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Do you really need to buy the latest Apple Watch or can an older but still impressive Apple Watch Series 6 still do the job?
When the Apple Watch Series 6 was launched in September 2020, it was one of the absolute top smartwatches to have in the industry. Basic innovations for the user didn't exist at the time - which, however, was hardly necessary when looking at the specifications.
In return, the manufacturer went one better in many disciplines, including those in which the Apple Watch Series 6 was already considered the flagship watch. How does the Apple Watch 6 perform in our review (compared to its predecessor and successor), and is it still worth buying today? How does it perform on the wrist during everyday activities? Do I need an iPhone? Do I buy consider the Apple Watch SE 1 instead?
👉 Reading tip: Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch 6
Proven features meet far-reaching optimisations: With the Apple Watch Series 6, the manufacturer is primarily focusing on improving existing features of the watch. Some new functions are also on board for the user. But first things first: What can the Apple Watch 6 actually do and what is inside it?
Specs | Detail |
|---|---|
Case size | 40 millimetre / 44 millimetre |
Display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display made of IonX (sapphire) glass |
Waterproof rating | up to 50 meters |
Storage | 32 GB |
Sensors | Blood oxygen measurement, 3rd generation electrical and optical heart sensor, fall detection, compass, permanently activated altimeter |
Connectivity | Available as GPS and GPS + Cellular models (incl. sim card slot) |
Processor | S6 SiP with 64Bit Dual Core Processor / W3 Wireless Chip / U1 Ultra wide band Chip |
Battery life | up to 18 hours |
Operating system | watchOS 14 |
The overall design and build of the Apple Watch Series 6 has largely stayed the same from its predecessors. The Apple Watch Series 7 only grew by a few millimetres. Instead of aesthetic changes, Apple focused more on the functions - and this is where some highlights can be discovered that were still missing from the Series 5.
👉 You might be interested in this: Best Apple Watch for women
The Series 6 follows the typical tradition of Apple's smartwatch: since Series 1, it has presented new features with each new model. Particularly noteworthy is the measurement of blood oxygen via integrated infrared LED sensors. You can activate this function manually - the test takes around 15 seconds and the arm must be held completely still. The smart watch also records the values automatically during the day and at night. NB: Apple expressly points out that the function is not medically accurate.
Other health functions such as electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate and pulse sensors were already on board in the previous versions and are not missing in the Apple Watch 6. The fitness programmes also remain: Various training modes can still be selected. The Apple Watch 6 also recognises many activities automatically, so you don't have to activate them manually.
A small pleasant surprise is the adaptation of the always-on display: Apple introduced the permanently activated display in Series 5, but with Series 6 there is an update. This means that the smartwatch now has a real watch face like a "real" watch. The screen now shines noticeably brighter and consequently the control panel is also more visible. This seemingly tiny adjustment has positive consequences in practice, as it makes the watch much more comfortable to use.
Also to note, the increased brightness has hardly any influence on the battery performance. However, the battery is already chugging away due to the permanently activated display. If you don't want to charge the Smartwatch every evening, you can also switch off this function.
In addition to the sports and health apps, the Apple Watch 6, like its predecessors, provides a solid package of functions for the user. The GPS sensor measures and records the routes you have taken - this data can be accessed via the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
This also applies to the fitness programmes that you can call up in the activity app on your smartphone. The tried-and-tested activity rings are back on board, encouraging you to move more, get up regularly and train throughout the day.
Series 6 contains the new S6 chip. By comparison, the predecessor, the Apple Watch 5, was equipped with the S5 chip. To generalise, the new processor is quite fast: in tests, the Apple Watch 6 performs around 20 per cent better than the previous model, with slightly improved values. The S6 is based on the powerful A13 Bionic chip, known from the iPhone 11.
In practice, the increase in speed has only a marginal effect. However, this is mainly due to the fact that Apple's smartwatch has always worked at lightning speed.
The battery, on the other hand, has hardly been improved and leaves a slight ill-feeling taste, since you're paying noticeably more for an upgrade from the Series 5. The watch has a battery life of around 18 hours if you use the versatile functions such as heart rate measurement, always-on display, sleep tracking and the notification functions from your smartphone.
Two sizes, countless colours, endless wristbands - the user can put together the Apple Watch 6 the way they like it. The case decides which options are available to you in detail.
The options at a glance:
Apple Watch 6 Case | Aluminium | Stainless steel | Titanium |
|---|---|---|---|
Colour | Silver Space Grey Gold Blue *(Product)Red | Silver Graphite *Gold | Titanium Space Black |
💡Tip: When you buy the watch, you can choose from a wide range of wristbands. They are generally compatible with both sizes, all case materials and colours - they look good on the wrist in everyday life and allow flexibility to customise for fancier events.
The Apple Watch 7, successor to the Series 6, already shows clear visual differences: The case is a little larger, with a diameter of 41 or 45 millimetres, and the corners are more rounded. Some of the internals are also new - in part. Although there is a chip called S7 in the hardware, it is the same as in Series 6. The price of the two models differs by around £60.
The manufacturer has beefed up the battery of the watch in the Series 7: the battery in the Apple Watch 7 charges faster also - it reaches 80 per cent capacity within 45 minutes. Series 6 still needs under 1 hour for this. Unfortunately, this has practically no influence on the runtime. Both models have a battery life of 18 hours, so there is no difference here.
Conclusion: With the Apple Watch Series 6, you get a strong, fast and reliable smartwatch with a comprehensive function package and the design typical of the model series. The health features are particularly noteworthy. Series 7, on the other hand, only offers cautious innovations, so you can save a lot of money with the 2020 version. This is especially true if you opt for a refurbished Apple Watch Series 6.
Like all models, the Apple Watch Series 6 is only compatible with an Apple smartphone. The iPhone 6s or higher is supported. Prerequisite: At least iOS 14 need to be installed.
The Apple Watch 6 costs from as low as £223 in "Good" condition at Back Market. The price may vary depending on condition, size, case choice and strap.
Refurbished Apple Watches cost much less and are practically as good as new in some cases. Buying refurbished hardware from Back Market not only saves you money but you also protect the environment by buying it, because valuable resources are not disposed of but reused.
The Apple Watch Series 7 was released 15 October 2021.
Fitness apps of course work great with the Apple Watch 6 (or other Apple watches). There are also other apps such as adidas Running App Runtastic or StepsApp pedometer. To-do lists, calendars and shopping lists are also great apps for the Apple Watch and can simplify your life. Other exciting apps are weather apps, maps or sleep tracking apps to make your measurement during the night even more accurate.
When not fighting the good fight for environmental sustainability, Haziq loves making reviews of everything and anything tech-related.
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Launched in 2015 by the Californian giant Apple, the Apple Watch has undergone numerous improvements since its launch. Notably in terms of aesthetics. If previously it did not allow for the possibility of customisation, today it appeals to both men and women who wish to wear this real technological jewel on their wrist.
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