Galaxy Watch 6 & Galaxy Watch 5 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Galaxy Watch 6 rather than the Galaxy Watch 5.
Why Do I Recommend The Galaxy Watch 6?
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 features a powerful Exynos W930 processor with 2GB RAM, delivering faster performance, improved multitasking, and smoother app navigation compared to the Galaxy Watch 5’s Exynos W920 and 1.5GB RAM.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 boasts a 30% thinner bezel with a larger display, offering improved screen real estate, better readability, and a more immersive visual experience than the Galaxy Watch 5.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 supports Wear OS 4 with One UI Watch 5, providing enhanced app compatibility, smoother animations, and better battery optimization, unlike the Galaxy Watch 5 which launched with Wear OS 3.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 features 30% faster charging, ensuring you spend less time charging and more time using your smartwatch, unlike the Galaxy Watch 5’s slower charging speed.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 offers an improved heart rate sensor with enhanced accuracy, delivering better insights during workouts, stress monitoring, and overall heart health than the Galaxy Watch 5.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 introduces advanced sleep coaching with personalized tips and insights, providing deeper analysis and improved sleep tracking accuracy compared to the Galaxy Watch 5’s standard sleep tracking.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic brings back the physical rotating bezel, offering intuitive navigation that is absent in the Galaxy Watch 5, enhancing user experience for accessing menus and apps.
- The Galaxy Watch 6 includes a one-click band swap mechanism, allowing users to easily change watch bands for style customization, while the Galaxy Watch 5 requires more effort to switch bands.
Maybe the Galaxy Watch 5 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 6. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
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Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy Watch 6 | Galaxy Watch 5 |
| Display Size | 1.3″ (40mm) / 1.5″ (44mm) | 1.2″ (40mm) / 1.4″ (44mm) |
| Resolution | 432 x 432 (40mm) / 480 x 480 (44mm) | 396 x 396 (40mm) / 450 x 450 (44mm) |
| Bezel Thickness | 30% thinner bezels | Standard bezel thickness |
| Processor | Exynos W930 (1.4GHz) | Exynos W920 (1.18GHz) |
| RAM | 2GB | 1.5GB |
| Operating System | Wear OS 4 (One UI Watch 5) | Wear OS 3 (One UI Watch 4.5) |
| Battery Efficiency | Improved efficiency with optimized power consumption | Standard power efficiency |
| Charging Speed | 30% faster charging | Standard charging speed |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Enhanced with improved accuracy | Standard heart rate sensor |
| Skin Temperature Sensor | Improved accuracy for better insights | Standard accuracy |
| Sleep Tracking Features | Advanced Sleep Coaching with personalized insights | Basic sleep tracking features |
| Design & Build | Slimmer, sleeker design | Slightly thicker design |
| Rotating Bezel | Available in Classic Model | No rotating bezel |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Glass Protection | Sapphire Crystal Glass | Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Watch Band Design | One-click band mechanism | Traditional band mechanism |
| Weight | Slightly lighter design | Slightly heavier design |
| Colors (Standard Model) | Graphite, Gold, Silver | Graphite, Sapphire, Pink Gold |
| Colors (Classic Model) | Black, Silver | N/A |
| Price | Check Watch 6 Price | Check Watch 5 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Build Material: Both smartwatches feature durable aluminum (standard models) and sapphire crystal glass, ensuring premium build quality with enhanced scratch resistance for everyday use and outdoor activities.
- Water Resistance: Both models are IP68-rated with 5ATM certification, meaning they can withstand water immersion up to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming and general water exposure.
- Fitness Tracking: Each watch offers comprehensive fitness tracking, including step counting, calorie tracking, and auto workout detection, providing real-time insights for various activities.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Both watches are equipped with continuous heart rate monitoring, helping users track their cardiovascular health and manage stress.
- Blood Pressure Monitoring: Both devices support blood pressure tracking (when calibrated with a compatible cuff), providing useful insights for users monitoring hypertension.
- ECG (Electrocardiogram): Each model features ECG capabilities, enabling users to monitor heart rhythm and detect irregularities such as atrial fibrillation.
- Body Composition Analysis: Both watches include BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) sensors to measure body fat, muscle mass, water percentage, and BMI, giving users deeper insights into their body metrics.
- Skin Temperature Sensor: Both models include a skin temperature sensor, helping users monitor changes in body temperature for improved wellness insights.
- Sleep Tracking: Each watch provides detailed sleep tracking with insights on sleep stages, sleep quality, and personalized coaching tips to improve rest patterns.
- Stress Monitoring: Both models include stress tracking tools with guided breathing exercises to help users manage anxiety and tension.
- SpO2 Monitoring: Both watches feature blood oxygen (SpO2) tracking, allowing users to monitor their oxygen saturation levels — useful for fitness, altitude training, or respiratory health.
- Fall Detection: Both devices support fall detection, automatically alerting emergency contacts if the user suffers a hard fall.
- Emergency SOS Feature: Each watch includes an Emergency SOS feature, allowing users to quickly contact emergency services in critical situations.
- GPS Tracking: Both watches support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou for accurate outdoor activity tracking and navigation.
- Samsung Pay: Both models are equipped with Samsung Pay, enabling convenient contactless payments directly from the watch.
- Music Storage: Each watch offers 16GB of internal storage, allowing users to store music offline for workouts or travel without relying on a smartphone.
- App Support: Both run on Wear OS, providing access to a wide range of apps via the Google Play Store for enhanced functionality and personalization.
- Microphone & Speaker: Both models include a built-in microphone and speaker, enabling hands-free calls, voice commands, and notifications.
- Wireless Charging: Each device supports WPC wireless charging, providing cable-free charging convenience.
- Customization Options: Both watches offer customizable watch faces and interchangeable bands, allowing users to personalize their look and style.
Common Features
| Feature | Galaxy Watch 6 | Galaxy Watch 5 |
| Build Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Glass Protection | Sapphire Crystal Glass | Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (5ATM) + MIL-STD-810H Certified | IP68 (5ATM) + MIL-STD-810H Certified |
| Fitness Tracking | Step count, calories burned, auto workout detection | Step count, calories burned, auto workout detection |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Continuous heart rate monitoring | Continuous heart rate monitoring |
| Blood Pressure Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| ECG (Electrocardiogram) | Yes | Yes |
| Body Composition Analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Skin Temperature Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Stress Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| SpO2 Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS Feature | Yes | Yes |
| GPS Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| NFC for Payments | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay |
| Music Storage | Up to 16GB internal storage for offline music | Up to 16GB internal storage for offline music |
| App Support | Extensive Google Play Store app compatibility | Extensive Google Play Store app compatibility |
| Microphone & Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Customization Options | Customizable watch faces and bands | Customizable watch faces and bands |
| Samsung SmartThings Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check Watch 6 Price | Check Watch 5 Price |
FAQ
Does the Galaxy Watch 6 have better performance than the Galaxy Watch 5? Is the display better on the Galaxy Watch 6 compared to the Galaxy Watch 5? Does the Galaxy Watch 6 have better battery life than the Galaxy Watch 5? Which model has a rotating bezel for navigation? Does the Galaxy Watch 6 have better health tracking features than the Galaxy Watch 5? Are both watches water-resistant? Do both watches support ECG and blood pressure monitoring? Do both watches offer body composition analysis? Can I use Samsung Pay on both the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 5? Do both watches support Google apps like Maps and Assistant? Is the Galaxy Watch 6 compatible with the same watch bands as the Galaxy Watch 5? Do both models offer Bluetooth calling? Which watch is better for fitness tracking? Does the Galaxy Watch 6 have better software support than the Galaxy Watch 5? |
