Apple Watch SE & 6 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Apple Watch 6 rather than the Apple Watch SE.
Why Do I Recommend Apple Watch 6?
- The Apple Watch 6 has an Always-On Retina display, which helps to view the watch face anytime without having to raise your wrist or touch the watch. But the SE requires wrist movement or tapping to activate.
- Advanced S6 SiP (System in Package) features in Apple Watch 6, which is more powerful than the SE’s S5 SiP, offering better performance and efficiency.
- It comes with advanced health sensors, such as the Blood Oxygen (SpO2) sensor & ECG, which measure blood oxygen saturation levels & deeper heart health insights, which are not available on the SE.
- The Series 6 has an Always-On Altimeter that tracks elevation changes in real time for up-to-date altitude information. But the SE does not offer real time tracking.
- It supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands for faster, improved range & more stable connections, while the SE is restricted to the 2.4GHz band.
- It offers more premium material choices like stainless steel and Titanium so the watch can last long, while the SE is only available in aluminum.
- The Series 6 also supports fast charging, allowing it to charge more quickly than the SE.
Maybe the Apple watch SE price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Apple Watch 6. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
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Side By Side Comparison
Feature | Apple Watch Series 6 | Apple Watch SE |
Display Type | Always-On Retina display | Standard Retina display |
Brightness (outdoors) | 1000 nits (Always-On mode ) | 1000 nits (No Always-On mode) |
Processor | S6 SiP | S5 SiP |
Blood Oxygen Monitoring (SpO2) | Yes, measures oxygen saturation in blood | No |
ECG | Yes, with electrical heart sensor | No |
Heart Rate Monitoring | Optical heart rate sensor + electrical heart sensor | Optical heart rate sensor only |
Sleep Tracking | Yes, with Blood Oxygen and Pulse tracking | Yes, basic heart rate tracking only |
U1 Chip (Ultra-Wideband) | Yes, for enhanced spatial awareness | No |
Wi-Fi Band Support | Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) | Single-band (2.4GHz only) |
Altimeter | Always-on altimeter (real-time tracking) | Standard altimeter (no real-time updates) |
Material Options | Aluminum, Stainless Steel, and Titanium | Aluminum only |
Color Options | Many | Limited |
Charging Speed | Fast charging (1.5 hours to full) | Standard charging speed |
Battery Life | 18 hours (typical usage) | 18 hours (typical usage) |
Health & Fitness Sensors | ECG, SpO2, Optical heart rate, Electrical heart rate sensor | Optical heart rate sensor only |
VO2 Max Measurement | Yes, full support for cardio fitness measurement | Limited measurement accuracy due to lack of SpO2 |
Premium Watch Faces | Yes, with additional customizable faces | Limited, no additional faces |
Price | Check Watch 6 Price | Check SE Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Operating System & Software Features: Both the Series 6 and SE run on watchOS 7, with support for updates to the latest version, watchOS 10. This means they share the same user experience and access to new software features, such as redesigned apps, enhanced notifications, and new watch faces. Regardless of which model you choose, you get the same smooth and feature-rich software experience.
- Case Sizes and Display: Both models come in 40mm and 44mm case sizes, offering the same screen dimensions with 1.57 inches (40mm) and 1.78 inches (44mm) Retina displays. This similarity ensures that the overall look and size of both watches are nearly identical, and both displays feature high resolution and brightness for excellent outdoor visibility.
- Fall Detection and Emergency SOS: Both watches come with Fall Detection, which automatically detects hard falls and sends an alert. If the user remains immobile, it can call emergency services. Similarly, Emergency SOS allows users to contact emergency services quickly by pressing and holding the side button. These safety features are identical in both models, providing peace of mind for all users.
- Noise Monitoring: Both watches come equipped with a Noise app, which alerts users when they are in environments where the noise levels could potentially harm their hearing. This is part of Apple’s commitment to health, offering users the same sound exposure monitoring on both the Series 6 and SE.
- Water Resistance: Both the Series 6 and SE are water-resistant up to 50 meters, making them swim-proof. Users can track swimming workouts, wear the watch in the shower, or use it in any other water-based activity without concern.
- Storage Capacity: Both watches come with 32GB of internal storage, giving ample space for apps, music, and other data. This ensures that even with the SE being the more affordable model, it doesn’t compromise on storage.
- GPS and Cellular Options: Both the Series 6 and SE offer GPS-only and GPS + Cellular models. This gives users the flexibility to choose whether they want the watch to work independently from their iPhone for calls and data when away from their phone.
- Battery Life: The battery life on both models is rated at up to 18 hours under typical usage. This makes both watches reliable for a full day’s use, from workouts and notifications to music playback and GPS tracking.
- Fitness and Workout Tracking: Both the Series 6 and SE offer a wide range of workout tracking options for indoor and outdoor activities, including running, cycling, yoga, swimming, and more. Both watches also feature Activity rings that track movement, exercise, and stand hours, encouraging users to meet their daily fitness goals.
- Sleep Tracking: With watchOS 7, both watches feature sleep tracking, allowing users to monitor their sleep patterns, set bedtime routines, and receive insights into their sleep quality. Both devices provide similar results in tracking sleep duration and consistency.
- Family Setup: Both models support Family Setup, which allows users to set up and manage Apple Watches for family members who don’t own an iPhone. This is especially useful for parents who want to stay connected with their kids or elderly family members.
- Siri Integration: Both watches come with Siri, allowing users to interact with their watch through voice commands. Siri on both models can help with sending messages, setting reminders, checking weather updates, and controlling smart home devices.
- Apple Pay: Both the Series 6 and SE support Apple Pay, allowing users to make contactless payments right from their wrist. This feature works across all stores and services that accept Apple Pay, making both watches equally convenient for mobile payments.
- International Emergency Calling: Both models support International Emergency Calling, a feature that lets users make emergency calls even without an iPhone in over 150 countries. This is available on the GPS + Cellular versions of both the Series 6 and SE.
Common Features
Feature | Apple Watch Series 6 | Apple Watch SE |
Operating System | watchOS 7 | watchOS 7 |
Case Sizes | 40mm, 44mm | 40mm, 44mm |
Display Size | 1.57” (40mm) / 1.78” (44mm) display | 1.57” (40mm) / 1.78” (44mm) display |
Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
Noise Monitoring | Yes, with Noise app | Yes, with Noise app |
Water Resistance | 50 meters (swim-proof) | 50 meters (swim-proof) |
Storage Capacity | 32GB | 32GB |
Compass | Yes | Yes |
Altimeter | Yes (Standard Altimeter) | Yes (Standard Altimeter) |
GPS + Cellular Option | Available (optional) | Available (optional) |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Wi-Fi Connectivity | Supports 2.4GHz band | Supports 2.4GHz band |
Battery Life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Family Setup | Yes (with cellular models) | Yes (with cellular models) |
International Emergency Calling | Yes (on cellular models) | Yes (on cellular models) |
Siri Integration | Yes | Yes |
Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
Family Setup | Yes | Yes |
Price | Check Watch 6 Price | Check SE Price |
FAQ
Q: Do both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE have fall detection? Yes, both models come with fall detection, which automatically detects hard falls and sends an alert. If the user remains immobile for a short period, the watch can automatically call emergency services. Q: Are the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE swim-proof? Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE are water-resistant up to 50 meters. This makes them swim-proof, allowing users to track swimming workouts or wear the watches in the shower without issues. Q: Do the Apple Watch Series 6 and SE support Apple Pay? Yes, both the Series 6 and SE support Apple Pay, enabling users to make contactless payments directly from their wrist using the watch in stores and other compatible services. Q: Can both models track workouts and activity? Yes, both the Series 6 and SE offer extensive workout tracking for various activities like running, cycling, swimming, and yoga. They also include Apple’s Activity Rings, which track daily movement, exercise, and standing hours to motivate users to reach their fitness goals. Q: What is the battery life on both the Apple Watch Series 6 and SE? Both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE offer a battery life of up to 18 hours under typical usage conditions. This is consistent across both models, so users can expect similar daily performance. Q: Do both watches support sleep tracking? Yes, with the introduction of watchOS 7, both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE feature built-in sleep tracking. This allows users to monitor their sleep patterns, set bedtime routines, and track the consistency of their sleep over time. Q: Do both models support Siri? Yes, both the Series 6 and SE include Siri integration. Users can interact with their watch via voice commands to send messages, set reminders, check weather updates, and more. Siri can also control smart home devices connected to Apple’s HomeKit. Q: Is Family Setup available on both Apple Watch models? Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 6 and SE support Family Setup. This feature allows users to manage Apple Watches for family members who don’t have an iPhone, such as children or elderly relatives, allowing them to stay connected and use essential watch functions like calling, messaging, and health tracking. Q: Do both models offer the same storage capacity? Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE come with 32GB of internal storage, allowing ample space for apps, music, and other data. Q: Do both models have GPS and cellular options? Yes, both models are available in GPS-only and GPS + Cellular variants, allowing users to choose whether they want to stay connected without their iPhone nearby. Q: Is the optical heart rate sensor the same on both models? Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE feature the optical heart rate sensor, which tracks heart rate throughout the day and during workouts. This ensures both watches provide accurate heart rate monitoring. Q: What about international emergency calling? Both models support international emergency calling on GPS + Cellular variants. This allows users to contact emergency services even if their iPhone is not nearby, and it works in over 150 countries. Q: Do both the Apple Watch Series 6 and SE support Bluetooth 5.0? Yes, both the Series 6 and SE support Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring fast and stable connections with other devices and accessories. Bluetooth 5.0 is also more power-efficient, helping preserve battery life. Q: Can I use the same watch bands on both models? Yes, the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE share the same case sizes (40mm and 44mm), so their bands are interchangeable. Any band designed for the 40mm size will fit both models of the same size, and the same applies to the 44mm case size. Q: Do both models support the Noise app? Yes, both the Series 6 and SE come with the Noise app, which monitors the ambient noise levels around the user. The app sends alerts if the environment’s noise reaches a level that could potentially harm the user’s hearing over time. |