Why I'm keeping my Galaxy Watch 6 even though the Watch 8 is better
by Ben Khalesi · Android PoliceThe tech world loves to convince us that if your screen isn’t the brightest or your chip isn’t the fastest, you’re using a junk gadget.
We’re conditioned to think newer is better, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 just proved that software is king. With the One UI 8 update, Samsung basically gave the Watch 6 a second lease on life.
For the cost of a 1.8GB download, you get the Wear OS 6 interface and new features found on the brand-new Galaxy Watch 8.
When a free update delivers most of the flagship’s new features, the price tag starts to look like a lot of hype for very little extra value.
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Posts By Ben Khalesi
What One UI 8 brings to the Galaxy Watch 6
Samsung usually keeps the cool tricks locked away behind their latest chips, but it changed the playbook with One UI 8.
I’m really impressed with how they’re supporting the Watch 6. Here are the new tricks.
Now Bar puts your favorite controls right where you need them
Instead of swiping through a dozen screens to find your music or timer, One UI 8 features the Now Bar.
It’s a live dock that sits at the bottom of your watch face as a shortcut to whatever you’re doing at that moment.
Think about those times when you’re mid-set at the gym, your hands are sweaty, or you’re just trying to skip a song while walking.
Now Bar saves you from all that usual menu diving and keeps things accessible.
This feature was a highlight when the Watch 8 launched. Seeing the W930 chip handle it without glitching is a win for anyone holding onto their older gear.
One UI 8’s notification and tile stacking
Samsung leaned into its new design language for One UI 8, and you can see that influence all over the notification and tile systems. The notifications look so much cleaner now.
The best part is that they’re actually interactive, which means I can get things done without grabbing my phone every five minutes. Even the new vertical tile stacking is a win.
You can tell it was probably designed with the squircle shape of the Watch 8 in mind, but it also feels nice on the round screen of the Watch 6.
The new double pinch gesture
The new Double Pinch is easily the best upgrade for those of us on the Watch 6.
Being able to pause your music, pick up a call, or kill a loud alarm just by double-tapping your thumb and index finger together feels like magic.
Everyone assumed this gesture would need the new silicon on the Watch 8. It’s proof that we don’t need a brand-new sensor or processor every 12 months to get a better user experience.
Better hardware doesn’t always mean a better experience
Samsung is really pushing the new hardware, but when you look past the marketing, it’s clear the user experience gap isn’t nearly as wide as the marketing gap suggests.
The w1000 chip offers more muscle than wearable apps need
The Galaxy Watch 8 packs the Exynos W1000, which is Samsung’s first 3nm wearable chip featuring a penta-core architecture. It beats the Watch 6’s W930 in every single category.
But let’s be real, how do you actually use a watch?
I use mine for quick, short interactions. I’m not running heavy apps that require sustained processing loads, so all that extra muscle doesn’t change my daily experience the way a phone or laptop upgrade would.
The marketing makes the new chip sound essential, but for checking a text or starting a run, that sub-second speed difference is something most of us will never even notice.
I’ve seen some talk in the community about the Watch 6 feeling laggy after the One UI 8 update, but don’t let that scare you off.
Usually, after a big OS jump, the system just needs a quick cleanup.
Users found that doing a cache wipe (through the recovery menu) and turning on Reduce transparency and blur in the Accessibility Settings restores performance.
3,000 nits of brightness is unnecessary
The Galaxy Watch 8 hits a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which is a 50% jump over the Watch 6’s 2,000 nits. But in direct sunlight, 2,000 nits is already plenty for a clear screen.
That extra 1,000 nits might be great for extreme high-altitude hiking or desert marathons, but for a normal commute or a gym session, it’s a feature that just sits there unused.
Plus, cranking a screen to 3,000 nits is a massive battery drain, which usually ends up canceling out any efficiency gains you’d get from that new chip anyway.
Increased storage only benefits users with large offline libraries
One area where the Watch 8 does have a tangible lead is storage.
The base model comes with 32GB, and the Classic model jumps all the way to 64GB, whereas the Watch 6 usually tops out at 16GB.
If you’re the kind of person who stores massive offline Spotify playlists or huge map files for remote hiking, that extra space is a big advantage.
However, for the rest of us who stream media over LTE or Wi-Fi, that extra storage won’t actually impact our daily life.
Core heart health monitoring remains consistent on older hardware
Samsung was all about preventive care this year, and it used the Watch 8’s new BioActive sensor to prove it.
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Take the new Antioxidant Index. It uses multi-wavelength absorption spectroscopy to check the carotenoid levels in your skin.
You hold your thumb on the sensor for five seconds, and it gives you a score from 0 to 100 based on your diet. It’s a cool party trick, but do you really need a daily score for your fruit and vegetable intake?
Then there’s Vascular Load. This measures arterial stiffness by analyzing your pulse waves while you’re asleep. Because this is hardware-dependent, it’s a no-go for the Watch 6.
However, Watch 6 still supports the core heart health pillars like ECG and blood pressure.
Sure, Watch 8 is objectively better at tracking heart rate during workouts because the new sensor array reacts faster, but for me, the Watch 6 is still plenty.
Galaxy Watch 6 remains relevant
My mindset around technology has changed from what can I buy to should I buy it?
Well, if you’re coming from a Watch 4 or picking up your very first smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 8 is an incredible piece of tech.
But for me, as a Watch 6 owner, the upgrade is just impossible to justify.
Thanks to Samsung’s updates, my Watch 6 is still very much in its prime. One UI 8 has delivered many features that define the 2025 experience.
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FollowedSamsung Galaxy Watch 6
Battery Life
30 hours with Always On Display and 40 hours without
Onboard GPS
Yes
Display Size
1.3" Super AMOLED 432x432 (40mm) or 1.5" 480x480 (44mm), Always On Display
Case Material
Aluminum
Case size
40mm and 44mm
Colors
40mm: Graphite, Gold 44mm: Graphite, SilverThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is surely one of the best Android watches available, especially if you are already in the Samsung ecosystem. With a sapphire crystal display, Exynos W930 processor, 2GB of RAM, and up to a 425mAh battery, this watch is built to be a solid performer.
$300 at Amazon $300 at Best Buy $330 at Samsung
Expand CollapseSamsung Galaxy Watch 8
Case size
40mm/44mm
Colors
Graphite/Silver
Display
1.3-inch/1.5-inch Super AMOLED
CPU
Exynos W1000
RAM
2GB
Storage
32GBThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 includes new health and wellness features along with AI-enhanced features and more intuitive customization options.
$350 at Samsung $350 at Amazon
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