Apple Watch Series 6 vs SE: Which is right for you?

We’ve said it before: Apple watches are hard to beat. The Apple Watch Series 6 is one of the best smartwatches for anyone who wants a great experience and can afford it. The Apple Watch SE offers a great overall experience for anyone on a budget. If you’ve already invested in the Apple ecosystem, either device is an especially good investment.

So how do you choose? We are here to help with this comparison between Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE. Read what these two devices have in common and what sets them apart.

Our verdict: Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 review

Apple Watch Series 6 vs Apple Watch SE

The specifications

The Apple Watch SE and Series 6 are very similar when it comes to design. The only differences are the shell materials and the available color combinations. Users can find the SE in aluminum only, while the Series 6 comes in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium. Also, if you go for a high-end Series 6, you can also upgrade your device with sapphire crystal. The Apple Watch SE is limited to Ion-X Glass, which is more susceptible to scratches.

Color-wise, the 6 Series comes in silver, space gray, gold, blue, and red, but you’ll only find the SE in silver, space gray, and gold. Fortunately, both devices feature interchangeable bands, so there are still plenty of opportunities to add color to either selection.

Keep reading: The best Apple Watch straps you can buy

As for the display, only the Series 6 offers always-on functionality. The SE will turn on every time you lift your wrist. They both have 32GB of internal storage and house internal microphones and speakers. While the Series 6 uses a newer system on a chip that Apple claims is up to 20% faster than its predecessor, the SE maintains the same specs as the Series 5. We found no complaints about the SE in terms of performance. fast, but it is a differentiating fact.

The top health and fitness features to consider when comparing the Apple Watch SE to the Apple Watch Series 6 are the sensors. Blood oxygen and EKG monitoring sensors are not present on the SE model, so if these are deciding factors, you’ll need to upgrade to Series 6. That said, the Apple Watch SE still offers heart rate monitoring throughout the year. day. Like the Series 6, it can tell you if you have an abnormally high or low heart rate, and both devices will also notify you if they detect an irregular heart rate. The 6 Series uses an improved sensor, making it the leader if you want the best in terms of accuracy.

After hours, the differences in sleep tracking are also worth considering. We tend to find sleep tracking on Apple Watches to be basic at best, especially compared to companies like Fitbit. However, if you choose Series 6, you can use the SpO2 sensor to track your blood oxygen while you sleep. Unfortunately, it is not a clinically validated sensor, so it cannot alert you to possible signs of sleep apnea. When it comes to fitness tracking, both devices automatically track a variety of workouts and can manually track many others. Or one tracks your steps, active and resting heart rate, active and resting energy burn, minutes of standing, distance, floors climbed, and more.

Overall, the Apple Watch SE makes no real sacrifice in smartwatch features compared to the Series 6. They have the same watch face library and both allow users to share faces with friends. Both allow you to access an unrivaled app library, get help from Siri, make purchases with Apple Pay, control smart home devices, and much more. Also, unlike Wear OS software fragmentation, Apple’s watchOS 8.1 powers both the Series 6 and the SE.

Family settings are also available on both models, allowing you to set up an Apple Watch for your kids if they don’t have an iPhone.

Do not miss: The best smartwatches for kids

The price

It’s hard not to get excited about the price of the Apple Watch SE. Starting at $ 279, it’s right between the $ 199 Series 3 and the Series 6, starting at $ 399. For $ 80 more than the Series 3, users get an improved processor and a better display. By ditching a few sensors, they can save over $ 100. Our review calls it the “Goldilocks option” because it strikes the perfect balance between price and features.

The Apple Watch Series 6 starts at $ 399 for the 40mm model with Bluetooth only and $ 499 for the LTE model. With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple no longer sells this model outright, but you can still find one at retailers like Amazon. We think the 6 Series is on par with the 7 Series, with many of the same specs and features, if you can find it for sale.

Both products are competitively priced for what they offer. With excellent app compatibility, a sleek design, and plenty of sleep, health, and fitness tracking features, the value is hard to argue with.

Apple Watch Series 6 vs SE: Which one should you buy?

We consistently rank the latest Apple Watch as the best smartwatch you can buy. When it comes to the Apple Watch Series 6 vs SE, it’s almost a win-win situation.

With its competitive price, the SE is the device that most buyers should buy. It’s the lowest tier of the Apple Watch, so it’s sure to make some concessions. However, it is a very capable smartphone companion that offers most of the functions that people really want. For example, blood oxygen monitoring is a key element in wearables, but it is not necessarily a deal-breaker for the average user.

The Series 6 is the right choice for anyone with extra money to spare. It’s a bit pricey, but if you can’t live without its premium features, it’s not a mistake to buy it. The Series 6 is especially useful for anyone with a medical history of heart conditions or users specifically interested in advanced health management. It’s not on par with some of the best fitness-focused devices, like those in the Garmin line, but if you want the best overall smartwatch, it doesn’t get any better.

In short, you can’t go wrong with any of these devices. The Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE are excellent buys.