Apple Watch Series 9 (45 mm, GPS, aluminium) / Apple Watch Series 6 (40 mm, GPS)

Apple Watch Series 9 (45 mm, GPS, aluminium): 45 mm aluminium case, GPS model; Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Silver and (PRODUCT)RED. The 41 mm, GPS + Cellular and stainless steel (sapphire crystal) versions differ in size and materials.

Apple Watch Series 6 (40 mm, GPS): Apple Watch Series 6, 40 mm aluminium case, GPS (2020). The 44 mm and GPS + Cellular versions, stainless steel/titanium cases and the Nike and Hermès editions are separate.

SpecificationApple Watch Series 9 (45 mm, GPS, aluminium)Apple Watch Series 6 (40 mm, GPS)
Release year20232020
DisplayAlways-On Retina LTPO OLED; up to 2000 nits, as low as 1 nit; 326 ppi

LTPO is a panel technology that can lower the refresh rate dramatically, letting the display stay dimly on when the wrist is down. The 1-nit minimum avoids glare in a dark room.

Apple
Always-On Retina LTPO OLED; 324 × 394 pixels, 759 mm² display area; 1000 nits

The Always-On display keeps the time and complications visible with the wrist down.

Apple
ChipS9 SiP; 64-bit dual-core processor, 4-core Neural Engine AppleS6 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor; W3 wireless chip; U1 Ultra Wideband chip

Ultra Wideband availability varies by region.

Apple
Storage64 GB Apple32 GB Apple
ControlsDigital Crown with haptic feedback, side button, double tap gesture

Double tap lets you answer notifications or calls by tapping the thumb and index finger of the watch hand together twice, without touching the screen.

Apple
—
Health sensorsElectrical heart sensor, third-generation optical heart sensor, temperature sensing

The electrical sensor is for ECG recordings; the optical sensor measures pulse with light. Temperature sensing tracks overnight changes in wrist temperature.

Apple
Blood oxygen sensor (Blood Oxygen app), electrical heart sensor (ECG app), third-generation optical heart sensor

Apple states Blood Oxygen measurements are not for medical use and are only designed for general fitness and wellness. The ECG app is not intended for people under 22.

Apple
Blood Oxygen (US)On watches sold in the US without the feature, a redesigned version arrives with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1; the reading is calculated on iPhone

The watch collects sensor data, the paired iPhone calculates the value and shows it in the Health app. Watches bought outside the US are not affected.

Apple
—
Other sensorsCompass, always-on altimeter, high-g accelerometer, high dynamic range gyroscope, ambient light sensor Apple—
LocationL1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo and BeiDou

It is a single-frequency (L1) receiver; drift in cities can be more likely than with dual-frequency watches.

Apple
—
WirelessWi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3, second-generation Ultra Wideband

Ultra Wideband lets you locate an iPhone 15-family phone with Precision Finding showing direction and distance; availability varies by region.

Apple
Wi‑Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4 and 5 GHz; Bluetooth 5.0

LTE and UMTS are only on GPS + Cellular models.

Apple
Battery and chargingUp to 18 hours normal use, up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode; fast charge to about 80% in 45 minutes

Fast charging requires Apple’s fast-charging cable and a suitable adapter.

Apple
Built-in lithium-ion battery; up to 18 hours; magnetic charging cable (1 m)

The 18-hour figure comes from Apple’s August 2020 testing with pre-production watches paired to an iPhone; it varies with use.

Apple
Durability50 m water resistant (ISO 22810:2010); IP6X dust resistant; Ion-X front glass

Suitable for swimming. Ion-X is the strengthened glass used on aluminium cases; steel cases use sapphire crystal.

Apple
—
Size and weight45 × 38 × 10.7 mm; 38.7 g; fits 140–245 mm wrists Apple40 × 34 × 10.7 mm; 30.5 g (aluminium, without band) Apple
CompatibilityiPhone XS or later with iOS 17 or later

It cannot be used with Android phones.

Apple
Requires an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later Apple
Case and version—40 mm aluminium case, GPS; Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Blue, (PRODUCT)RED

Stainless steel and titanium cases were only sold in the GPS + Cellular version. The 44 mm model uses the same chip but has a different display and weight.

Apple
Water resistance—50 metres (ISO 22810:2010)

Suitable for shallow-water swimming in a pool or the sea, but not scuba diving, waterskiing or high-velocity water.

Apple
Other sensors and safety—Always-on altimeter, compass, accelerometer up to 32 g with fall detection, gyroscope, ambient light sensor; Emergency SOS

On the GPS model, Emergency SOS needs the iPhone nearby; otherwise the watch must be on a known Wi‑Fi network with Wi‑Fi Calling on. International emergency calling is only on the cellular model.

Apple
Other—Speaker, microphone, Apple Pay, GymKit; ceramic and sapphire crystal back Apple