Apple Watch Series 3 vs Series 6: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 6 is the clear winner, offering a significantly faster processor, brighter display, advanced health features like blood oxygen monitoring, and a more modern design. However, the Series 3 remains a functional smartwatch for basic notifications and fitness tracking, especially for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Series 3 Aluminum | Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminum |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 / 800 - Europe, Australia (A1891) | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA, LATAM, Canada |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia (A1891) | 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, 3, 39, 40, 41 - China (A1892) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, September. Released 2017, September | 2020, September 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, September 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame | Glass front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 42.5 x 36.4 x 11.4 mm (1.67 x 1.43 x 0.45 in) | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 34.9 g (1.23 oz) | 36.5 g (1.31 oz) |
| 50m water resistant | 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-X strengthened glass | Ion-X strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 390 x 312 pixels (~303 ppi density) | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.65 inches | 1.78 inches |
| Type | Retina OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| 3D Touch display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S3 | Apple S6 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 4.0, upgradable to watchOS 8.7 | watchOS 7.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 8GB 768MB RAM, 16GB 768MB RAM | 32GB 1GB RAM |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | 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 | 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-Ion 341 mAh (1.34 Wh), non-removable | Li-Ion 303.8 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Gold, Space Gray | Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Blue, Red |
| Models | A1860, A1861, A1889, A1891, A1890, A1892, A1858, A1859 | A2293, A2294, A2375, A2376, A2291, A2292 |
| Price | About 480 EUR | About 420 EUR |
| SAR | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.34 W/kg (body) | - |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Series 3 Aluminum
- Affordable
- Functional fitness tracking
- Basic smartwatch features
- Wireless charging
- Outdated processor
- Dim display
- Limited features compared to newer models
- Slower performance
Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminum
- Faster performance (S6 chip)
- Brighter Always-On display
- Advanced health features (blood oxygen)
- Modern design
- Improved battery efficiency
- Higher price
- Still requires daily charging
Display Comparison
The Series 6 boasts a significantly brighter display (up to 2000 nits) compared to the Series 3, making it much easier to see outdoors. The Series 6 also features an Always-On Retina display, allowing you to glance at the time and complications without raising your wrist. The Series 3's display is functional but noticeably dimmer and requires a wrist raise to activate.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This is a consistent feature across Apple Watch models.
Performance
The Apple S6 chip in the Series 6 provides a substantial performance boost over the S3. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, and overall responsiveness is significantly improved. The Series 3 can feel sluggish at times, especially when multitasking or using more demanding apps.
Battery Life
While both offer all-day battery life, the Series 6 generally provides slightly better longevity due to efficiency improvements. Expect around 18 hours of typical use on both, but the Series 6 might squeeze out a bit more.
Buying Guide
Who should buy Apple Watch Series 3 Aluminum? Those on a tight budget who primarily need basic smartwatch functionality like notifications, fitness tracking, and music control. Who should buy Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminum? Users seeking a premium smartwatch experience with advanced health features, a faster processor, a brighter display, and the latest Apple Watch technology.