Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: What's the Difference? (2024)

The wait is over for Samsung's next-generation smartwatches. The company just released two new models, the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, at its Unpacked event, alongside a host of other hardware, including the Fold 5 and Flip 5 phones, as well as a trio of S9 tablets.

If you're in the market for a new Samsung watch and are having a hard time choosing between them, we're here to help. We highlight all the important differences between the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic below (and call out the many similarities) to help you pick the right one for your needs, preferences, and budget. We plan to publish in-depth reviews of each model soon, but our initial analysis should be enough to point you in the right direction if you want to pre-order one of the watches ahead of their Aug. 11 launch date. Pre-orders are now live.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Phone Requirements

Before you consider buying a Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic, you need to make sure your phone supports it. Both models require a device that's running Android 10 or later, with more than 1.5GB of RAM. Keep in mind that Samsung restricted certain features on past models, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, to its own phones. We're not yet sure if the same is true for the new models.

Left to right: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Price and Sizes

Both the 40mm ($299.99) and 44mm ($329.99) versions of the Galaxy Watch 6 start at $20 more than their Galaxy Watch 5 counterparts.

Meanwhile, the 43mm and 47mm editions of the Watch 6 Classic retail for $399.99 and $429.99, respectively. For a price comparison, we have to go all the way back to the Watch 4 Classic; the 42mm and 46mm variants of that watch debuted at $349.99. The 47mm version in the new lineup is notable because 46mm is as large as we've seen Samsung go in the past.

Expect the LTE versions of these watches to carry a premium of at least $50 over the standard Bluetooth/Wi-Fi models.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Display

If you were hoping for the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic to have better screens than their predecessors, you're in luck. Both of the smaller-sized models (the 40mm edition of the former and the 43mm version of the latter) have 1.3-inch screens, whereas the 40mm Watch 5 features a 1.2-inch screen. The new models also offer a slight resolution bump to 432 by 432 pixels, up from 396 by 396 pixels last generation.

The larger 44mm Watch 6 and the 47mm Watch 6 Classic have 1.5-inch screens with a resolution of 480 by 480 pixels. That's also an upgrade over the 44mm Watch 5, which sports a 1.4-inch screen with a resolution of 450 by 450 pixels.

Like the models in the Watch 5 lineup, these new iterations also use rugged Sapphire Crystal glass and Super AMOLED display tech.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Color Options

If you were fond of the Watch 5's Bora Purple, Sapphire, or Pink Gold color options, those are unfortunately not available on this year's models.

The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch 6 is available in graphite or gold, while the larger 44mm size comes in graphite or silver. Black and silver are your sole options for all versions of the Watch 6 Classic.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Rotating Bezel

Like the Watch 4 Classic, the Watch 6 Classic has a physical rotating bezel that makes it easy to navigate through menus and data. If you frequently exercise or embark on outdoor adventures with your watch, this is a more practical control option because it's easier to operate with sweaty or gloved hands than a touch screen. The regular Watch 6 shouldn't be difficult to control by any means, though, with an effective digital bezel.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

One downside of the physical bezel is that it adds a bit of bulk to the watch and might become clogged with dirt over time. Whereas the 40mm and 44mm versions of the Watch 6 respectively come in around 1.0 and 1.2 ounces, the 43mm and 47mm versions of the Classic weigh 1.8 and 2.1 ounces. The latter are also larger all around, with a depth of 10.9mm (compared with 9.0 mm for the standard versions).

You don't have to worry about either watch in rough conditions. Both carry an IP68 rating, meet the MIL-STD-810H spec, and can survive at depths of up to 50 meters for 10 minutes. Neither is suitable for diving or high-pressure water activities like the Apple Watch Ultra.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Performance and Battery Life

All the Galaxy Watch 6 models use Samsung's Exynos W930 processor, have 2GB of RAM, and include 16GB of internal storage. That means Google's Wear OS 4 software (with Samsung's One UI 5) should feel just as smooth on all of them. For reference, the Watch 5 and Watch 4 Classic use an older Exynos W920 chip with the same amount of storage and RAM.

The smaller version of each watch has a 300mAh battery and the larger ones run on a 425mAh cell. Samsung says both the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic can last up to 40 hours with the always-on display off and up to 30 hours with it active. Samsung claimed that the Watch 5 had a battery life of 50 hours, for reference, though we weren't able to replicate that in testing (we got around 36 hours with the always-on display off). It wouldn't shock us if the new models don't live up to the official estimates either, but we'll reserve judgment until our reviews. If battery life is a concern, the still-available Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (which lasted longer than 57 hours with the always-on display active) might be the way to go.

As for connectivity, there's no difference: All base models support Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, and NFC. Models with LTE connectivity cost extra.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Watch 6 Classic: Health and FitnessFeatures

Both the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic feature Samsung's BioActive Sensor, which provides optical heart rate, electrical heart signals, and bioelectrical impedance (body composition) analysis. They can report on everything from your heart rate and blood oxygen saturation level to your stress level, sleep quality, and more.

Additionally, all versions have a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a barometer, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and a light sensor. The sole difference is that the Classic models also have a 3D Hall sensor.

Both watches also track a wide range of exercise types, with automatic detection for certain activities like walking, running, cycling, and swimming.

Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, and More

(Credit: René Ramos; Samsung, Google, Apple)

Do you prefer Apple or Google to Samsung? Head over to our list of the best Apple Watches for the top iOS-friendly options, and check out our Pixel Watch review. And if fitness is your primary concern, our favorite fitness trackers can get you up and running in no time.