Apple Watch Series 5 Edition vs. Series 6 Aluminum: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Series 6 Aluminum offers a significant upgrade in display brightness and features like blood oxygen monitoring, making it the better overall choice despite the Series 5's premium Edition materials. While the Series 5 Edition boasts a luxurious build, the Series 6's improvements justify its price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Edition Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminum |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA, LATAM, Canada |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2020, September 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, September 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, titanium frameGlass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, ceramic frame | Glass front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 47.8 g (1.69 oz) | 36.5 g (1.31 oz) |
| 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Ion-X strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.78 inches | 1.78 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| 3D Touch display Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S5 | Apple S6 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 6.0, upgradable to watchOS 10.6.1 | watchOS 7.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 32GB 1GB RAM |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 296 mAh (1.13 Wh), non-removable | Li-Ion 303.8 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium frame: Space Black, TitaniumCeramic frame: White | Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Blue, Red |
| Models | A2156, A2157, A2094, A2095 | A2293, A2294, A2375, A2376, A2291, A2292 |
| Price | About 850 EUR | About 420 EUR |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Edition Series 5
- Premium Edition materials (stainless steel/titanium/ceramic)
- Excellent build quality
- Reliable performance
- Higher price
- Less bright display compared to Series 6
- Lacks features like blood oxygen monitoring
Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminum
- Brighter display
- Blood oxygen monitoring
- Slightly faster performance
- More affordable
- Aluminum build feels less premium
- Battery life similar to Series 5
Display Comparison
The Series 6 Aluminum features a significantly brighter display (up to 20% brighter than the Series 5), making it easier to read outdoors. Both watches have excellent color accuracy and sharpness, but the Series 6's improved visibility is a noticeable advantage. The Series 5 Edition's display is still good, but struggles more in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This remains consistent across both models.
Performance
Both watches are powered by dual-core processors, but the Apple S6 in the Series 6 offers a slight performance boost. Apps launch a bit faster, and animations feel smoother. However, for everyday tasks, the difference is minimal. Both watches handle notifications and fitness tracking flawlessly.
Battery Life
Battery life is roughly comparable between the two, offering around 18 hours of typical use. Fast charging is available on both, but the Series 6 charges slightly faster.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Series 5 Edition is ideal for those prioritizing a premium, luxurious design and don't mind missing out on the latest features. The Series 6 Aluminum is perfect for most users seeking a feature-rich, reliable smartwatch with a brighter display and improved health tracking capabilities at a more accessible price point.