Samsung Galaxy Watch FE vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Wear OS for less?

• Samsung Galaxy Watch FE

  Samsung’s first “Fan Edition” watch

  $149 $200 Save $51

  The Galaxy Watch FE, Samsung’s first budget smartwatch, is a wallet-friendly option for anyone looking to enter the world of smartwatches. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, Exynos 920 processor and a 247mAh battery.

  Advantages

  • Nice representation
  • Solid activity tracking
  • Same software experience as the Watch 6

  Disadvantages

  • No skin temperature sensor
  • Slow loading

• 

  Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

  Last year’s Samsung flagship

  $170 $300 Save $130

  The Galaxy Watch 6 joined the Watch 6 Classic at the top of Samsung’s 2023 smartwatch range. It comes in two sizes, with an Exynos 930 processor, a battery of up to 425mAh and Wear OS 4.

  Advantages

  • Solid performance
  • Available in two sizes
  • Good battery life

  Disadvantages

  • Higher list price
  • There will probably be one less Wear OS update than the Watch FE

Samsung’s first “Fan Edition” smartwatch – the Galaxy Watch FE – is aimed at consumers who shop on a tighter budget and are happy to compromise on some aspects to save some money. The smartwatch is available in one size and is similar to the Galaxy Watch 6Samsung’s 2023 flagship. Both smartwatches have an aluminum housing, AMOLED displays with sapphire glass and Wear OS 4 with One UI 5 Watch. But which of the two is the better smartwatch for you? Let’s find out.

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Price, availability and specifications

The Galaxy Watch FE costs $200 for the Wi-Fi-only model and $250 for the LTE version. Both variants are widely available and you can also order the LTE version from all three major mobile phone providers.

The Galaxy Watch 6, on the other hand, launched at $300 for the 40mm Wi-Fi model and $330 for the 44mm Wi-Fi model. Its LTE models were $50 more expensive at launch. However, since the smartwatch is over a year old, it often goes on sale and is available for just $170 for the 40mm Wi-Fi model. Other models are also discounted. It is also widespread.

Here’s a quick look at the raw specs of the two smartwatches.

• 	Samsung Galaxy Watch FE	Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
  Case size	40mm	40mm and 44mm
  Case material	aluminum	aluminum
  Advertisement	1.2″ AMOLED	40mm: 1.3 inch 432 x 432 Super AMOLED, Always On Display 44mm: 1.5 inch 480 x 480 Super AMOLED, Always On Display
  Screen resolution	396×396	432×432 (40mm) or 480×480 (44mm)
  CPU	Exynos W920 Dual Core 1.18GHz	Exynos W930 Dual Core 1.4GHz
  R.A.M.	1.5GB	2GB
  storage	16 GB	16 GB
  battery	247mAh	40mm: 300mAh 44mm: 425mAh
  Cellular connectivity	LTE (LTE model only)	LTE (optional)
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Yes	Wi-Fi 6
  Connectivity	NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo	LTE 6, Bluetooth 5.3, WLAN 2.4+5GHz, NFC
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3
  software	Wear OS with One UI 5 Watch	Wear OS 4/OneUI 5 Watch
  Health sensors	Optical heart rate, electrical heart, bioelectrical impedance analysis	Samsung BioActive Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor
  Dimensions	40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8mm	38.4 x 40.4 x 9mm (40mm) or 42.8 x 44.4 x 9mm (44mm)
  Weight	25.9g	40mm: 28.7g 44mm: 33.3g
  IP rating	IP68	IP68
  Bracelet size	20mm	Sports band
  Colors	Black, rose gold and silver	40 mm: graphite, gold 44 mm: graphite, silver
  Price	$200	40mm: $300 44m: $330

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Design and presentation

Same design and build quality

The design and build quality of the Galaxy Watch FE and Watch 6 are almost identical, with only minor differences. Both smartwatches have a round aluminum case with a sapphire crystal glass top. You will also receive one IP68Rated workmanship and 5ATM water resistance. There are also two physical buttons on the right side of the frame to control the smartwatches. Unfortunately, with both you don’t get a physical bezel, but a digital one.

The only major differences between the Watch FE and the Watch 6 are the size and weight. The single 40mm variant of the Watch FE is lighter than the 40mm and 44mm variants of the Watch 6. However, due to the thicker frame, it takes up a larger footprint than the 40mm Watch 6, even though This has a slightly larger 1.3-inch display instead of the 1.2-inch display of the Watch FE. Otherwise, you will hardly notice any difference between the two smartwatches.

Both smartwatches feature a Super AMOLED panel that produces vivid and lifelike images.

Performance and battery

Exynos power with different clock speeds

In terms of performance, the Watch FE and the Watch 6 don’t differ much. This is because the Watch FE is powered by the Exynos 920 chip and the Watch 6 is powered by the Exynos 930. Both processors are pretty much the same thing except that the 930 has a higher clock speed. So while you won’t notice a huge difference in the speed or responsiveness of the two smartwatches in everyday use, the 930’s higher clock speed and the additional 0.5GB of RAM in the Watch 6 make it more future-proof and give it a slight edge in overall performance.

The Watch 6 also has an advantage on the battery front, as the 40 mm version has a larger battery with 300 mAh. The 44mm variant has an even larger 425mAh battery. In comparison, the Watch FE is limited to 247 mAh.

While the Watch FE lasts all day on a single charge, you’ll struggle to get more out of it if you don’t use it sparingly. However, the Watch 6 can consistently deliver more than a full day of battery life, and with the 44mm model you can last even longer.

Additionally, the Watch 6 charges faster at 10W than the Watch FE at 5W, which may impact your daily smartwatch usage.

Other highlights include that both smartwatches have NFC for contactless payments, 16 GB of storage, dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and single-frequency GPS.

Software, Health and Fitness

Carry an operating system with a user interface everywhere

The Galaxy Watch FE and Watch 6 run Wear OS 4 with One UI 5 Watch. Therefore the software is exactly the same. Since Samsung has been making smartwatches for quite some time, the software experience is refined and you will be quite happy with it.

Both smartwatches also receive four years of Wear OS updates and five years of security patches. However, since the Watch 6 is already over a year old, it will likely receive one less Wear OS update than the Watch FE.

When it comes to activity and fitness tracking, both Samsung smartwatches are equivalent and support over 100 different exercises. The amount of information tracked depends on the activity. While some only provide basic metrics, others, such as cardio exercise, have more detailed information. You can also create custom workouts and get automatic workout recognition for selected activities.

Unlike fitness tracking, the Watch FE’s health monitoring features are not the same as the Watch 6, as the former doesn’t have a skin temperature sensor. Therefore, the Watch FE does not provide data about your body temperature or use it to predict your menstrual cycle. Additionally, the two smartwatches have heart rate and SpO2 sensors to track your heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

Other health and wellness features include sleep tracking with snoring detection, the ability to take an EKG and measure body composition.

Which one should you buy?

The Galaxy Watch FE and the Watch 6 have a lot in common. In fact, you get the same software and activity tracking features. However, the Watch 6 has an advantage over the Watch FE with its higher clocked processor, more RAM, the presence of a skin temperature sensor and faster charging. The Watch 6 also has a larger battery, allows you to choose between two sizes and has a slimmer bezel. If you can find it at a reasonable discount, going with the Watch 6 makes more sense.

Editor’s Choice

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Premium smartwatch at a reduced price

$170 $300 Save $130

The Galaxy Watch 6 is a powerful smartwatch that has become attractive to budget-conscious buyers thanks to its frequently discounted price. It has refined software and a variety of activity and health monitoring features.

The Watch FE could be a good alternative to the Watch 6 if it is significantly cheaper than the Watch 6 at the time of your purchase. It’s also lighter than the Watch 6 and will likely receive an additional Wear OS update. Plus, it has the same software and activity tracking options as the Watch 6 and you get great health monitoring.

Second

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE

Built for price-conscious buyers

$149 $200 Save $51

The Galaxy Watch FE is a budget Wear OS smartwatch. It’s well built, runs on Wear OS with One UI Watch, and will receive updates for four years.