Try a used series 4 from eBay if you're curious. They have the same processor as the 5 and 6, and are dirt cheap.

For me it's been good enough to overcome "I could take it or leave it" - it's handy for reading alerts without pulling out the phone, and Google Assistant even works most of the time.

It's also nice to keep the phone on silent and just get a buzz on the wrist for calls and alarms. Plus smarthome integration if you do that.