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Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 6
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) ($102) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 6 ($83) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) | Apple Apple Watch Series 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $102 | $83 |
| Weight | 38.8g | 36.5g |
| Chip | S8 SiP | S6, 64-bit dual-core |
| Case | 45mm aluminium, GPS | — |
| Display | 1000 nit always-on Retina | Always-on Retina OLED |
| Water | 50m, WR50 | — |
| Sensors | Temperature, ECG, blood oxygen | Blood oxygen (SpO2) + ECG + heart rate |
| Weight | 38.8g (Apple published) | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) |
| Charging | — | 20% faster than Series 5 |
| WR | — | 50m |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm)
- Full sensor suite including ECG and temperature
- Crash Detection
- Cheap for a watch with this much hardware
- 1000 nits looks dim next to a Series 9
- Same 18 hour battery
- Design is three generations old
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 Series 6 is the better value at $83. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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