Apple Watch 4 vs 6: Our Honest Review

Apple regularly releases new versions of their flagship wearable, and it can be difficult to keep up with new developments. The first one was released in 2015, Series 6 launched in 2020, and Series 7 is slated for release this year. With 3 consecutive product releases, it’s no wonder users are confused about which one to buy, or whether to upgrade.

Over the years, Apple has put a premium on its fitness and health features. The release of the Series 6 was certainly a continuation of this established pattern. The big question on consumer’s minds is, while the design has remained relatively the same—are the improvements in the health and fitness features enough to upgrade from the Apple Watch 4 vs 6?

Apple Watch 6 Design

At first glance, you would think there were no design changes from Series 4 to 6. You wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Both watches are available in 40mm and 44mm face sizes, and both benefit from Retina OLED screens.

There were rumors that the Series 6 might feature a round analog face, but Apple chose not to change its original design. And that was probably a wise move to keep the rectangular form with its rounded corners. It’s more than iconic!

The Series 4 Apple Watch saw the addition of a digital crown that offers haptic feedback, and this is again evident in the Series 6. Both watches are available and made of stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. This is where the Series 6 has that little something extra over the Series 4; it’s available in a wide range of colors. The neutral colors are gone; instead, they are replaced with much brighter colors.

Both watches are waterproof to a depth of 50m.

• If you want colours, then opt for the Series 6. Otherwise the Series 4 has everything that the Series 6 has to offer.

Internals

Inside is where you can see some bigger differences between the two models. The Series 6 has 32GB of storage and a U1 chip that offers ultra-wideband support. This feature which Apple actually introduced to the iPhone 11, is useful for spatial awareness. The Series 6 also offers blood oxygen monitoring via the app. This means that the Series 6 has a whole new set of sensors in its crystal back.

Sadly, neither of these features are available with the Series 4 and that only has 16GB of storage.

• The Series 6 with its significantly better memory is a clear winner.

Health features

At first glance, both Series 4 and Series 6 have plenty of health features as you would expect. However, Series 6 has a couple of new features – namely SpO2 monitoring and sleep tracking – that Series 4 does not have.

Series 6 builds on the success of Series 4 and its ability to provide users with an ECG test. The blook oxygen monitoring app, something which Apple had been promising, has arrived, and it could be quite useful. That isn’t the only new feature, however. The Series 6 has the ability to track handwashing and even time it to ensure that you are following the 20-second rule that has become the new normal over the last 18 months.

Thanks to its watchOS 7, the Series 6 can also track native sleep. This looks at sleep trends and helps with the establishment of a regular bedtime routine. There is also a Do Not Disturb mode to help you get to sleep.

• Whilst some of the new features like Do Not Disturb and hand washing timing are handy, they are certainly not essential and easy to deal with by other means. However if you love gadgets then these extra trackers will certainly appeal. Overall the Series 6 has the edge over the Series 4.

Apple Watch 6 Fitness

Both watches have a great range of fitness features that make them what they are.

The Series 6 offers some improvements to those features that are already in place. Where Series 4 has a barometric altimeter, the Series 6 has an always-on altimeter capable of tracking elevation changes made in real-time. Apple has claimed that this feature is far more precise as well. The display is a little brighter, making it easier to read those all-important metrics even on a sunny day – handy when undertaking outdoor exercise.

• If you want better in depth tracking of fitness, then the Series 6 has a slight but significant edge over the Series 4.

Conclusion

So, that concludes our comparison of the Apple Watch 6 vs 4. The Series 4 is a great wearable from Apple. If you are just looking for something to track fitness and health then you really can’t go far wrong opting for this model. However, if you prefer your tech to be as advanced and current as possible, then the Series 6 is the way to go.

Still on the fence about an Apple Watch? Check out these 35 pros and cons that will help you decide.

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Last Updated on November 16, 2021

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