Evolution Archive
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Apple Watch · Series

2016

Apple Watch Series 2

Built-in GPS, 50-meter swimproof water resistance with active speaker water ejection, and a 1,000-nit display transform Apple Watch into a dedicated athletic and outdoor device.

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Announced
2016-09-07
Family
Apple Watch
Branch
Series
Historical weight
Major evolution

Key specifications

Apple verification ↗
Display
1.5" OLED Retina, 1000 nits
Chip / CPU
Apple S2 (dual-core) · 520 MHz
Memory
512 MB
Base storage
8 GB
Ports & charging
Magnetic inductive charging
Weight
~34 g
Dimensions
38 mm or 42 mm case
Original OS
watchOS 3
Launch price
$369
Released
September 16, 2016
Discontinued
September 2017
Graphics
Integrated
CPU cores
2

Generation delta

What changed?

Introduced

7

  • Built-in GPS / GNSS receiver

    Enables untethered tracking of outdoor workouts, recording precise distance, pace, elevation profile, and route mapping without carrying an iPhone.

    Software

  • 50-meter water resistance rating (ISO 22810:2010)

    Re-engineered enclosure, acoustic port seals, and specialized adhesives permit shallow-water activities including pool swimming and open water ocean swimming.

    Ports

  • Acoustic speaker water ejection mechanism

    Active sound-wave pulse vibration mechanism that mechanically clears accumulated moisture from the speaker cavity after exiting water.

    Audio

  • Second-generation 1,000-nit OLED Retina display

    Delivers 1,000 nits of peak luminance (more than twice the brightness of the 450-nit 1st generation display), dramatically improving visibility in direct outdoor sunlight.

    Display

  • Apple S2 dual-core SiP

    Dual-core processor with integrated GPU and dedicated GPS controller logic, offering up to 50 percent faster CPU performance.

    Silicon

  • Apple Watch Edition in White Ceramic

    Pure white zirconia ceramic case over four times harder than stainless steel with a lustrous, scratch-resistant diamond-polished finish, replacing 18-karat gold.

    Storage

  • Apple Watch Nike+ edition

    (minor): Co-developed with Nike, featuring custom perforated breathable fluoroelastomer bands, exclusive athletic watch faces, and deep Nike+ Run Club integration.

    Software

Changed

2

  • Case thickness

    (minor): Increased from 10.5mm to 11.4mm (+0.9mm) to accommodate the acoustic water ejection cavity, GPS antenna array, and expanded battery cell.

    Power

  • Internal battery capacity

    Increased battery capacity (~273mAh on 38mm, ~334mAh on 42mm, approximately 33–36% larger than 1st generation) to power onboard GPS while maintaining 18-hour all-day battery life.

    Power

Retired

1

  • 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition tier

    Ultra-luxury gold collection ($10,000–$17,000) was retired from the catalog in favor of the ceramic Edition ($1,249–$1,299).

    Storage

Retained

4

  • 38mm and 42mm case sizing

    Retained the classic case dimensions and full backward compatibility with all Apple Watch bands.

    Software

  • Force Touch interaction

    Preserved pressure-sensitive display input.

    Display

  • Taptic Engine and Digital Crown

    Preserved tactile physical navigation and haptic feedback.

    Input

  • 18-hour all-day battery life standard

    Sustained the standard 18-hour daily operational target despite driving GPS and a 2x brighter screen.

    Display

Technology DNA

Ideas carried by this generation.

SensorsBuilt-in GPS

Integrated GPS for location-aware services.

DisplayRetina display

High-density display branding introduced on iPhone 4 and later expanded across product families.

Canonical predecessor

Apple Watch (1st generation) Apple Watch Series 2