Compared: Apple Watch Series 6 Graphite versus Apple Watch Series 5 Space Black
Along with specification changes, Apple also altered its darkest color option for the Apple Watch Series 6, switching out Space Black for Graphite. We check out how truly different the change is for those wanting an all-black Apple Watch setup.
Apple Watch Series 5 Stainless Steel in Space Black (left), Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel in Graphite
The new Apple Watch Series 6 is offered in a choice of three materials, but with a wide variety of colors. While the new Red color arguably got the most attention, a quiet change was made to the stainless steel case for its black model, switching out the previously-available Space Black option in favor of a new version, Graphite.
Given the name, it is intended to be the black-colored variant of the range, but it is a departure from the Space Black offered in the Apple Watch Series 5. The change to Graphite is also unusual as it only applies to the stainless steel model, with the titanium case still offered by Apple with a Space Black coating.
There is an exception to this, as it is possible to get a Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 6, but only when bought as one of the Hermes editions, making it relatively expensive.
This change may be a small subtle difference for many, but as some people have already acquired Space Black accessories to go with their Space Black Apple Watch Series 5, the switch to Graphite may be a bit of a problem for some.
With that in mind, AppleInsider compared the Graphite stainless steel Apple Watch Series 6 against its predecessor, the Space Black stainless steel Apple Watch Series 5, to see exactly how much of a change has taken place.
If you put the cases together, you can tell the Graphite Apple Watch is lighter than the Space Black
In some light, the Graphite can border on seeming silver, such as in bright sunlight. Given there's a Silver version of the Series 6 on sale, it could make some Apple Watch buyers torn between purchasing Graphite and Silver at first glance due to the vague similarity.
Even so, it is still noticeably lighter in different environments, and it really demonstrates why Apple opted for Graphite instead of a name using the term "black." If there wasn't a Series 5 in Space Black nearby to directly compare against, most would consider Graphite to be near enough black-colored for their style.
Though it is lighter than the Space Black, Graphite is still quite dark. When put against the aluminum Space Gray model, the Graphite Stainless Steel model is not only darker, but also much shinier than the matt finish of its lower-priced counterpart.
Depending on the band, this may not necessarily be an issue, but one telltale area are the lugs that slot into the Apple Watch casing. Black lugs on a band or strap will seem much darker than the Graphite case color, which will stand out when closely examined.
Black lugs on a band or loop will look dark on the Graphite Apple Watch.
Unless you're extremely particular about color matches and deep down are troubled by the mismatch of black lugs against the slightly lighter casing, there's not much to worry about, and most other people won't really notice it either.
A more obvious issue would be if the main body of the band is black, as that may make the Graphite casing stand out as lighter. For existing owners of a Space Black Milanese Loop wanting to reuse it, this may be a small problem.
The Graphite Milanese Loop for the Apple Watch Series 6 on a Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 5
The level of this can be demonstrated in reverse in this photograph, which shows the Graphite Milanese Loop on the Space Black Apple Watch Series 5. The texture does help hide the disparity, but you can still tell there's a lightness change.
Obviously, the Graphite Milanese Loop matches the Graphite Apple Watch Series 6 perfectly.
Though the Graphite is a little lighter, it and the Space Black still communicate 'Black Apple Watch' to onlookers.
There are ways around it for those desperate for perfection, but that typically involves considering alternative options. You could get a matching Graphite Milanese loop to get over most of the hurdle, or alternately you could pay more to shift to the titanium models or Hermes if Space Black is an absolute must-have personalization.
For the vast majority of Apple Watch owners, they will probably acknowledge the difference, embrace it, and then carry on using their existing accessories.
Apple Watch Series 5 Stainless Steel in Space Black (left), Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel in Graphite
The new Apple Watch Series 6 is offered in a choice of three materials, but with a wide variety of colors. While the new Red color arguably got the most attention, a quiet change was made to the stainless steel case for its black model, switching out the previously-available Space Black option in favor of a new version, Graphite.
Given the name, it is intended to be the black-colored variant of the range, but it is a departure from the Space Black offered in the Apple Watch Series 5. The change to Graphite is also unusual as it only applies to the stainless steel model, with the titanium case still offered by Apple with a Space Black coating.
There is an exception to this, as it is possible to get a Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 6, but only when bought as one of the Hermes editions, making it relatively expensive.
This change may be a small subtle difference for many, but as some people have already acquired Space Black accessories to go with their Space Black Apple Watch Series 5, the switch to Graphite may be a bit of a problem for some.
With that in mind, AppleInsider compared the Graphite stainless steel Apple Watch Series 6 against its predecessor, the Space Black stainless steel Apple Watch Series 5, to see exactly how much of a change has taken place.
Apple Watch Series 6 vs Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch Series 5 - Specification
| Apple Watch Series 6 | Apple Watch SE | Apple Watch Series 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (starting) | $399 Lowest Apple Watch 6 prices | $279 Lowest Apple Watch SE prices | $399 Lowest Apple Watch 5 prices |
| Sizes | 40mm, 44mm | 40mm, 44mm | 40mm, 44mm |
| Display | Always-On Retina | Retina | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED |
| Case Materials | Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium | Aluminum | Aluminum, Ceramic, Stainless Steel, Titanium |
| Processor | S6 | S5 | S5 |
| Heart Sensor | Blood Oxygen Sensor With ECG | Second-generation optical heart sensor | Second-generation optical heart sensor with ECG |
| Water Resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours | - | Up to 18 hours |
| Recharging | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | 802.11n 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Other Sensors | GPS Compass Barometric altimeter Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor | GPS Compass Barometric altimeter Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor | GPS/GNSS, Compass Barometric altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient light sensor |
Graphite Apple Watch Series 6 vs Space Black Apple Watch Series 5 - Case changes
Just looking at the cases alone without bands, the difference is subtle enough for people giving it a close examination, though lighting conditions will also help or hinder telling the two colors apart. Under even studio lighting, the difference is very apparent, with Graphite being lighter.If you put the cases together, you can tell the Graphite Apple Watch is lighter than the Space Black
In some light, the Graphite can border on seeming silver, such as in bright sunlight. Given there's a Silver version of the Series 6 on sale, it could make some Apple Watch buyers torn between purchasing Graphite and Silver at first glance due to the vague similarity.
Even so, it is still noticeably lighter in different environments, and it really demonstrates why Apple opted for Graphite instead of a name using the term "black." If there wasn't a Series 5 in Space Black nearby to directly compare against, most would consider Graphite to be near enough black-colored for their style.
Though it is lighter than the Space Black, Graphite is still quite dark. When put against the aluminum Space Gray model, the Graphite Stainless Steel model is not only darker, but also much shinier than the matt finish of its lower-priced counterpart.
Graphite Apple Watch Series 6 vs Space Black Apple Watch Series 5 - Accessories
While the Graphite Apple Watch may not necessarily be compared against its Space Black counterpart all the time, the shade difference may be more apparent on a day-to-day basis if it is paired with existing accessories. It is likely that someone who has invested in a collection of Space Black accessories may want to use them with the new Apple Watch model.Depending on the band, this may not necessarily be an issue, but one telltale area are the lugs that slot into the Apple Watch casing. Black lugs on a band or strap will seem much darker than the Graphite case color, which will stand out when closely examined.
Black lugs on a band or loop will look dark on the Graphite Apple Watch.
Unless you're extremely particular about color matches and deep down are troubled by the mismatch of black lugs against the slightly lighter casing, there's not much to worry about, and most other people won't really notice it either.
A more obvious issue would be if the main body of the band is black, as that may make the Graphite casing stand out as lighter. For existing owners of a Space Black Milanese Loop wanting to reuse it, this may be a small problem.
The Graphite Milanese Loop for the Apple Watch Series 6 on a Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 5
The level of this can be demonstrated in reverse in this photograph, which shows the Graphite Milanese Loop on the Space Black Apple Watch Series 5. The texture does help hide the disparity, but you can still tell there's a lightness change.
Obviously, the Graphite Milanese Loop matches the Graphite Apple Watch Series 6 perfectly.
Is this a problem?
The problem of shade changes between generations of device isn't a massive issue, but it can be irksome. If you have spent a lot on accessories so you can have the perfect black Apple Watch configuration, the slightly lighter Graphite model could be a nightmare, though most will probably shake it off as a minor inconvenience.Though the Graphite is a little lighter, it and the Space Black still communicate 'Black Apple Watch' to onlookers.
There are ways around it for those desperate for perfection, but that typically involves considering alternative options. You could get a matching Graphite Milanese loop to get over most of the hurdle, or alternately you could pay more to shift to the titanium models or Hermes if Space Black is an absolute must-have personalization.
For the vast majority of Apple Watch owners, they will probably acknowledge the difference, embrace it, and then carry on using their existing accessories.
Comments
That said, I *love* the screen on the 6 having upgraded from the 3. Nice improvements all around.
I still use the black link bracelet from my Series 0 and it looks pretty good scratch-wise.
A lot of really dark DLC coatings involve plating the object in chrome first, then applying the DLC coating. This helps it bond more consistently, but chrome plating is ridiculously bad environmentally. Maybe graphite is the darkest they could get with an acceptable rejection rate without chrome?
Sapphire shatters when you hit it hard enough, but that point is about where glass shatters, too. Ion-X glass should isolate a crack a little better, but if an impact would shatter one, it would probably shatter the other.
I have occasionally forgotten to take off my stainless Series 3 and later my space black Series 4 while working on a car, either in the engine bay or underneath. Both screens look new. The stainless Series 3 picked up the fine scratches any highly-polished stainless steel object picks up, but nothing longer or deeper. The space black Series 4 looks brand new all around with zero visible scratches on screen, case, or bracelet.
I don't really deal with carbide drill bits or abrasives harder than garnet, so I expect the space black Series 4 to keep looking just like this until I eventually replace it.
first is the color. All my Watches have been Space Black SS models. The 6 is Graphite. Really, most of the time you won’t see a difference. It depends on the angle of the light, mostly. If you look at the watch straight on from the top, you can’t see a difference, unless you look closely, and the lights are at an angle. But even then, it’s just briefly. With my black SS bracket, which, unfortunately they discontinued this year (the best watch bracket from any manufacturer, at a fraction of the cost!), I can see the difference, again, only if I look specifically for that difference. Yes, again, at angles, the difference is there, but briefly. Much of the time, such as now, as I’m looking at it, it looks exactly the same. If I turn my wrist around, I can see the graphite look, and it is lighter than the bracket. But again, you’re moving around, so that comes and goes. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference, unless you’re showing it to them.
whatever it is, it looks good on the bracket, even though the lugs are darker because of the closeness of the parts. Really, the tiny edge of the lugs aren’t positioned so that anyone will see them unless they look for them. The color is exactly like a solid graphite bar. I’ve got some of those, and a side by side comparison, after I polish up some of the surface of the bar, is virtually the exact color. Considering that carbon is graphite, it makes sense.
ok, two, sapphire vs hardened glass. I’ve had several high end mechanical watches for decades. I sold them a couple of years after getting my first Apple Watch, as I found myself wearing the Apple Watch more often. After a time, it didn’t pay to have the watches cleaned and lured every couple of years, because that cost bought me another Watch in SS, every year. Yes, you have to have maintenance on expensive mechanical watches or the friction will cause wear on the delicate brass gears and the pinions.
anyway, all of those watches have sapphire faces. Despite that I wore them in my shops, they never got scratched, or cracked. But I did buy a Tournoue quartz titanium case model for my daily wear in my lab, because SS will rot from some of the chemicals. Even though that watch was relatively expensive, 35 years ago, it only came with a “hardened mineral glass” cover. I had to take the watch in almost every year to get the heavily gauged, and once, cracked cover replaced.
I've smacked my Watches too many times to count, and never damaged the sapphire face. I’m not saying that it can’t happen, because if you smack it hard enough, it will. But it’s pretty thick, and pretty strong. Not a real issue.caladanian said: Really? I assume you bought that then?