Apple Apple Watch Series 6 vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 6 ($83) vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) ($209) — 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 Ultra (1st generation) |
| Price | $83 | $209 |
| Weight | 36.5g | 61.3g |
| Chip | S6, 64-bit dual-core | — |
| Sensors | Blood oxygen (SpO2) + ECG + heart rate | — |
| Display | Always-on Retina OLED | 2000-nit, brightest Apple Watch at launch |
| Charging | 20% faster than Series 5 | — |
| WR | 50m | — |
| Weight | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) | 61.3g (Apple published) |
| Case | — | 49mm Titanium |
| GPS | — | Dual-frequency L1/L5 |
| Water | — | 100m WR, EN13319 dive rated |
| Battery | — | Up to 36h normal use |
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 Ultra (1st generation)
- Titanium case and sapphire crystal, the most durable Apple Watch build
- Dual-frequency GPS for genuinely more accurate outdoor tracking
- 100m water resistance with an official dive rating
- Brightest display of any Watch at the time, still class-competitive
- 61.3g is heavy on the wrist next to any Series or SE model here
- Orange Action Button placement takes adjustment
- Battery life trails Ultra 2's efficiency gains
- Case size doesn't suit smaller wrists
Apple Apple Watch Series 6 is the better value at $83. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.