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Released in 2021 and 2020 respectively, the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch Series 6 remain two of the most popular smartwatches on the market. This is partly due to the fact they offer almost all of the Apple Watch's latest features without the flagship price tag of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.

But what's the difference between the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7? At first glance, it isn't that obvious… but delve a little deeper and there are some key contrasts that may influence your buying decision. Read on for our full Apple Watch Series 6 vs. 7 comparison!

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In this blog:

• Display
• Build
• Performance
• Apple Watch Series 7 vs. 6: which should you buy?

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Display

The biggest difference (literally) between the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 is the display. The Series 7 offers 20% more screen area than the Series 6 thanks, in part, to 40% smaller bezels. The crystal protecting the display is 50% thicker too, which is helpful if you're into particularly vigorous exercise (or you're just clumsy).

The difference becomes even more stark if you're upgrading from an older model, with the Series 7 display spanning a massive 50% more area than the Series 3.

That larger display isn't just for vanity either. The Series 7 was the first Apple Watch to offer an on-screen QWERTY keyboard for tapping out messages, which is a truly game-changing feature if you're in a situation where you can't get your phone out to respond.

If you have the budget, the Series 7's display is definitely worth the extra cash – especially if you're upgrading from an older Apple Watch. The Series 6's smaller display is perfectly functional if you're trying to save, though.

Build

To accommodate for the larger screen, the Apple Series 7 is available in 41mm and 45mm casing options. By contrast, the Series 6 is available in 40mm and 44mm options. We'll be honest: a mm's difference is barely noticeable, and it's actually pretty impressive that Apple managed to squeeze a bigger display on the Series 7 without making the casing much larger.

The other selling point of the Series 7 vs. Series 6 is the addition of IP6X dust resistance to provide extra protection against the elements. The Series 7 retains the same level of water resistance, up to 50 meters, as the Series 6.

The Series 7 also has a few more finishes to choose from. Here's a rundown of the options:

Aluminum	Midnight, starlight, green, blue, (PRODUCT)RED
Stainless steel	Silver, graphite, gold
Titanium	Natural, space black

Performance

Performance-wise, there aren't a huge amount of differences between the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7. Both have a near-identical range of sensors, including blood oxygen, ECG, altimeter, fall detection, accelerometer and gyroscope. As both still support the latest version of watchOS (at the time of writing), the Series 7 and Series 6 offer more or less the same features too.

The Apple Watch Series 7 utilises the S7 chip vs. the Series 6's S6. Unlike smartphones, however, smartwatch chips generally don't offer huge performance boosts – so you're not going to notice a significant slowdown between the two!

Both watches offer up to 18 hours of battery life, although the Series 7 charges up to 33% faster. Given the Apple Watch lasts just over a day, this additional speed makes quite a big difference.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the Apple Watch Series 7 is likely to receive software and security updates for longer, although there is no indication that Apple is planning to pull support for the Series 6 just yet. It should definitely be a consideration if you're planning to hold onto your next Apple Watch for a few years, though.

Apple Watch Series 7 vs. 6: which should you buy?

There isn't a huge amount to choose between the Series 7 and Series 6. If you have the money, though, a refurbished Apple Watch Series 7 is arguably the better choice; it has a bigger display, a sturdier build and, crucially, will receive software updates for longer than the Series 6. That said, a refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 offers a lot of the same features and, with no sign of Apple withdrawing support just yet, is a great value alternative if you plan to upgrade again in a couple of years.

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Want to make your Apple Watch upgrade even cheaper? Trade in your Apple Watch and get cash towards your next watch, then head over to our Sell My Phone and iPhone trade in pages to find out how you can sell your phone for cash too! Plus, save even more when you swap to refurbished Apple Watch models, refurbished iPhone devices and refurbished phones at the musicMagpie Store.