Apple Watch 6 vs. Apple Watch 8 – Detailed Comparison

Quick Verdict

The Apple Watch 8 is the better choice for users prioritizing advanced health features and longer battery life. However, the Apple Watch 6 remains a viable option for those seeking a more affordable smartwatch with essential features.

The Apple Watch 8 offers advanced health tracking features like temperature sensing and crash detection, which are not available on the Apple Watch 6.
Both watches have similar pricing, but the Apple Watch 8 has improved battery life, especially in low power mode.
While the Apple Watch 6 is still a capable device, the Apple Watch 8 provides more comprehensive health and safety features, along with a potentially larger display.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Metric	Apple Watch 6	Apple Watch 8
Display	Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display	Bright Always-On Retina Display (up to 1,000 nits)
Sizes	40mm and 44mm	41mm and 45mm
Storage	32GB	Not available
Processor	S6 SiP with a 64-bit dual-core processor	Not available
Water Resistance	50 meters	50 meters (ISO standard 22810:2010), IP6X dust-proof
Operating System	watchOS (requires iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later)	watchOS
Features	Blood oxygen saturation sensor, always-on altimeter, fall detection, emergency SOS	Advanced Health Tracking (ECG, SpO2, sleep monitoring, temperature sensing), Safety & Emergency Features (crash detection, fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling)
Battery Life	Not available	18 hours (rated), up to 36 hours in low power mode
Screen Size	Not available	41mm (352 x 430 pixels, 904 sq mm display area) or 45mm (396 x 484 pixels, 1143 sq mm display area)
GPS Accuracy	Not available	Built-in GPS
Heart Rate Accuracy	Not available	Advanced heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen sensor
Cellular Connectivity	Not available	GPS-only or GPS + Cellular models
current	$399	$399

Overall Comparison

Apple Watch 8: Advanced health tracking and longer battery life
Apple Watch 6: Still a capable device with essential features at a similar price

Pros and Cons

Apple Watch 6

Pros:

Measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) on demand
Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation tracking
Improved wrist-down screen brightness
WatchOS 7 adds a handwashing countdown timer and sleep tracking
Fast new processor
Best third-party app selection
Attractive new watch colors and band options

Cons:

Expensive
Offers only a slight battery life improvement

Apple Watch 8

Pros:

Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes
Bright Always-On Retina Display (up to 1,000 nits)
Advanced Health Tracking (ECG, SpO2, sleep monitoring, temperature sensing)
Safety & Emergency Features (crash detection, fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling)
Fast Charging (charges to about 80% in ~45 minutes)

Cons:

Incremental Design Tweaks (similar look to Series 7)
Battery Life (rated at about 18 hours)
Premium Pricing (new)
No Extreme Durability Rating (lacks MIL-STD 810H certification or 100m water resistance)

User Experiences and Feedback

Apple Watch 6

What Users Love

Lightweight
Nice display
Sophisticated design
Accurate ECG and blood oxygen monitor reliability
Accurate activity tracking and comprehensive health features
Bright, lovely always-on display, even in sunlight

Common Complaints

Poor battery life and fast drain, requiring daily charging
Slow charging
Limited customization options
Lack of a charging brick

Value Perception

Great value for those happy with its features (compared to Series 8)

User Recommendations

Customers praise the accurate ECG and blood oxygen monitor reliability.
Customers love the bright, lovely always-on display, even in sunlight.

Apple Watch 8

What Users Love

Vibrant color options
Great features
Health tracking capabilities
User-friendly interface
Comfort of the Sport Band
Large, easy-to-use screen

Common Complaints

Battery draining quickly
Touchscreen unresponsiveness
Freezing or slow performance
Inaccurate activity tracking

Value Perception

Series 8 might be worth it for temperature sensor and car crash detection, or a bigger display. But Series 6 is still powerful and offers great value for those happy with its features.

User Recommendations

Customers appreciate the vibrant color options, great features, health tracking capabilities, and user-friendly interface.
Some customers have expressed concerns about the battery life.