Apple Watch Series 6 or Series 7: what’s the difference?

Launched in 2021, Apple Watch Series 7 has a bigger screen and faster recharge; Apple watches have pulse oximeter and ECG.

The  Apple Watch Series 7  was revealed at the end of 2021. Like previous models, the watch has several health features, such as a pulse oximeter and electrocardiogram (ECG), and is integrated into the Apple ecosystem . But what changes between the model and the  Apple Watch Series 6 ? Discover the differences below.

• Apple Watch 6 or 5; what’s the difference?
• Review Apple Watch Series 6: the same, but better looking

Apple Watch Series 6 or Series 7: what’s the difference? (Image: Vitor Pádua/Tecnoblog)

INDEX

• What changes between the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7?
  • 41 mm or 45 mm?
  • New color options
  • Battery for 18 hours of use and faster recharge
• What doesn’t change between the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7?
  • Still with 32 GB storage
  • Oximeter? Gift. ECG? Gift.
  • Model with mobile networks or GPS only
• After all, which Apple Watch to buy?

What changes between the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7?

41 mm or 45 mm?

Apple has maintained almost the same Apple Watch look since the launch of the first generation. This means that the latest models have a rectangular case with a digital crown and a button on the side. But the clock grew from 2020 to 2021.

The  Apple Watch Series 7  offers two size options. When buying it, consumers can opt for  models with 41 mm or 45 mm . According to Apple, this increase guaranteed a larger screen for the smartwatch launched in 2021 . And, in fact, I felt that the dashboard became more immersive as soon as I took my unit out of the box.

The  Apple Watch Series 6 , on the other hand, has  40mm and 44mm options , with barely visible edges around the screen. Even so, the 2020 watch offers the same always-on, 1,000-nit brightness LTPO-type OLED panel as the 2021 edition.

The duo still has the back protected by ceramic and sapphire crystal. The screen glass is Ion-X in the aluminum model or sapphire crystal in the stainless steel and titanium editions.

Apple Watch Series 6 has a large screen, but still with some edges (Image: Paulo Higa/Tecnoblog)

New color options

The Apple Watch has gotten more colorful in recent years. And, as you’d expect, the  aluminum-bodied models  of the Series 6 and Series 7 followed suit:

• Apple Watch Series 6:Blue, Gold, Space Grey, Silver and Red;
• Apple Watch Series 7:Blue, Stellar (White Medium Silver), Midnight (Black), Green, and Red.

The two models still have options with other materials. But the colors are the same in both generations:

• stainless steel:gold, graphite and silver;
• titanium:space black and titanium.

The two watches still have interchangeable bracelets, which can be purchased separately. In addition, the Apple Watch Series 7 has dust resistance (IP6X certification) .

Apple Watch Series 7 has smaller bezels to increase the use of the screen (Image: Disclosure / Apple)

Battery for 18 hours of use and faster recharge

The two generations do not present differences regarding the battery. According to Apple, the duo can spend up to 18 hours away from sockets. But the duration, of course, depends on the use.

In the  Apple Watch Series 6 review , our editor Paulo Higa managed to exceed the promise on days when he did not practice any physical activity. The smartwatch was also able to keep up with a run and still have charge left for later use. But don’t get too excited, because the wearable doesn’t work miracles.

The same thing happens with my  Apple Watch Series 7 : I can rarely leave it away from the socket for more than a day. In general, I need to put it on the charger at least once a day. Especially since I like to leave the watch on my wrist at bedtime to monitor sleep – and it uses up a good charge.

But the new generation of the watch has an advantage: Apple has implemented a  faster recharge . And, in fact, the promise came true, as I manage to recover a good part of the battery during a 10-minute shower, for example.

For those who came from an Apple Watch Series 3 , the difference in charging is stark.

Apple Watch Series 6 has a battery that lasts 18 hours, says Apple (Image: Paulo Higa/Tecnoblog)

What doesn’t change between the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7?

Still with 32 GB storage

Apple has kept the  32GB storage  in the current generation. Of course, the more space the better. But this amount is enough for you to download your apps and save some playlists to listen to at the gym, for example.

The Apple Watch Series 6 comes with the S6 SiP processor while the Series 7 comes with the S7 SiP, both with dual 64-bit cores. However, the duo offers remarkable performance for the use of native applications and resources . Furthermore, both models already have  watchOS 8 available  and  will be updated to watchOS 9 .

The technical sheets add other features in common, such as  water resistance (50 meters) . The duo also has a built-in microphone and speaker. In addition, both models have  Apple Pay, for payments via NFC , but they are sold without the plug adapter in the box, just like the iPhones .

Apple Watch Series 7 (pictured) and Series 6 have 32 GB of space (Image: Reproduction / Apple)

Oximeter? Gift. ECG? Gift.

The Apple Watch offers a very extensive list of health features. Starting with the  exercises , as the watches can track physical activities such as running, cycling, pilates, among others, and are also integrated with Apple Fitness+. All these events are also monitored along with the  heart rate sensor .

But this is just the beginning. Both the Series 6 and Series 7 have  a built-in pulse oximeter and electrocardiogram (ECG)  app  . Watches still monitor sleep, track the amount of steps throughout the day, count calories consumed and much more.

And if you want other functions, the App Store even offers third-party apps for watchOS.

Apple Watch accompanies several exercises (Image: Paulo Higa/Tecnoblog)

Model with mobile networks or GPS only

In addition to aluminum, stainless steel and titanium bodies, Apple separates watches by connectivity. This means you can buy both an Apple Watch  with GPS only  and a watch  with GPS and mobile networks (3G and 4G) . This change, as expected, impacts directly (and a lot) on the price.

The duo still supports Wi-Fi networks, regardless of whether you have mobile data or not. Another point in common is the presence of Bluetooth 5.0 to connect directly to the iPhone. Finally, there is the presence of NFC and Ultra Wideband (UWB) .

Apple Watch Series 7 has options with and without mobile networks (Image: Disclosure / Apple)

After all, which Apple Watch to buy?

The two generations are very similar. I even confess that, when I went to buy my watch in early 2022, I considered buying the Series 6 because it was similar and cheaper. Even so, the two models are not the same (and they are quite expensive).

The  Series 6  has many merits. In addition to being the first in the line with a pulse oximeter, the watch offers good performance for everyday tasks. The watch, which  arrived in Brazil with suggested prices starting at R$5,299  and is no longer for sale at the official Apple store, can also be found at more affordable retail prices.

The  Apple Watch Series 7  is newer and has many similarities with the previous generation. On the other hand, the watch has some features that help in everyday life, such as the larger screen and faster charging. The price, however, is not very pleasant: on the Apple Brazil website, prices start at R$ 5,022.

The watch, it is worth remembering, arrived in Brazil in 2021 with suggested prices starting at R$ 5,299. It is also possible to find it with less expensive values ​​in Brazilian commerce.

But then, which one to buy?

Well, if you have an Apple Watch Series 6 , you better wait for the next generation to update your watch.

But if you’re looking to buy your first Apple Watch or have an older model like the Series 3 , the Apple Watch Series 7 might be your best bet.