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second-gen optical heart sensor of aw 6? what s the difference?
- Thread starter fulhamx5
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Series 6 is better than SE hands-down, but both are very good. From DCRainMaker's review of the SE:
"Whatever choice they made in software or hardware around GPS is very clearly a sub-par experience compared to the Series 6. On the same route in multiple places is performed like the older Apple Watches, cutting corners Mario-Kart style as it bumbled along. Same goes for a second run as well.
And on the optical heart rate, the Series 4/5 sensor wasn’t bad per se (after initial bugs were sorted out), but the SE using the same sensor showed issues that definitely weren’t seen on the Series 6 in my tests. Obviously, Apple changed the Series 6 sensor for a reason, and undoubtedly accuracy was a piece of that puzzle."
www.dcrainmaker.com
"Whatever choice they made in software or hardware around GPS is very clearly a sub-par experience compared to the Series 6. On the same route in multiple places is performed like the older Apple Watches, cutting corners Mario-Kart style as it bumbled along. Same goes for a second run as well.
And on the optical heart rate, the Series 4/5 sensor wasn’t bad per se (after initial bugs were sorted out), but the SE using the same sensor showed issues that definitely weren’t seen on the Series 6 in my tests. Obviously, Apple changed the Series 6 sensor for a reason, and undoubtedly accuracy was a piece of that puzzle."
Apple Reviews | DC Rainmaker
www.dcrainmaker.com
Interesting, I had missed this in the specs, good to know. Having moved from Series 3 it is a great upgrade using the 6, most noticeable is the display size and always on feature plus general navigation speed. Knowing that the heart sensor has also improved on this generation is a bonus.
Blood oxygen sensor also seems to work adequately assuming strap is tight enough when compared to a fingertip pulse oximeter.
Blood oxygen sensor also seems to work adequately assuming strap is tight enough when compared to a fingertip pulse oximeter.
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battery and heart rate sensor changes are the most important factors for me.
I still can't find enough information about battery life of Apple Watch se.
aw 6 charging time 1.5 hours. but for aw se some reviewers say its 2.5 hours , others say it s same 1.5 hours
I still can't find enough information about battery life of Apple Watch se.
aw 6 charging time 1.5 hours. but for aw se some reviewers say its 2.5 hours , others say it s same 1.5 hours
I will wear mine down today to zero and see charging time but generally I find it very fast to charge.
No matter what Apple says it is actually their 3rd generation HR sensor.
AW 0,1,2,3 -> first gen
AW 4,5,SE -> second gen
AW 6 -> third gen
based on extensive tests from DCRainmaker and Desfit (THE YouTube guys who test the fitness side of wearables) the second gen was a huge accuracy upgrade over first gen, but software changes ironically meant that AW 4 was marginally better than AW 5 or SE... but the third gen AW 6 seems right out of the gate to have the best HR accuracy in fitness of ANY AW and according to DCRainmaker the best optical HR accuracy from a WRIST worn device from any company ever.
very good information. thank you bluecanyon.
do you know about battery performances of se and 6? they use different batteries. and aw 6 has quick charging.
is the battery on aw6 enough to choose it against se? or not too much differences.
@canyonblue737 thanks for this information. Would you mind providing a link to where the third generation optical heart rate sensor on the Series 6 (and now Series 7) appears to have superior accuracy relative to any other watch?
The only thing I was able to find was this Sept 19, 2020 article by DC Rainmaker at https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/09/apple-watch-series-6-first-run-accuracy-spo2-sensor-data.html . He briefly discusses OHR sensor but the impressive claims you mention don't appear to be included in that article.
Have same interest and request as XMach! What I found in DC Rainmaker's review about the optical heart sensor was this:
In other words, his findings came from only ONE run, AND he concluded that the AW 6 was able to match "the very impressive accuracy of the Series 4".
That indicates that the Series 4 set THE standard. No statement that AW 6 is the best of any wrist device from any company ever -- rather that AW 6 = AW 4 which is stellar.
Where can we find a comparison of the first, second, and third generation optical heart sensors?
And, does that have any bearing EKG accuracy?
"All in, for HR accuracy while running a single run – it’s WAY better than the Series 5 was at launch, and now more in line with the very impressive accuracy of the Series 4."
In other words, his findings came from only ONE run, AND he concluded that the AW 6 was able to match "the very impressive accuracy of the Series 4".
That indicates that the Series 4 set THE standard. No statement that AW 6 is the best of any wrist device from any company ever -- rather that AW 6 = AW 4 which is stellar.
Where can we find a comparison of the first, second, and third generation optical heart sensors?
And, does that have any bearing EKG accuracy?
Here's the direct link to that DC Rainmaker comparison of AW6 and SE, along with his comparisons of the back of ALL Apple watches showing their sensors, with lots of other good information and specs.
www.dcrainmaker.com
He is clearly convinced that AW6 is a big improvement, at least compared to the SE — and, by implication, vs. the 4 and related models. At the same time, that other review suggested that the Series 4 set the bar. But that was back when there was no Series 7.
Apple Watch Series SE: A Fitness First Impressions Untangled
At first glance, the Apple Watch SE seems like a straightforward Apple Release with SE branding: Take a roughly year-old model, cheapen out some materials, and call it the SE. But in reality, it’s far more complex than that, and
www.dcrainmaker.com
He is clearly convinced that AW6 is a big improvement, at least compared to the SE — and, by implication, vs. the 4 and related models. At the same time, that other review suggested that the Series 4 set the bar. But that was back when there was no Series 7.
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I now have a S7 and had the SE before. What I can say regarding the HR sensor is that the SE had 4-5 outlier per day (isolated heart rates between 40 and 49). With the series 7 I didn‘t have a single one since I got it 3 weeks ago.
Wouldn’t say it’s more accurate. These single outliers often occurred when I was active. I think if my heart rate really dropped to 40 in these moments, I would have felt it. And if it’s the algorithm (software) why only on S7 and not on the SE. OS Version was the same on both watches.
Good response, fb! If you were active, then those were not just outliers, but grossly inaccurate readings. Suggests the sensor was poorer… or less reliable. Or, could there have been a change in bands and, thus, change in the sensor's position while you were active? In there words, it picked up only every other beat!
You're right about the algorithm, unless the OS can tweak the findings based on hardware… which could be possible as it would take the sensors into account.
But I'm simply spinning hypotheses…
Your instincts and suppositions sound spot on. One would expect that the more recent sensor would be more accurate AND more consistent! That is, in science and social science terms, have greater validity AND reliability.
You're right about the algorithm, unless the OS can tweak the findings based on hardware… which could be possible as it would take the sensors into account.
But I'm simply spinning hypotheses…
Your instincts and suppositions sound spot on. One would expect that the more recent sensor would be more accurate AND more consistent! That is, in science and social science terms, have greater validity AND reliability.