Samsung recently released the Galaxy Watch FE for $199. The price has not yet been confirmed for India but the Galaxy Watch FE could launch at around INR 16,000 to INR 20,000. The Galaxy Watch FE is a more affordable version to the Galaxy Watch6.
This raises a question: should you get the Galaxy Watch FE at a lower price, or spend a little bit more for the Galaxy Watch6? In this article, we will compare the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 to help you decide which one is better for you. So, let’s start.
Design, Colors, and Display
The Galaxy Watch FE is a rebranded version of the Galaxy Watch4, released two years before the Galaxy Watch6. Both watches have a similar build, with Sapphire Crystal glass on the front and an aluminum frame on the sides. They are also 5ATM + IP68 dust and water-resistant. Additionally, both are MIL-STD-810H compliant.
In terms of weight, the Galaxy Watch6 is slightly heavier than the Galaxy Watch FE. The 40mm variant of the Galaxy Watch6 weighs 28.7 grams, while the 40mm variant of the Galaxy Watch FE weighs 26.6 grams.
Notably, the Galaxy Watch FE does not come in a 44mm variant, whereas the Galaxy Watch6 does. This one weights 33.3g.
The Galaxy Watch FE comes in three colors: Black, Pink Gold, and Silver. The Galaxy Watch6 40 mm comes in two colors: Graphite and Gold while Galaxy Watch6 44mm comes in Graphite and Silver.
The displays on these watches differ significantly. The Galaxy Watch FE features a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 396 x 396 pixels. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch6 has a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 432 x 432 pixels for the 40mm variant.
Both displays are protected by Sapphire Crystal glass and also support the Always-On Display feature. However, the Galaxy Watch FE has a larger bezel around the display, whereas the Galaxy Watch6 has thinner bezels, offering a more modern and sleek look. Both watches are compatible with 20mm straps.
So, while the Galaxy Watch FE offers a more affordable option with similar build quality and basic features, the Galaxy Watch6 gives you a a bit higher resolution display, a larger size option, and a more elegant design with those thinner bezels.
Performance, Storage, and RAM
The Galaxy Watch4 and the Galaxy Watch6 both run on an Exynos 5nm processor, but the model numbers differ slightly. The Galaxy Watch FE uses the Exynos W920, a dual-core chip with two Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.18 GHz and a Mali-G68 GPU.
The Galaxy Watch6, on the other hand, uses the Exynos W930 chipset, which is also a dual-core with two Cortex-A55 cores but clocked higher at 1.4 GHz, and it also uses the Mali-G68 GPU.
In terms of storage, both watches offer 16 GB. However, the amount of RAM differs: the Galaxy Watch FE (essentially the rebranded Galaxy Watch4) has 1.5 Gb of RAM, while the Galaxy Watch6 has 2 GB of RAM. The difference, I would say, isn’t very huge. So either watch should handle things pretty smoothly.
ALSO SEE: Electric Sedan Cars Price List
Sensors
When it comes to sensors, the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 are nearly identical, with the main difference being the additional temperature sensor on the Galaxy Watch6. Both watches are equipped with:
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Geomagnetic sensor
- Light sensor
- Samsung bioactive sensor which includes: Optical heart rate sensor (PPG), Electrical heart rate signal sensor, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor
Both watches can track your heart rate, monitor your sleep, track SpO2, perform ECGs, and monitor blood pressure. The extra temperature sensor on the Galaxy Watch6 can tell you your skin temperature.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, both the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 support Wi-Fi 5, which includes dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and Bluetooth 5.3. Both watches also feature a built-in GPS and an NFC chip for your Samsung Pay.
Battery and Charging
When it comes to battery performance and charging, the Galaxy Watch FE is equipped with a 247 mAh battery that supports WPC-based wireless charging up to 5W. This is slower compared to the Galaxy Watch6.
The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch6 features a 300m Ah battery, while the 44mm version has a larger 425 mAh battery. Both variants support WPC-based wireless charging up to 10W, which allows for faster charging compared to the Galaxy Watch FE.
I have the Galaxy Watch4 Classic and the 5W charging surely does not help. It is very slow. So, if you want faster charging, the Galaxy Watch6 is the option to go for.
Despite the battery capacity differences, Samsung has rated both watches with up to 40 hours of battery life. The battery life will go down (by 10 hours) to just 30 hours if you use the always-on display, though.
ALSO SEE: 5G Tablets Under ₹30,000
Software and Updates
Both the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 run on the One UI 5 Watch based on WearOS 4.0. Since they were launched with the same version of Wear OS, it’s reasonable to expect them to receive a similar number of updates.
Samsung typically provides around 4 years of software updates for its Galaxy Watches, including major OS updates. Assuming past trends continue, both the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 should receive up to 4 major OS updates.
We can expect both watches to soon receive the One UI 6 Watch update. The Galaxy Watch FE is compatible with Android 11 and newer phones while the Galaxy Watch6 is compatible with Android 10 and newer phones with atleast 1.5 GB ram.
Variants and Price
Both the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch6 are available in Bluetooth and Bluetooth + LTE models. The Galaxy Watch FE starts at $199 (about INR 16,000), while the Galaxy Watch6 starts at $299 (about INR 29,999). The price of the Galaxy Watch FE is not yet official in India.
ALSO SEE: Upcoming Mobile Phones Under ₹20,000
Comparison Chart
| Feature | Galaxy Watch FE | Galaxy Watch 6 |
| Price | $199 (Expected INR 16,000 – INR 20,000) | Starts at $299 (About INR 29,999) |
| Design | Rebranded Galaxy Watch 4, Sapphire Crystal glass, Aluminum frame, 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H compliant | Sapphire Crystal glass, Aluminum frame, 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H compliant |
| Weight | 26.6g (40mm) | 40mm: 28.7g; 44mm: 33.3g |
| Colors | Black, Pink Gold, Silver | 40mm: Graphite, Gold; 44mm: Graphite, Silver |
| Display | Super AMOLED, 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels | 40mm: 1.3-inch Super AMOLED, 432 x 432 pixels; 44mm: 1.5-inch Super AMOLED, 480 X 480 pixels |
| Bezels | Larger bezels | Thinner bezels |
| Performance | Exynos W920, dual-core Cortex-A55, Mali-G68 GPU, 1.5 GB RAM | Exynos W930, dual-core Cortex-A55 (1.4 GHz), Mali-G68 GPU, 2 GB RAM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic sensor, Light sensor, Samsung bioactive sensor (PPG, Electrical heart rate signal, BIA) | Additional temperature sensor, same sensors as FE |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC (Samsung Pay) | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and NFC (Samsung Pay) |
| Battery & Charging | 247mAh, WPC-based wireless charging (up to 5W) | 40mm: 300mAh, 44mm: 425mAh, WPC-based wireless charging (up to 10W) |
| Battery Life | Up to 40 hours (30 hours with Always-On Display) | Up to 40 hours (30 hours with Always-On Display) |
| Software | One UI 5 Watch based on Wear OS 4.0 | One UI 5 Watch based on Wear OS 4.0 |
| Updates | Expected up to 4 major OS updates | Expected up to 4 major OS updates |
| Variants | Bluetooth, Bluetooth + LTE | Bluetooth, Bluetooth + LTE |
| Compatibility | Android 11 and newer phones | Android 10 and newer phones with at least 1.5 GB RAM |
Which one should you buy?
If you are someone from the US or the EU, the answer is straightforward: spend a little extra and get the Galaxy Watch6. It gives you a better display, a larger battery, more RAM, faster charging, and a temperature sensor too. There’s absolutely no reason to save a couple of bucks and get the Galaxy Watch FE instead.
Even if you are someone from India or any other country in the sub-continent, the Galaxy Watch FE doesn’t make any sense. You can get the Galaxy Watch4 for much cheaper (under 8,000) or even the Watch4 Classic, for that matter.
Recently, we have been seeing some exciting deals on the Galaxy Watch6 that make it a great buy. If you can get the Galaxy Watch6 for under INR 20,000, it would be an awesome value. Go for the Galaxy Watch FE *only* if you can’t find a deal on the Galaxy Watch6 or if you can’t settle for the Galaxy Watch4 because you want more software updates.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
