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Apple Apple Watch Series 6 vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 6 ($83) vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) ($51) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 6 | Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $83 | $51 |
| Weight | 36.5g | 36.2g |
| Chip | S6, 64-bit dual-core | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Sensors | Blood oxygen (SpO2) + ECG + heart rate | Optical heart rate, no ECG/SpO2 |
| Display | Always-on Retina OLED | Retina OLED, not always-on |
| Charging | 20% faster than Series 5 | — |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) | 36.2g (Apple published, 44mm GPS) |
| Safety | — | Fall detection, emergency calling |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 6
- Blood oxygen sensor, a meaningful addition over Series 5
- Faster S6 chip, noticeably snappier in daily use
- Faster charging than any earlier Series watch
- Always-on display carried over from Series 5
- Blood oxygen readings are wellness-only, not medical grade
- watchOS support window is closing
- Aluminum case shows wear more than steel or titanium on a used unit
- No always-on altimeter, that came later with Ultra
Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
- Series 5-class performance at a genuine discount over Series 5/6
- Fall detection and emergency calling carried over from flagship models
- Same 44mm case size as the numbered Series watches that generation
- Lighter than most Series models it's priced against
- No always-on display
- No ECG or blood oxygen sensor
- No compass
- watchOS support window is closing like every watch in this group
Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) is the better value at $51. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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