Apple Watch Series 6: Is It Worth The Upgrade From Series 5?

Apple recently released the new Apple Watch Series 6, which brings a slew of improvements over the Series 5 models. The new enhancements make the new model a great choice for those who are looking for a smartwatch that's packed with features that are tested and proven.

The Apple Watch Series 5 is also a formidable device that offers a host of features that most users will consider “enough” for their needs. It is able to monitor a person's heart rate, keep track of their movements and so on. And now that it has been succeeded by a new model, fans can expect to get it for less.

That said, is it worth getting the pricier Apple Watch Series 6 to enjoy its features? Or will it be better to stick to the Apple Watch Series 5 since it offers many of the Series 6's features but currently at a lower price? Here's a quick comparison between the two:

Similar features

As mentioned, the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6 have many similar features. These features include the following:

• Size: 40mm or 44mm case
• Display: Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display, 1000 nits
• Variations: GPS and GPS + Cellular models
• Controls: Touchscreen, Digital Crown with haptic feedback
• Heart sensors: Electrical heart sensor and second-gen optical heart sensor
• Health features: Heart rate notifications, irregular heart rhythm notification, ECG app, noise monitoring
• Emergency features: International emergency calling, Emergency SOS and fall detection
• Durability: Water resistance up to 50 meters; "swimproof"
• GPS: GPS/GNSS, compass and altimeter
• Battery Life: 18 hours

Different features

Both devices have these features and some more. They differ, however, in some important aspects such as:

• Series 6 offers 2.5 times brighter always-on display
• Series 6 has a newer, faster S6 chip, while Series 5 has an older S5 chip used also in Apple Watch SE
• Series 6 offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi; Series 5 only offers 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• Series 6 has an always-on altimeter; the Series 5 only has a barometric altimeter
• Series 6 offers blood oxygen monitoring
• Series 6 has a U1 chip
• Series 6 doesn't have a white ceramic model but can come in Red or Blue colors

Pricing

Now comes the most important part: the cost. Apple sells the new Apple Watch Series 6 starting at $399 for the base model. It stopped selling the Series 5 models, but buyers can still get them for lower prices via other sellers, including Amazon. There's no fixed price, but buyers can expect to get them for less than $399.

Those who already own the Apple Watch Series 5 and do not have any need for the new features don't have to spend more getting the new Series 6 models as they both offer the same base health and emergency features. Those who own an older Apple Watch model, such as the Series 3 or 4, might want to upgrade, but the choice is ultimately up to their needs.

Those who don't need the health features that both the Series 5 and Series 6 models boast can opt to get the cheaper Apple Watch SE instead. It starts at $279 for the base model.