cellular, United States/Canada, 42 mm) model is compatible with LTE bands 2 (1900 MHz), 4 (AWS), 5 (850 MHz), 12 (700 MHz), 13 (700c MHz), 17 (700b MHz), 18 (800 MHz), 19 (800 MHz), 25 (1900 MHz), 26 (800 MHz), and 41 (TD 2500) as well as UMTS 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 1700 MHz, and 1900 MHz in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico (which last time we checked was part of the US). 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 Nike+ (GPS+Cellular, United States/Canada, A1861, 42 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 A1861 Nike+ Series 3 GPS+Cellular model in the 42 mm size, features a 312x390 OLED screen with strengthened, lightweight "Ion-X glass." Like all Nike+ models, it also includes exclusive Nike watch faces," a built-in Nike+ Run Club app, and "audio guided runs featuring the voice of a Nike+ Run Club coach."

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 originally were four different options for this specific Apple Watch Series 3 Nike+ (Cellular, US/Canada) model -- a silver colored aluminum case with a "Pure Platinum/Black" Nike Sport Band (pictured, right); a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with an "Anthracite/Black" Nike Sport Band; a silver colored aluminum case with a "Bright Crimson/Black" Nike Sport Band (pictured, left); and a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a "Black/Pure Platinum" Nike Sport Loop.

On March 21, 2018, Apple discontinued the silver colored aluminum case with a "Bright Crimson/Black" Nike Sport Band option and replaced it with a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a Midnight Fog Nike Sport Loop option.

On September 12, 2018, Apple discontinued all earlier options and introduced a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with an "Anthracite/Black" Nike Sport Band option with a lower US$409 price tag.

On September 10, 2019, Apple cut the price to US$329. 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?

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  • Tech Specs
  • Global Original Prices
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Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.


September 12, 2017 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.
N/A 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.
768 MB* 16 GB
Details: Apple reports that the Cellular-equipped Apple Watch Series 3 models have 16 GB of onboard flash storage.
N/A N/A
Details: *Apple does not provide an estimate of song and photo capacity instead opting just for GB.
Watch Apple Watch Series 3 (42 mm)
Details: This Apple Watch Series 3 Nike+ model has a 42 mm form factor and uses a 7000 series anodized aluminum housing.
Aluminum* Digital Crown
Details: *This Apple Watch Series 3 model uses a 7000 series anodized aluminum housing. It is available in silver and dark "space gray" aluminum housing options.
1.65" OLED* 321x390
Details: *The entire face of the watch contains a "second generation" roughly 1.65" OLED, but this is not all viewable area. All 42 mm models of this type have a viewable display resolution of 312x390 with a brightness rating of 1000 nits. This Apple Watch Series 3 display is covered by "Ion-X glass."
802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, LTE* 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 A1861 Apple Watch Series 3 Nike+ (GPS+Cellular, United States/Canada, 42 mm) model also is compatible with LTE bands 2 (1900 MHz), 4 (AWS), 5 (850 MHz), 12 (700 MHz), 13 (700c MHz), 17 (700b MHz), 18 (800 MHz), 19 (800 MHz), 25 (1900 MHz), 26 (800 MHz), and 41 (TD 2500) as well as UMTS 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 1700 MHz, and 1900 MHz in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico (which last time we checked was part of the US). It is not intended to work in other countries.
Lithium Ion* 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.
MQLC2LL/A** Watch Series 3 42 mm
Details: **MQLC2LL/A refers to this 42 mm Nike+ model with a silver colored aluminum case with a "Pure Platinum/Black" Nike Sport Band. With a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and an "Anthracite/Black" Nike Sport Band the order number is MQLD2LL/A, with a silver colored aluminum case and a "Bright Crimson/Black" Nike Sport Band the order number is MQLE2LL/A, and with a dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a "Black/Pure Platinum" Nike Sport Loop the order number is MQLF2LL/A.

The dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case with a Midnight Fog Nike Sport Loop option, introduced March 21, 2018, is order number MQLH2LL/A.

Finally, the dark "Space Gray" colored aluminum case and black fluoroelastomer Nike Sport Band option, introduced September 12, 2018, is order number is MTGW2LL/A.
A1861* (EMC 3167*) Watch3,2
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 A1861* Model Number, the 3167* EMC Number, and the Watch3,2 Model Identifier.
watchOS 4.0 (15R607) watchOS 8.x
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.
1.65 x 1.41 x 0.45 1.23 ounces
Details: In inches - height by width by depth (42.5 mm x 36.4 mm x 11.4 mm, 34.9 grams).
US$429* US$100-US$150
Details: All 42 mm Apple Watch Series 3 Nike+ (GPS+Cellular, United States/Canada, A1861) models originally were US$429 regardless of case or band.

*On September 12, 2018, Apple cut the price to US$409. On September 10, 2019, Apple again cut the price to US$329. The company discontinued these models entirely on September 15, 2020.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.



Global original prices for the Apple Watch Series 3 (Nike+, US/CA, 42 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

C$559 N/A
N/A US$429*

Original Prices - Europe

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Original Prices - Asia

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Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

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


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