With the release of the Apple Watch Series 6, we now have the 6th generation of Apple smartwatches with Watch 5, 4, and Cellular model of Watch 3 discontinued. Yet, the WatchOS 7 is available down to Apple Watch 3. the new operating system brings new features such as memoji app, watch face sharing, handwashing app, hearing app, preset sport modes, and more. This comparison graph features Apple Watch Series 3 vs 5 vs 6 – What has changed over the years? Find out in this head-to-head comparison of Apple Smartwatches.
Apple Watch Series 3 vs 5 vs 6 Specifications Comparison
| Product Info |  Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) Specifications, Features and Price |
 Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications, Features and Price |
 Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications, Features and Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 | $529.00 | |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) | (Cellular), (Discontinued), Apple Watch Series 5 | (Cellular), Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm) |
| Device type | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex | Unisex |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch Series 2 | Apple Watch Series 4 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
| Successor | Apple Watch Series 4 | — | — |
| Models | Apple Watch Nike+ | Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+ | Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+ |
| Date released | September, 2017 | September, 2019 | September, 2020 |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.65 inch | 1.78 inch | 1.78 inch |
| Display type | 1000nit, OLED | 1000nit, OLED | 1000nit, OLED |
| Resolution | 312 x 390 pixels | 448 x 368 pixels | 448 x 368 pixels |
| Pixel density | — | — | — |
| Customizable watchface | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen |
| Always-On | No | Yes | Yes |
| BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Shape | Rectangular | Rectangular | Square |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, Ceramic/Sapphire crystal back, Stainless steel, Titanium | Aluminum, Stainless steel, Titanium |
| Strap material | Elastomer | Elastomer | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Bezeless | Bezeless, Sapphire glass | Bezeless, Sapphire glass |
| Strap size | 24mm | 24mm | 24mm |
| Color | Black, White | Gold, Gray, Silver | (Stainless steel – Gold PVD, Graphite), (Titanium – Space black, Titanium), Blue, Gold, Gray, Red, Silver |
| Screen protection | Sapphire glass | Sapphire glass | Sapphire glass |
| Dimension | 42.5 x 36.4 x 11.4 mm | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm | 44 x 38 x 10.4 mm |
| Weight | 52.8 grams | 47.8g (GPS + Cellular) | (44mm), 36.5g |
| Waterproof rating | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes | Yes |
| Durability test | — | — | — |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Bluetooth v5.0 | Bluetooth v5.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 0.768GB | 0.768GB | 1GB |
| ROM | 16GB (GPS + Cellular), 8GB (GPS) | 32GB | 32GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No |
| CELLULAR | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Network technology | 4G LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| SIM type | e-SIM | e-SIM | e-SIM |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| GPS | GLONASS, GPS | GLONASS, GPS | GLONASS, GPS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HRM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox. | No | No | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | App, No | App, No | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Steps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | (Third-party apps), Yes | (Third-party apps), Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | No | Yes |
| Blood Pressure | No | No | No |
| Stress | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Onscreen workout | No | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 279mAh | — | — |
| Battery life | Regular: up to 18hrs | Regular: up to 18hrs | Regular: up to 18hrs |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock | Charging dock |
| Charging duration | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar power | No | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Operating system | WatchOS 4 | WatchOS 6 | WatchOS 7 |
| Chipset | Apple S3 | Apple S4 64bits | Apple Watch S6 64bits |
| CPU | Dual core | Dual core | Dual core |
| GPU | — | — | — |
| MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Apple Watch App | Apple Watch App | Apple Watch App |
| Compatibility | iOS 12.0+ | iOS 12.0+ | iOS 12.0+ |
| Payment system | Apple Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Customizable strap | 24mm, Yes | 24mm, Yes | 24mm, Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Yes, Siri | Yes, Siri | Yes, Siri |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Apple Watch Series 3, Charger, Manual, Straps | Apple Watch Series 5, Charger, Manual, Straps | Apple Watch Series 6, Charger, Manual, Straps |
| Price | $799.00 | $529.00 |
Apple Watch Series 3 vs 5 vs 6 Features Comparison
| Features | Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) | Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) | Apple Watch Series 6 (Cellular) |
| Display | 1.65 inches LTPO OLED | Always-on 1.78 inches LTPO OLED | Always-on 1.78 inches LTPO OLED (44mm) 1.57 inches LTPO OLED (40mm) |
| Materials | Available in; Aluminum Stainless steel Ceramic | Available in; Aluminum Stainless steel Titanium | Available in; Aluminum Stainless steel Titanium |
| Customize watchface | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 16GB (Cellular) 8GB (GPS only) - Stream or download music | 32GB - Stream or download music | 32GB - Stream or download music |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes (Louder) | Yes (Louder) |
| Access and download apps directly on watch | No | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof rating | 5ATM (50 meters waterproof rating) | 5ATM (50 meters waterproof rating) | 5ATM (50 meters waterproof rating) |
| Make payment on the go from watch with Apple Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reply notifications with preset or custom messages | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Receive alerts when you receive notifications on phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular models allow you to make and receive calls and access the internet without connecting to your phone. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | S3 with dual-core processor | S5 with 64-bit dual-core processor (2x faster processor than S3) | S6 with 64-bit dual-core processor (20% faster processor than S5) |
| Memoji App You can create and share emojis as stickers in messages or share it via a link. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Create and Share Watch Faces You can create and share a watch face. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS detects fall detection | No | Yes | Yes (Cellular) |
| International emergency calling | No | Yes | Yes (Cellular) |
| Family Setup This feature allows family members who own an Apple Watch but don't have an iPhone to enjoy all the benefits of an Apple Watch. Multiple smartwatches can be added and managed from a single iPhone. | No | Yes | Yes (Cellular) |
| Find My App This feature alerts you when a family member gets home and can also be used to know the location of your kid or any other family member. | No | Yes | Yes (Cellular) |
| Handwashing App This app will guide you to wash your hands for up to 20 seconds inline with the global health authority's recommendations. It also reminds you to wash your hand when you get home. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cycling Map App This feature will guide you to choose the best route to follow. It also allows you to search nearby places for stuff like coffee and also tells you ahead when there is an obstruction. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preloaded sport modes 4 new workout modes have been added that can allow you to choose your preferred workout type. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Count steps, distance, calories, and pace | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Count floors climbed | Yes | Yes (Always-on) | Yes (Always-on) |
| Know your orientation with compass | No | Yes | Yes |
| Track heart rhythm with the ECG app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Track cycle via the menstrual cycle app | No | Yes | Yes |
| Noise hearing app will alert you when the sound is too high | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks your heart rate comprehensively | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks your sleep comprehensively | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen tracking Monitors your blood oxygen to how well your blood absorbs oxygen. | No | No | Yes |
| Battery life | About 18 hours | About 18 hours | About 18 hours |
Which Should You Buy?
Without mincing words, Watch 6 is the best choice, it’s the most sophisticated out of the three smartwatches. It features blood oxygen tracking which both Watch 3 and 5 lack, and it’s also powered by a more refined S6 chip. Both Watch 5 and 6 feature Family setup, noise hearing app, incidental fall detection, ECG, international emergency calling, compass, and always-on display, all of which Watch 3 lacks. Watch 5 and 6 are also available in three different materials compared to Watch 3 that is only available in aluminum.
So, Watch 5 is a cheaper alternative to Watch 6, while Watch 3 would pass as an entry choice if you’re really tight on budget. It’s a great smartwatch featuring lots of fitness features with music storage, loudspeaker and, microphone.
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