Apple Watch is undoubtedly the most popular name in the entire smartwatch industry (55.5% market share.) Apple, the Cupertino giant, releases a new flagship smartwatch with all the new features and hardware improvements, every year. Last year it released the Apple Watch 5 and this year, it has launched the Apple Watch SE alongwith the Apple Watch Series 6.
Apple Watch SE has the exact same design as the Series 6, the brains of the Series 5, most of the health monitoring features, the new WatchOS 7, and a bunch of other improvements, making it compelling for a large number of users.
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Doesn’t it seem like both of these smartwatches are really good and choosing the right one for yourself is a bit too confusing? Well, that’s exactly why I’m here to help you choose the perfect smartwatch that’ll blend into your life, just right.
With features like Blood Oxygen Monitor, an improved Always-on Display, better Outdoor Visibility, improved Battery Life, and a lot more, the Apple Watch Series 6 is grabbing some serious attention.
For the first time in Apple Watch’s history, we have another brand new smartwatch series which has a bunch of the similar features as the Series 6 but is significantly cheap. Yes, I’m talking about the Apple Watch SE and it shares a lot with its more expensive sibling.
If you get this wrong, you might end up with extra money spent on things you don’t really need or missing out on the features that you actually require. So, do you want to know which one of these both the Apple Watches is gonna be the best fit for your needs? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to compare them on every single aspect and I’m sure you’ll find the ones you’re looking for.
In this comparison, I’ll be evaluating all of the things that register as important, including all the health tracking features, raw hardware differences, available sensors, the displays, the limitations, and a lot more. As I compare both the watches in-depth, you’ll get to know the differences between them and be able to find the device that fulfills your watch needs.
Though these devices are made by the same company but belong to different price points, there are some significant differences. The availability for some new-gen sensors or the difference between the choice of materials etc. is slightly different in both watches. For instance,
You can get the Apple Watch Series 6 with Aluminum, Stainless Steel & Titanium frames but, the Watch SE only comes with an Aluminium Frame. Being a value-oriented device, the Watch SE does not come with the more premium frame options & also misses on the latest features like Blood Oxygen Monitoring or the ability to take an ECG.
Someone who wants to use every possible health monitoring option available or maybe requires a more premium frame will definitely benefit from the Watch Series 6. However, if the regular health monitoring features are enough then, it might be a better idea to go with the Watch SE & save the extra money.
Things aren’t really that simple and in case you’re in for a deeper dive, I have done a super detailed comparison breaking down everything, step by step.
Contents
- Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch 6: Comparison Chart
- Design & Build
- Display
- Activity & Fitness Tracking
- OS and Interface
- Hardware & Performance
- Battery Life
- Connectivity Options
- Extra Features
- Warranty
- Apple Watch SE: Pros and Cons
- Apple Watch Series 6: Pros and Cons
- Value & Price
- Which One Should You Buy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Verdict
Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch 6: Comparison Chart
When things look so similar on, it can be really confusing to pick one smartwatch over another. You need to decide whether you need the newer chip, the extra sensors, the more premium casing options, the spatial awareness features & other little things that may or may not be crucial to your needs.
I’ll be discussing every possible side of these products, in precise detail. But, in case you have some technical knowledge and you need all the specifications & features, side by side for a quick comparison, I’ve prepared a table for the same.
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Companion App | Apple Watch | Apple Watch |
| Compatibility | iOS | iOS |
| Interchangeable Strap | Yes | Yes |
| Voice command | Siri | Siri |
| Find My Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Box Contents | Watch, Magnetic Charging Cable, Strap, Documentation | Watch, Magnetic Charging Cable, Strap, Documentation |
| Starting Price | $279 (GPS), $329 (GPS+Cellular) | $399 (GPS), $499 (GPS+Cellular) |
| Type | Fitness | Fitness |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Shape | Rectangular Frame with Rounded Corners | Rectangular Frame with Rounded Corners |
| Case Material | Aluminum | Aluminum, Stainless Steel & Titanium variants |
| Strap Material | Silicone, Nylon, Fiber, Leather & Metal options | Silicone, Nylon, Fiber, Leather & Metal options |
| Bezel Material | No Bezel | No Bezel |
| Strap Size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Screen Protection | ion-X Glass | ion-X Glass, Sapphire |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM (up to 50 meters) | 5 ATM (up to 50 meters) |
| Display Size | 1.78 inch (44mm), 1.57 inch (40mm) | 1.78 inch (44mm), 1.57 inch (40mm) |
| Display Type | LTPO OLED, 1000 nits | LTPO OLED, 1000 nits |
| Resolution | 448 x 368 px (44mm) , 394 x 324 px (40mm) | 448 x 368 px (44mm) , 394 x 324 px (40mm) |
| Always On Display | No | Yes |
| Custom Watch Face | Yes | Yes |
| SOC | Apple S5 (Dual-core) | Apple S6 (Dual-core) |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | No | Yes |
| Hand Wash Detection | No | Yes |
| Thermometer | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | No |
| Calories Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Distance Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes | No |
| Steps Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Swim Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual Cycle | Yes | Yes |
| Sport Modes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery Capacity | N/A | N/A |
| Battery Life | Around 18 Hours of Daily Use | Around 18 Hours of Daily Use |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v5.0 | Yes, v5.0 |
| Bluetooth Calling | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n |
| SMS Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls Alert | Yes | Yes |
| SIM Type | e-Sim (on Cellular model) | e-Sim (on Cellular model) |
| OS | WatchOS 7 | WatchOS 7 |
Design & Build
Starting off with the design, this is where most of the confusing stuff happens. Apple has designed the cheaper Apple Watch SE very similarly to the more expensive Watch Series 6. For most of the part, that’s actually true but, there are a few differences that set both these watches apart. Even if they have a similar design language, you can definitely tell them apart, just by looking at them.
What you need to know right away is that both of these smartwatches are available in 40mm & 44mm case sizes and they have the exact same height, width & depth for both of the case sizes.
As mentioned earlier, both smartwatches have an Aluminum casing for the base model but you can get the more premium Stainless Steel & Titanium options with the Watch Series 6.
The shape is actually similar to a rectangular casing & rounded corners while Series 6 does get new unibody color options like Blue & Product Red.
Apple lets you customize both of these smartwatches with a huge variety of straps. So, no matter which one you choose, you will be able to choose Apple’s wide range of bands including their silicone, fiber, nylon, metal & leather straps. Do note that pairing your watch with a better strap will also increase the price significantly.
You can also differentiate between the Cellular & Non-cellular options by looking at the red ring on the dial. That goes for both models as well.
The situation for available protection is different though. Both of the models do get Ion-X glass on the top for the Aluminum variants. However, the Series 6 does get a Sapphire top if you go with the more premium Stainless Steel or Titanium casings. The Watch SE doesn’t have the more premium case options, so you won’t be able to get a Sapphire top on that one.
Both of the watches are rated at 5 ATM for water resistance. That means they can handle up to 50 meters underwater which makes them perfect for swimming. Although, it does mean that if you are looking for a watch for skin diving under oceans, these aren’t capable of handling that kind of pressure & they will break down in a situation like that.
Display
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 1.78 inch (44mm), 1.57 inch (40mm) | 1.78 inch (44mm), 1.57 inch (40mm) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1000 nits | LTPO OLED, 1000 nits |
| Resolution | 448 x 368 px (44mm) , 394 x 324 px (40mm) | 448 x 368 px (44mm) , 394 x 324 px (40mm) |
| Always On | No | Yes |
| Custom Watch Face | Yes | Yes |
Apple claims that they have used the exact same display in both the Watch SE & the Watch Series 6. The 44mm variant comes with a 1.78-inch display with a resolution of 448×368 pixels. The 40mm variant comes with a smaller 1.57-inch display with a resolution of 394 x 324 pixels.
The LTPO OLED display on the Apple Watch Series 6 & the Apple Watch SE is rated at 1000 nits. That means outdoor visibility should be great on both watches.
The OLED display means that the self-lit pixels have allowed Apple to achieve better battery life, punchier colors & perfect blacks. The perfect black levels should also make dark watch faces pop.
Coming to the Always-on Display functionality, this can be one deciding factor for you. The Watch Series 6 & Series 5 are actually the only Apple Watch models to feature an always-on display right now. The Watch SE, regardless of having the same display as it’s expensive big brother, does not have the always-on display.
Apple has included a ton of custom watch face options with the new WatchOS 7. You can create custom watch faces to track your activities & have them visible to you at a glance. So, if you want to create a custom watch face to track your running, trekking, or swimming stats, you can do that. You can also get a custom watch face with your own emoji. They also lets you share these watch faces as well. All these features are available to both the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Watch SE.
So, it’s pretty clear that both of these smartwatches have excellent displays with all the perks you need. However, if you need the Always-on Display, you do need the Series 6. Otherwise, the display on the Watch SE is just as good.
Activity & Fitness Tracking
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| ECG | No | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Monitor | No | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Swim Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Distance Tracking (Running) | Yes | Yes |
| Step Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
The Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 6 does activity and fitness tracking very similarly. They have almost the exact same sensors with some advanced ones only being available in the Series 6. So, if you get the Apple Watch SE, you will miss out on a couple of health-monitoring features but, the rest of the experience should be almost identical to the Series 6.
Both of the smartwatches can monitor all of the basic health pointers like Heart Rate, Sleep, Blood Pressure, Stress, etc. They can also monitor your activity stats like running, swimming, biking, trekking, and a lot more. However, you need to keep in mind that the new Blood Oxygen Monitoring feature is only available in the Apple Watch Series 6. The cheaper Watch SE does miss out on that feature and it also doesn’t have the ECG sensor that was first introduced with Series 5.
However, Apple clearly mentions that the new Blood Oxygen Monitoring feature isn’t a replacement for medical equipment. So, you want to use this feature, you have to treat this as more of an easily accessible tool, rather than something to get a super accurate blood oxygen reading from.
What you can clearly determine with this feature is that, if your blood oxygen level is dropping rapidly or is it stable. It can be handy when you go hiking or just high altitude areas where having a medical pulse oximeter may not make much sense. But, for the most accurate reading, you still need the pulse oximeter that can be clipped on your finger.
Both of them are going to be excellent choices for everyone looking to buy a new smartwatch. The best thing is, both the Watch SE & the Watch Series 6 does everything most people would want from their smartwatch. But, for people active in sports, people who do daily workouts & the elderly people may benefit from the more advanced monitoring features of the Apple Watch Series 6.
OS and Interface
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | WatchOS 7 | WatchOS 7 |
| Voice Control | Siri | Siri |
| Companion App | Apple Watch | Apple Watch |
Apple is shipping its latest WatchOS 7 with both of these smartwatches. So, no matter if you pick the Apple Watch SE or the Apple Watch Series 6, you’re gonna get WatchOS 7 up & running, right out of the box.
Most of the features introduced in the new WatchOS do work on both of the devices but, some features are exclusive to the Apple Watch Series 6 because they are companion functionalities to the new sensors available in that model. I am mostly gonna talk about the WatchOS 7 features but, in case something isn’t available on the cheaper Watch SE, I’ll mention that.
Let’s start with customization. Apple lets you customize your watch face with any combination of stats you want. You have your time, heart rate, altitude & blood oxygen level (blood oxygen monitoring not available in Watch SE), right on your display, all the time, or switch between custom watch faces as during different hours of the day.
Apple also has watch faces with their customized Animojis of your face (also known as Memoji) that you can create on your iPhone. So, that can be pretty cool as well.
Voice control is an integral part of the Apple Watch & these two watches will excel at that. You can activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” and ask her to make a phone call, send a text message, show directions to the nearest coffee shop, take a quick ECG (ECG is not available on the Watch SE), or play a song on Spotify if you must.
The App Store has a lot of apps for the Apple watch, so you should get every app that you need in your Apple Watch, right on the store. Do remember, because the ECG & Blood Oxygen sensors aren’t present in the Watch SE, you do not get their apps on the Watch SE. Otherwise, the app selection is same in both watches.
Hardware & Performance
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| SOC | Apple S5 | Apple S6 |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| Internal Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
The internal hardware is different though. The Watch SE is running last-gen hardware while the Series 6 has the latest & greatest from Apple. While you mostly won’t notice a huge difference in day-to-day performance but, the new hardware is definitely going to be better.
The Watch SE is powered by the Apple S5 chip. This is the same chip that powered the much expensive Series 5 from last year. Alongside the S5, Apple has also included the W1 chip that allows you to connect all the latest wireless accessories from Apple. The Watch SE comes with 32 gigabytes of Internal Storage which should be plenty for having all the health & music apps you need.
The Watch Series 6 comes with the latest gen Apple S6 chip. The S6 should have better raw performance & battery life compared to the S5. Also, alongside the W1 chip for wireless accessories, Apple has also included their new U1 chip for spatial awareness. The storage is also the same at 32GB for the Watch Series 6 so you can store enough apps & music if you want.
Both of these watches come with a built-in speaker & microphone. Apple says that the speaker on the Watch Series 6 is 50% louder than the Series 5. However, I do not have any idea how good the speaker on the Watch SE is. The microphones in both of the models should be pretty responsive as well, so you can make quick calls in case you are getting the Cellular models.
Battery Life
Your smartwatch can’t give you a great experience if it has bad battery life. However, Apple has managed to have good battery life out of the Watch SE and the Watch Series 6. However, because the S6 chip in the Watch Series 6 has better battery efficiency, it should last you longer than the watch SE.
The Apple Watch SE & the Apple Watch Series 6, both are rated for up to 18 hours of daily usage on average & up to 14 hours if you’re using Family Setup. If you’re doing outdoor workouts, you can get around 5 hours with LTE (on the cellular model) or if you’re only using the GPS, you can get an extra hour out of it.
With the Watch Series 6, you’ll get 1 hour more than the Watch SE in specific tasks like indoor & outdoor activities and audio playback. As mentioned earlier, this is because of the battery efficiency improvements on the S6 chip.
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Rated | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| With Family Setup | Up to 14 hours | Up to 14 hours |
| Talktime (LTE) | Up to 1.5 hours | Up to 1.5 hours |
| Audio Playback | Up to 10 hours (Local) or 7 hours (Streaming) | Up to 11 hours (Local) or 8 hours (Streaming) |
| Indoor Workout | Up to 10 hours | Up to 11 hours |
| Outdoor Workout | Up to 6 hours (GPS) or 5 Hours (GPS+LTE) | Up to 7 hours (GPS) or 6 Hours (GPS+LTE) |
So, no matter which one of these smartwatches you choose, you’re gonna get pretty good battery life. However, if you have to have that hour extra juice, you’re better off with the Watch Series 6. Otherwise, the Watch SE is gonna do just fine.
Connectivity Options
| Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | GPS/GNSS | GPS/GNSS |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | Available, v5.0 | Available, v5.0 |
| Cellular | LTE & UMTS (on Cellular model) | LTE & UMTS (on Cellular model) |
The Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 6, both have the exact same connectivity options. This includes GPS/GNSS for navigation, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5) & Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. Now, if you pick up a Cellular model by paying the extra cash, you can have 4G LTE & UMTS connectivity options as well.
So, no matter which of these Apple Watches you’re going for, you’ll have more than enough connectivity options at your disposal. However, if you can, please invest a little more in the cellular variants to get the most out of the Apple Watch SE & the Apple Watch Series 6.
Extra Features
Apple Watch SE
- Fall Detection: Although the Apple Watch SE is quite affordable, it has Fall Detection which we can’t find in many other smartwatches with a higher price point. That means if you have elderly people in your family, the watch will detect if they collapse & send you an SOS right away.
- Advanced Health & Activity Tracking: Tracking your activity is something every smartwatch does but, the watch SE will track everything from your altitude, covered distance & even if your heart rate is going up during those activities or not. That’s also mighty impressive at this budget.
Apple Watch Series 6
- ECG: If you want to keep your heart in check from time to time, taking an ECG can come in handy. The Watch Series 6 has an ECG sensor to help you take quick ECGs. If there is a serious heart issue manifesting, this feature can save you from disasters by alerting you in advance.
- Blood Oxygen Monitoring: The recently introduced Blood Oxygen Monitoring feature on the Series 6 is something you can use when you are hiking. If there is a significant drop in your blood oxygen level, it can alert you and you or someone else can take action right away.
Warranty
Talking about the warranty, Apple provides a 1-year limited warranty for both the Watch Series 6 and the Watch SE. In fact, this is an international warranty which can be great if you travel to other countries a lot for work or in case you go on vacation once or twice a year. In any circumstance where your watch might need repair, you should be able to use your warranty rather than paying for it.
Apple Watch SE: Pros and Cons
- Most health monitoring features are included
- Highly customizable with custom watch faces & straps
- Affordable pricing
- Fall detection & SOS alert
- No always-on display
- No ECG or Blood Oxygen Monitoring
- No U1 chip for spatial awareness
Apple Watch Series 6: Pros and Cons
- Always-on display
- ECG & Blood Oxygen Monitoring
- Faster & more energy-efficient Apple S6 chip
- Premium Stainless Steel & Titanium case options
- More color variants to choose from
- The cost is significantly higher
- Battery life during LTE calls isn’t the best
Value & Price
The Apple Watch SE & Apple Watch Series 6 both are great value for their respective price points. The Watch SE is definitely targeted towards a more budget-friendly segment while the Apple Watch Series 6 is paying in the premium smartwatch league.
The Apple Watch SE starts at $279 for the 40mm & $309 for the 44mm model. The cellular models will cost you $329 (40mm) & $359 (44mm) respectively. So, to upgrade to cellular connectivity, you’ll need to pay $50 extra. Now you can customize your watch with a more premium band but, of course, that can increase the price up to $709.
The Apple Watch Series 6 also has a 40mm & a 44mm variant & they start at $399 & $429 respectively with the Aluminum casing. In case you want to use cellular connectivity, you’ll need to pay $499 (40mm) & $529 (44mm) respectively. That means you get a $100 bump in price for cellular connectivity on the Series 6.
The Titanium & Stainless Steel variants of the Series 6 cost $699 (40mm) & $749 (44mm) and they only come with a GPS+Cellular configuration. And of course, in case you are pairing these watches with more premium strap options, the rice can increase significantly and go all the way up to $1299.
Which One Should You Buy?
Apple has clearly targeted the Apple Watch SE & the Apple Watch Series 6 towards a very different set of customers. Some people might find these watches to have a very drastic difference in how they fit with their particular needs. So, who should buy which one? Well, let’s have a look at that below:
- People looking to save some money while not compromising too much on the health features can get the Apple Watch SE.
- People who want the top of the line specs, premium materials & just the best of the best, should get the Apple Watch Series 6.
- Parents who are buying a smartwatch to monitor kids, should save the money & get the Watch SE (Cellular).
- For elderly people both watches will do a great job but, the ECG feature on the Watch Series 6 can be highly beneficial.
For the most part, it is fine if you want to get the cheaper Apple Watch SE. It’ll do most of what the Series 6 does for a lot less money. But, if you can benefit from the exclusive features of the Apple Watch Series 6, consider investing in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly pretty accurate but, none of these are medical tools so, you shouldn’t treat them like one either. Some stats may show slightly inaccurate values sometimes. But, if you get a critical health alert, you should get yourself checked immediately.
It does work pretty well. However, because it’s shining a light inside your wrist & trying to get the Blood Oxygen Level from the light that has reflected back to the sensor, the shown value can be slightly lower than what it actually is. If you want a better reading place the sensor on top of your finger instead.
The Apple Watch SE has almost all the exact same features & sensors as the Series 6. The features you don’t get are ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring & an Always-on Display. If you can live without these, you will be fine with the Apple Watch SE.
Apple generally has great software support with the WatchOS 7, being available to all the Apple Watch Models from Series 3 to Series 6. So, if you get an Apple Watch Series 6 & now, you should get software support & the latest WatchOS versions for several upcoming years.
The Verdict
Let’s look at the main takeaways from this comparison between the Apple Watch SE & the Apple Watch Series 6 as I conclude & give you my final verdict. I’ve listed everything below in points, so it is easier for you to understand.
- General consumers who just want a good smartwatch can go with any of these watches according to their budget.
- Health-conscious people will find the extra features on Watch Series 6 to be more useful.
- If you want Apple’s spatial awareness features, the Watch SE doesn’t have those but, the Series 6 does.
- If you’re getting your first Apple Watch, maybe go with the Watch SE.
- Athletes should go with Series 6 as it has those advanced health monitoring features with custom watch faces, to keep all the data at their disposal.
Now, you have to decide what exactly do you prefer the most & how much are you willing to spend on your new smartwatch.
If you can pay the premium then the Apple Watch Series 6 is definitely a better smartwatch than the Apple Watch SE. But, if you need something low key and you don’t really care about the more premium features, get the Watch SE instead.
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