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Ahead of the August 11 release date, we’re comparing the Galaxy Watch 6 vs 5. Is it really worth the upgrade or should you just get a discounted Watch 5?
The Samsung ecosystem is growing. The Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic were announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on July 25th. Since then, the thrust of the excitement has been reserved for the return of the rating bezel on the 6 Classic.
There’s no doubt about it that the Galaxy Watch 6 has hit the ground running with impressive new features. But is it really worth investing up to $500 (for the Watch 6 Classic) when its predecessor is still good for the average person? The Watch 5 has been discounted up to 24% off via Samsung, so we’re here to scrutinise what the Watch 6 actually offers.
All in one place, we’ll compare the features, specs and prices. We’ll also breakdown the pre-order bonus details which are well worth knowing if you think you want to upgrade.
Let’s go!
Galaxy Watch 6 vs 5 specs explained
For the nerds, the curious and the curious nerds, here’s a total breakdown of the new Galaxy Watch 6 specs, and how they shape up against the Galaxy Watch 5.
The main areas to take note of are the 6’s improvements in RAM and SoC. In layman’s terms, the higher your RAM, the faster the clock will run. You’ll also find the display on the 6 is brighter and crisper than before, though Samsung has stuck with its signature AMOLED display. Longer battery life isn’t a guarantee for the 6, but more on that below.
Both the Watch 5 and 6 feature the same 5ATM and IP68 durability ratings. Both are waterproof up to 164 feet for 10 minutes, and can handle dust, dirt and sand. Both also have the MIL-STD-810H standard (the what?!) All it means is that both generations can handle extreme temperatures and other environmental stressors. It’s good to know your Galaxy Watch 5 or 6 can survive extreme weather events. Anyway…on with the specs.
| Galaxy Watch 6 44mm | Galaxy Watch 6 40mm | Galaxy Watch 5 44mm | Galaxy Watch 5 40mm | |
| Display | 1.3-inch, Super AMOLED 432 x 432 resolution | 1.5-inch, Super AMOLED 480 x 480 resolution | 1.4-inch Super AMOLED 450 x 450 resolution Sapphire Crystal | 1.2-inch Super AMOLED 396 x 396 resolution Sapphire Crystal |
| Bezel | No physical rotating Bezel! | No physical rotating Bezel! | No physical rotating Bezel! | No physical rotating Bezel! |
| Battery | 425mAh | 300mAh | 410mAh | 284mAh |
| Connection | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS | LTE (available in select models) Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | LTE (available in select models) Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Dimensions (mm) | 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 | 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 | 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 | 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8 |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU, Galileo | GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo | GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo |
| Weight (g) | 33.3 | 28.7 | 33.5 | 28.7 |
| Water-resistant | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Processor | Exynos W930 Dual-Core 1.4GHz | Exynos W930 Dual-Core 1.4GHz | 5nm Samsung Exynos W920 Dual-core 1.18GHz | 5nm Samsung Exynos W920 Dual-core 1.18GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Galaxy Watch 6 vs 5 – battery life
If you’re considering whether to upgrade to the Watch 6, pay attention to the battery life. Though a higher mAh is a good sign that the battery life will be better, it does not actually determine how long the battery will last.
The Watch 6 may have a bigger battery life than the Watch 5, but suffers from a significantly shorter lifespan. You can get 40 hours on a charge (30 hours always on), compared to the longer 50 hours for Watch 5. Obviously, the battery life is dependent on how much you plan to use your Galaxy Watch.
With the addition of apps like Gmail to the Galaxy Watch, there are a lot more ways to use your Smart Watch which makes battery life a slight tradeoff. If you’re planning on taking full advantage of the features, make sure you adjust your expectations for the battery life. The larger AMOLED screen might also be forcing the battery life to take a hit…
Galaxy Watch 6 vs 5 – key features compared
Here are the most exciting new features on the Watch 6 which improve upon the Watch 5.
- Irregular heart rate notifications: New sensors monitor signs of atrial fibrillation which could be lifesaving.
- Option for custom workouts.
- Smart Things Find: Like Find My iPhone but for Samsung.
- Sleep Mode: Dims the display and uses infrared sensors to measure your heart rate.
In reality, most of the updates for the Watch 6 are software related, and available to the Watch 5 in an upcoming update. Nevertheless, the Watch 6 is the first generation to launch using Google’s Wear OS 4 platform and Samsung’s One UI 5 Watch. This is expected to improve battery life, cloud backups and personalisation features. Samsung has also made improvements in emergency SOS calling.
Galaxy Watch 6 vs 5 price – is it worth the money?
Here’s how much the Galaxy Watch 6 compares to the 5 in terms of price. We included the 6 Classic and 5 Pro for reference too.
| Watch 6 40mm | Watch 6 44mm | Watch 6 Classic 43mm | Watch 6 Classic 47mm | Watch 5 40mm | Watch 5 44mm | Watch 5 Pro 44mm | |
| Price | $299.99 | 329.99 | $399.99 | $429.99 | $229.99 | $249.99 | $449.99 |
Between now and the Watch 6 release date, you could trade in your old Smartwatch which could help knock off the price. If you have an older model like the Watch 3, you could get well over $100 for upgrading which would probably be worth it. The Tradein scheme offers up to $250 off, or a minimum credit of $50.
Galaxy Watch 6 pre order bonus details
Until the launch on August 11th, you have the chance to make your upgrade better value with a pre order bonus.
- Limited time offer for a second Fabric Band for free.
- 25% off the Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Galaxy Watch 5 deals
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE 40mm Bluetooth AI Smartwatch
Final word
The Watch 6 makes some decent improvements over the Watch 5, though we highly recommend taking advantage of a pre order bonus if you want to upgrade. Given the Watch 5 actually lasts longer than its successor, our excitement for the new Watch 6 is ever so slightly muted. That being said, if you’re going all out with other Samsung upgrades (did someone say Z Flip 5), then the Watch 6 would complete the package and help get access to the full potential of the Watch 6.
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