Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Series 6/5/4/3/SE: Side-by-Side Comparison & Verdict 2024

Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Series 6/5/4/3/SE

Side-by-Side Comparison

First, Apple Watch 3, 4, 5, 6, SE, and 7  have the following things in common:

Heart Rate Measurement

All Apple Watches measured the heart rate precisely in the COMPUTER BILD test, both in everyday life and during training.

Latest Software

Every year Apple brings a software update for their Apple Watch. The current watchOS 8 software is available on all models including the Apple Watch 3, which was introduced in 2017.

Smart Functions

 In addition to many iPhone apps, the Apple Watch has the App Store on board, so you can install third-party apps. Loudspeaker and microphone have enabled telephony and communication with Siri, the voice assistant, since the Series 3. Writing SMS and iMessages or replying to incoming messages also works from the wrist. The LTE variant ("Cellular") even goes into the network independently.

Battery Life

All Apple Watch models have a battery life of 18 hours as promised by the manufacturer. But there is one difference when it comes to charging, Apple Watch Series 7  is 33% faster charging than Series 6/5/4/3/SE. That means going from 0-80% in 45 instead of around 60 minutes for the other models.

So, what's the difference between Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Series 6/5/4/3/SE?

Case and Display

The Apple Watch has made two leaps in design: 2018 with the Apple Watch 4 and 2024 with the Apple Watch 7. Each Apple Watch model comes in two sizes, measured by the height of the case:

• 38 and 42 mm: Apple Watch 3 (2017)

• 40 and 44 mm: Apple Watch 4 (2018), Apple Watch 5 (2019), Apple Watch SE and 6 (2020)

• 41 and 45 mm: Apple Watch 7 (2024)

It is worth mentioning that the display of the new Apple Watch 7 is 20% bigger than Series 4-6/SE and 50% larger than the Series 3 display.

Processor and Storage

Apple is using the same 64-bit dual-core processor in the Series 7 that launched in the Series 6. It is calling the SiP the “S7” but the processor is the same.
If you’re coming from earlier Apple Watch models you almost certainly will notice a faster, more responsive watch. In addition, if you’re coming from a Series 3 or 4 to 7, is a jump in storage to 32GB.

Key Features

Both Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 have ECG app, Blood Oxygen app, High/low heart rate notifications, Water resistance to 50m, Sleep tracking, Fall detection and Emergency SOS functions. While Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 4 lack the Blood Oxygen app, Apple Watch Series SE lacks both the ECG app and the Blood Oxygen app. As for Apple Watch Series 3, it still lacks Fall detection.

Price

Apple Watch Series 7 comes in with a starting price of $399, the same as Series 6. Apple Watch SE from $279 remains in the lineup, with Series 3 holding on for another season at the entry price of $199.

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Apple Watch Series 3

(Price: $169.99 + up to 4% cashback at walmart.com)

The Apple Watch Series 3 is one of the best cheap smartwatches and best fitness trackers around. It may not be as exciting as the newest counterpart, but it offers some serious bang for its buck, with any of the ‘essential’ features covered for a lot less money. Yes, it’s slightly chunkier with a smaller screen (42mm or 38mm), but it still has the ‘digital crown’ for easy and unobscured navigation, the same capacity level of water resistance, and optical heart sensor. This means that it can be used for all the main exercise and health functions, but may not support the latest apps that make use of the Series 4’s electrical heart sensor, for example.

Apple Watch Series 4

(Refurbished price starting from $269 at apple.com)

The Apple Watch Series 4, which was introduced in 2018, provided an innovative innovation. With electrodes on the back of the case and in the crown, it records an electrocardiogram (EKG) and is thus able to detect atrial fibrillation - a sign of an approaching stroke. And thanks to the new S4 chip, which makes it twice as fast as its predecessor, while an inbuilt speaker is 50% louder, providing better audio quality for Siri and Walkie-Talkie functions. In addition, the new ‘Infograph’ watch face can accommodate up to ‘eight complications’, so you can see more and do more at a glance, including clicking on a photo of a friend to give them a call, or checking out some fitness stats.

Apple Watch Series 5

(Refurbished price starting from $269 at apple.com)

The Apple Watch Series 5 was another step of Apple's relentless pace at the head of the smartwatch pack. The model takes everything that made the Apple Watch Series 4 so good, sprinkles on a few extra features. The stand-out new feature is an always-on screen, which means you don't have to raise your wrist for the screen to show something: it will still show your watch face or workout at all times, just dimmed. Compare to Apple Watch Series 5, it is a small but notable upgrade.

Apple Watch SE

(Price starting from $279 + up to 0.5% cashback at bestbuy.com)

The Apple Watch SE  is not quite as powerful as the Apple Watch 6. For example, it lacks the always-on display. But the Apple Watch SE has GPS, water resistance to depths of 50 meters, sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, great fitness tracking abilities, a decent display, and a design that makes it look a lot more premium than its price tag suggests. It also has a speedy Apple S5 chipset.  For most people, it strikes just about the best possible balance between price and tech.

Apple Watch Series 6

(Price starting from $399 + up to 2% cashback at adorama.com)

 Compared to the Apple Watch SE, the Series 6 adds an always-on display, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, a faster processor, and the U1 chip. Instead of innovation, Apple Watch Series 6  focuses more on detailed improvements: The always-on display now shows the time permanently and is easier to read in direct sunlight. The fresh chip accelerates and reduces the charging time, the watch now needs 1.5 instead of 2.5 hours to fill up the battery. The height sensor works in real-time. The smartwatch now also records blood oxygen saturation.

Apple Watch Series 7

(Price starting from $399 + up to 4% cashback at abt.com)

The Apple Watch 7 is the best Apple Watch overall. It’s not a major upgrade over the Apple Watch 6 in terms of features. The biggest change to the Apple Watch Series 7 is its display. The screen area grows by almost 20 percent due to the larger housing (now with a height of 41/45 mm) and the shrunk screen edges. In addition, The seventh-generation Apple gets some exclusive watch faces and a full QWERTY keyboard, too.

Verdict

Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Series 6/5/4/3/SE: Which Should I Buy?

If you are new to the Apple Watch or only have basic needs, the Apple Watch Series 3 allows you to get a capable device for the lowest possible price.

 If you can afford to spend the additional $80, Apple Watch SE is a better choice which feels considerably more modern and developed, with a host of additional features.

The purchase of the Apple Watch 4 or 5 is hardly recommended anymore: the younger and better equipped Apple Watch 6 is usually available from retailers at similar prices.

Apart from the dust-proof housing, the even faster charging and a slightly larger display, the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 are almost the same. They both feature the latest in health sensor tech to take a measurement for an electrocardiogram or heart rate, along with the same S6 processor inside for powering all sorts of tasks. Due to the Apple Watch Series 6 often being available at discount, I think that’s a better purchase for most people.

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