Apple Watch 6 vs 7: product comparison

About the Apple Watch

Since 2015, Apple Watches have been one of the most popular trends, especially in fitness. This line of smartwatches is able to track your health data, forward calls and allows you to view notifications on your wrist. There are now many models on the market, of which older variants such as the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 are still worthwhile investments today.

If you order it refurbished, you can look forward to a fully functional smartwatch with all the important features and usually pay significantly less than for the original. Here we compare the Apple Watch 6 vs. 7 and tell you what makes the difference between the two models.

Apple Watch 6: these are the features of the smartwatch

The Apple Watch Series 6 was launched on the market in September 2020 and impresses overall with its robust design. The casing is made of high-quality aluminium and the display is protected by scratch-resistant glass. Underneath, is a high-tech device powered by the powerful Apple S5 System on a Chip (SoC).

The display is based on the modern LTPO OLED Retina technology, which is also used in the Apple Watch Series 7. You can use the compass and read your pulse rate on both models. You can also connect to your headphones or other devices via Bluetooth. You can access the internet via WiFi and the SIM card (cellular model available). This makes it easier to evaluate movement information and know exactly how fast and how far you have run and in what time. It's even possible to take the Apple Watch 6 swimming since It is waterproof up to 50 metres.

What's missing though: What's missing compared to the Apple Watch 7 are the heart rate (electrocardiogram) and oxygen saturation measurements. In terms of functions, these are the most important differences between the two versions. Your data can be stored on a memory of up to 32 GB. The RAM totals is 1 GB and is more than sufficient for the small smartwatch. You can connect the Apple Watch 6 to all Apple iPhones from generation 6 upwards.

NB: Your iPhone should have at least the iOS 14 operating system installed.

Apple Watch Series 6 Technical specifications at a glance:

• SoC Apple S6

• Storage 32 GB

• 1 GB RAM memory

• LTPO OLED Retina Display

• Features like accelerometer, barometric altimeter, compass and heart rate monitor available

• Bluetooth 5.0

• Also available in a cellular version

• Waterproof up to 50 metres

• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz

Apple Watch Series 7 features

The Apple Watch Series 7 was released in September 2021 and features some improvements over its predecessor. However, the differences are minimal. If you're looking for a refurbished Apple Watch Series 7 from Back Market, then both versions are great value for money.

What makes the Apple Watch 7 special compared to its predecessor are some additional functions: These include the measurement of oxygen saturation and the electrocardiogram. Anyone who is intensively involved in the topic of fitness and who is physically active on a frequent basis is definitely better off with the Apple Watch 7 than with the Apple Watch 6. The small but subtle differences give you a clear advantage getting more clarity over their fitness.

Apart from that, the general values of the watches are similar:

The storage space is 32 GB and the RAM is fixed at 1 GB. You can optionally order an eSIM and go up to 50 metres in water with the device. Bluetooth 5.0 is available for connecting to other devices, as it is on predecessors like the Apple Watch Series 3. WiFi, on the other hand, can perform a little better and can do more with up to 5 GHz. There have been some minor improvements to the resolution with an OLED Retina display.

As another option to the classic aluminium casing of the Apple Watch 6, the Apple Watch 7 is also available with a robust stainless steel casing. However, you usually pay twice as much for this.

Apple Watch Series 7 technical specifications at a glance:

• LTPO OLED Retina Display Always On

• 32 GB storage

• 1 GB RAM

• SoC Apple S7

• Waterproof up to 50 metres

• Optional eSIM

• WiFi up to 5 GHz

• Bluetooth 5.0

• Electrocardiogram and oxygen saturation as additional functions Compass, heart rate monitor, accelerometer

• Available with stainless steel case 

Direct comparison of the Apple Watch 6 vs 7

So who should buy which Apple Watch?

Overall, the differences between the two smartwatches are not drastic. If you only do some sport as a hobby and want to record classic data such as pulse rate and kilometres run, the Apple Watch 6 is perfectly adequate. Compared to its successor, it is also cheaper (but even more cheaper when refurbished). A refurbished Apple Watch 6 and 7 will still be able to manage 17 to 18 hours of battery life.

The Apple Watch 7 has some additional functions that are quite interesting for more serious fitness enthusiasts. For example, you can learn more about your body, performance improvement and health via oxygen saturation and the electrocardiogram. In this respect, this model is somewhat more superior and well suited for the more active-minded consumers.  

Why should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?

The Apple Watches 6 and 7 models are already somewhat older, but can still provide more than acceptable features in today's smartwatch market. The chips and RAM are designed to meet the demands of the 21st century. This means you can enjoy the device for several years if you buy it. When bought refurbished, you save a lot of money on Apple Watches. The Series 7 version costs about £225 in aluminium on Back Market.

You get a completely refurbished and perfectly functioning Smartwatch - and save a lot of money at the same time. Apart from that, buying second-hand goods is always good for the environment. By reusing them, less electronic waste is produced and no new resources have to be dug out of the ground. So for the planet and for you, a refurbished smartwatch is a win-win.