Watch · Retina & Beyond · 2016
Apple Watch Series 2
The Watch leaned into fitness: onboard GPS to track runs without a phone, true swim-proofing, and a 1000-nit screen you could read mid-stride.
Built-in GPS, 50 m water resistance for swimming, and a much brighter display.
Apple Watch Series 3 (2017)
Apple Watch Series 2: key facts
When was the Apple Watch Series 2 released?
The Apple Watch Series 2 arrived on September 16, 2016. Apple discontinued it in September 2017.
How much did the Apple Watch Series 2 cost?
The Apple Watch Series 2 launched at $369 in 2016, about $483 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple S2 (dual-core) at 520 MHz, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB storage, 1.5" OLED Retina, 1000 nits display.
Why does the Apple Watch Series 2 matter?
Built-in GPS, 50 m water resistance for swimming, and a much brighter display.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple S2 (dual-core) · 520 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 MB |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Display | 1.5" OLED Retina, 1000 nits |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Ports | Magnetic inductive charging |
| Weight | ~34 g |
| Dimensions | 38 mm or 42 mm case |
| Operating system | watchOS 3 |
| Released | September 16, 2016 |
| Discontinued | September 2017 |
| Launch price | $369 |
How the Apple Watch Series 2 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 520 MHz, the clock is roughly 6.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 2,050 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $369 in 2016, about $483 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
After a swim it ejects trapped water by blasting it out with sound.
Related Watch models
Open the Apple Watch Series 2 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11