The Apple Watch Series 6 is Apple’s latest and greatest attempt to build the most advanced smartwatch and they’ve successfully created an excellent device. But, there are multiple variants of it including the baseline GPS & the GPS+Cellular models that are made out of Aluminum and the more premium Titanium & Stainless Steel variants.
While the baseline Aluminium variant is going to be enough for most of the users but, not for everyone though. Some users would want to go the extra mile and get the Stainless Steel or the Titanium variant. But, how do you choose between two premium materials for your next smartwatch?
Even if you do, is it going to be worth it? Well, let’s find out by doing a side-by-side comparison between the Stainless Steel and Titanium variants. In this article, I am going to demonstrate how choosing between the two materials might hold up on a day to day basis. Anyway, because there isn’t gonna be much difference on the inside, so let’s keep this short and to the point.
Contents
Apple Watch 6: An Introduction
If you don’t know much about the Apple Watch Series 6, I’m gonna make this easy for you. Let’s have a quick introduction to it. Once we’re done with this part, we’ll quickly move to the actual comparison section.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is Apple’s 2020 flagship that was launched in September. It is available in two sizes and you can choose between different case materials, colors & watch bands. You can also create custom watch faces to make your setup more appealing & get all the important stats on your wrist, all the time.
Inside we have the latest Apple S6 SOC which is around 20% faster than last year’s S5. There is also 1GB RAM and 32GB internal storage to ensure a smoother performance and enough space to store apps and music locally. Apple has integrated its W3 chip for wireless connectivity and the U1 chip for spatial awareness, just like the iPhone 11 and 12 series.
The Apple Watch Series 6 can do Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate & Sleep Monitoring, take an ECG and track stats for all the important activities like Running, Hiking, Swimming, Outdoor Hunting, Biking, and more.
It can also do Fall Detection and SOS which can be really important if you have a serious health problem or you’re buying for an elderly person. If the watch detects an unexpected fall, it’ll send an SOS to selected contacts. This feature also works outside if you have a cellular model.
You can also choose between GPS or GPS + Cellular connectivity. The cellular model comes with support for 4G LTE & UMTS and it supports eSim so, if you leave your phone at home, you can take calls on the Watch, thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone. The watch support 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (both 2.4GHz & 5Ghz bands) and Bluetooth 5.0.
The battery capacity is 303.8 mAh and it can last you around 18 hours per full charge on an average use case scenario. If you’re taking calls, it should last you around 1.5 hours on LTE. The Apple Watch Series 6 is rated at 5 ATM for water resistance which means it can survive 50 meters underwater. That makes it perfect for swimming or surfing.
Apple Watch 6 Titanium vs Stainless Steel: Comparison Chart
Before we jump into the more detailed comparison, here’s how the Titanium and Stainless Steel variants compare on the spec sheet, side by side.
| Apple Watch 6 Titanium | Apple Watch 6 Stainless Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Layer | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| Case Finish | Matte | Glossy |
| Bottom Layer | Ceramic with Sapphire on the sensors | Ceramic with Sapphire on the sensors |
| Available Colors | Space Black, Silver | Graphite, Silver, Gold |
| Weight | 41.3 grams (44mm), 34.6 grams (40mm) | 47.1 grams (44mm), 39.7 grams (40mm) |
| Navigation | GPS/GNSS | GPS/GNSS |
| Cellular | 4G LTE + UMTS | 4G LTE + UMTS |
| Battery | 303.8 mAh | 303.8 mAh |
| Price | Starting at $699 | Starting at $799 |
Durability and Scratch Resistance
| Titanium | Stainless Steel | Aluminum | Ceramic | Sapphire | Glass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness on Moh’s Scale | 6 | 5 | 2-3 | 8-9 | 9 | 6 |
Note
The above table is a measurement of hardness on Moh’s scale of all the Materials that Apple is using for their Apple Watch Series 6.
If you’re getting the Apple Watch Series 6, you’re definitely going to use it on a daily basis. So, you’ll want to be aware of the regular wear and tear before you make a purchase decision. Otherwise, you might get unexpected results in the long term.
Both Titanium & Stainless Steel are actually way more durable compared to Aluminum. So, if you’re buying the premium models, you’re already in a good place. Now, if we compare the two, Titanium is more durable compared to Stainless Steel. So, if you’re getting the Stainless Steel option, you should be fine but, the Titanium will hold up better in the long run. However, you do not need to worry about severe damages if you drop any of them.
What you do need to worry about is scratches. Stainless Steel is extremely easy to scratch. You’ll start noticing these after you’ve used the product for a few months & once you see them, you can’t unsee them. So in this regard, Titanium will hold up for a longer period of time. The Sapphire top layer that you’ll get with both of these models, is way more scratch resistant and especially sand can’t scratch it. So, you do not need to worry about seeing random scratches on top of your display.
Finishes and Different Color Options
The Titanium and Stainless Steel variants have different finishes. The Titanium variant has a more matte finish while the Stainless Steel variant has a more glossy finish to it. This makes the Stainless Steel version, more appealing visually.
Note: The glossy finish is also a fingerprint magnet so, the sides will show a lot of fingerprints on the Stainless Steel variant. The Titanium Apple Watch Series 6 won’t have this issue.
- The Titanium variant of the Apple Watch Series 6 comes in two colors that are Space Black & Silver.
- The Stainless Steel variant comes in 3 color options including Graphite, Silver & Gold.
Thanks to the glossy finish, the colors on the Stainless Steel variants look better compared to the more muted matte texture on the Titanium builds. However, the Titanium will hold on to their colors better due to superior scratch resistance.
Weight Distribution and Comfort
| Case Size | Titanium | Stainless Steel | Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40mm | 34.6 grams | 39.7 grams | 30.5 grams |
| 44mm | 41.3 grams | 47.1 grams | 36.5 grams |
The Titanium variant of the watch Series 6 is lighter than the Stainless Steel variant and heavier than the baseline Aluminum variant. It weighs around 34.6 grams for the 40mm variant and around 41.3 grams for the 44mm variant. The Stainless Steel variant on the other hand weighs around 39.7 grams for the 40mm variant and around 47.1 grams for the 44mm variant. That makes the Stainless Steel variant exactly 5.1 grams and 5.8 grams heavier on the 40mm and the 44mm levels.
Now, as far as comfort goes, the sizes are exactly the same and you won’t be able to notice the minimal weight differences at all. So, no matter which variant you pick up, you’ll be getting the exact same level of comfort. What you do need to keep in mind though is what case size you want. If you have thinner hands, consider the 40mm case as the 44mm might be too big for you. If you have a thicker hand, the 44mm should be the one to get.
Apple Watch Series 6: Hermès and Nike – Special Editions
Coming to Apple’s special edition watches, we have the Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès and the Apple Watch Series 6 Nike. Now, the Nike edition is only available with the Aluminum cases but, thankfully you can buy the Nike bands separately so if you want to use them with your Titanium or Stainless Steel variants, you can just buy the Nike band of your choice and swap the band that your watch came with.
What you can’t get on the Titanium variant though, is the Hermès bands and watch faces. The Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès edition is only available with Stainless Steel cases. You can get it in two colors that are Silver and Space Black.
The Space Black color is exclusive with the Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès. All of the bands are made out of leather of course and some of them will only come with either 40mm or 44mm case sizes. Other bands will have both sizes available.
The Apple Watch Series 6 Nike edition won’t cost extra but, the Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès edition is significantly more expensive making its top of the line variant, the most expensive Series 6 you can buy.
Pricing and Value
I guess that brings us to the pricing part. The Titanium cases cost $100 more compared to the Stainless Steel cases. The starting price for the Titanium variant is $799 for the 40mm case and $849 for the 44mm case. If you get more premium band options you can push the price up to $1199 for the 40mm and $1249 for the 44mm cases.
The Stainless Steel variant starts at $699 for the 40mm case and $749 for the 44mm case. With the premium watch bands, the price can increase up to $1099 for the 40mm case and $1149 for the 44mm case. If you get the Hermès edition, the price starts at $1249 and goes all the way up to $1499. These are a little pricy but, if you want those Hermès exclusive leather bands and watch faces, you have to buy the Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès edition.
The Verdict
Finally, it’s time to conclude this once and for all. Let’s have a look at all the major takeaways from this comparison. For your convenience, I’ve listed them below:
- The Apple Watch 6 Titanium is more durable and less prone to scratches.
- The Apple Watch 6 Stainless Steel is durable enough but, gets scratches easily.
- The glossy look of the Stainless Steel variant is visually more appealing but, more prone to fingerprints.
- The Titanium variant has a matte finish which many may prefer and it’s also less prone to fingerprint.
- Only the Stainless Steel variant comes in Hermès edition which offers premium Hermès leather bands & exclusive watch faces.
The rest comes down to your personal preference. Do you like a Glossy case or do you prefer a more Matte finish? Do you want the Hermès edition or do you mind getting some visible scratches on the case after a few months of use? Do fingerprints annoy you or do you want a golden colored frame?
Once you decide on these questions you’ll have no issues deciding on the Titanium or Stainless Steel variants of the Apple Watch Series 6.
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