Although the Apple Watch Series 6 may appear to be a minor enhancement, the addition of blood oxygen monitoring is a game-changer. The brighter, always-on display is also a plus.
Quick specs for the Apple Watch 6
- Starting at $399 for GPS and $499 for GPS + Cellular.
- 40mm and 44mm in diameter
- 18-hour battery life
- Resistant to water for up to 50 meters
- Sensors: ECG, SpO2, heart rate, altimeter, music storage: 36GB
The Apple Watch 6 is the most advanced smartwatch available. Its buttery smooth performance, velvety haptics, and trouble-free setup delight users. Everything about the Apple Watch experience is almost obnoxiously smooth, which is one of the main reasons for its market dominance.
For the first time, the Apple Watch 6 includes blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring, a brighter always-on display, an always-on altimeter, and a speedier CPU. Rival smartwatch makers appear to be making bigger leaps forward with their products, while Apple keeps to its gradual approach (and 18-hour battery life).
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Apple Watch sleep monitoring is one of the features included in the watchOS 7 software upgrade. There are also a host of new watch faces and bands to choose from. If you're upgrading from a Series 4 or previous Apple Watch, the mix of new hardware, software, and accessories provides a more significant upgrade.
This Apple Watch 6 review explains how the company maintains its competitive edge and justifies the $399 starting price.
However, if you're considering purchasing an Apple Watch 6, you might want to wait a few weeks because Apple's successor, the Apple Watch 7, is expected to be announced in mid-September.
Apple Watch 6 review: What I like
- Blood Oxygen app: I'm delighted to report that both my blood oxygen levels were 99 percent (above 95 percent is considered normal, though my father, a veteran EMT, says he wouldn't want to see me below 98 percent) and that the Blood Oxygen app is rather comprehensive. It provides a quick overview of blood oxygen levels and guides users through taking on-demand readings.
- Brighter always-on display: Indoors, the Apple Watch 6's display is noticeably brighter than the Apple Watch 5's, as expected. The difference is less noticeable outside, in direct sunlight. However, when I compared side-by-side photographs, it appeared that the Apple Watch 6's screen shone brighter.
- New watch faces and third-party complications: Apple has released a slew of new watch faces that will make you forget about Infographic. I like the bold look of the Typograph face, but the Stripes, Memoji, and Artist options are also wonderful for showcasing your personality. However, thanks to improved support for third-party complexities, the good ol' modular faces are better than ever.
Apple Watch 6 review: What I don't like
Same battery life: The Apple Watch 6 has the same battery life as the Apple Watch 5, Apple Watch 4, and Apple Watch 3, which is 18 hours. Maybe we'll be able to get rid of the Series 7's daily charge?
Solo loop band: The elastic, clasp-less band sounded like a nice alternative to the usual athletic band, but I quickly switched back to the traditional strap. I suppose I have the wrong size Solo Loop (you'll need a printable measuring tape to figure out which one you have), but I still don't like pulling it over my hand. And it appears that I'm not the only one having difficulties.
Apple Watch 6 price and availability
The Apple Watch 6 has a starting price of $399 for the GPS-only variant and $499 for the GPS + Cellular device. Meanwhile, the larger 44mm variant will cost $429.
As part of the company's new sustainability objectives, the Apple Watch 6 will not come with a power adaptor.
Apple Watch 6 review: Design and always-on display
The Apple Watch 6 has the same squircle design and Digital Crown as the previous Apple Watch models. It appears to be as slim as we've come to expect, with few competing smartwatches fitting as snugly on your wrist as an Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch 6 is available in special blue and Product Red cases. Although the silver, gold, and space gray Apple Watches are still stylish, I'm a big supporter of the Apple Watch moving into the colorful tech world.
The rumored conversion from OLED to microLED displays never happened, but the screen now has an always-on mode that allows you see the time at a glance. The always-on setting is over twice as bright this time, according to Apple, and my eye findings corroborate this claim. It's not worth attempting to measure, but in side-by-side comparisons, it appears to be sharper than the Series 5.
Apple Watch 6 review: Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring
The oxygen saturation level of your blood can be measured with blood oxygen sensors. SpO2 monitoring in the Apple Watch 6 is a type of pulse oximetry that lets users know their blood oxygen levels with 15-second on-demand readings and occasional background checks.
According to Apple, a measurement of 95 percent to 100 percent is optimum. Blood oxygen concentrations that are below normal are often a sign of underlying health problems including sleep apnea. Silent hypoxia, a life-threatening condition that can exacerbate the effects of respiratory disease, can also be a sign.
When I told my father, a former EMT, about the Apple Watch's Blood Oxygen app, he agreed that pulse oximetry is important. It's the first reading he takes when responding to a call, he adds, because it's less subjective than pulse or blood pressure readings.
Apple isn't the first firm to incorporate SpO2 monitoring into its health features, but you can guarantee that if it's ready to sell its own version, it thinks it's done it well. I recorded blood oxygen levels of 99 percent or 100 percent, which matched the values from a typical, finger-based pulse oximeter.
Apple Watch 6 review: Sleep tracking
You won't need one of the top Apple Watch sleep tracking applications anymore. Apple Watch's sleep tracking I've spent several weeks. It is not as insightful as Fitbit's software, but successfully stresses how sleep goals are determined and a sleeping habit is established. You will like the challenge of reaching seven hours of sleep if you're the kind who loves closing your activity.
As I'm sure you can imagine, spending the majority of my time at home over the last several months has messed up my sleep schedule in ways I never imagined. However, my Apple Watch sleep tracking reminds me to wind down for bed at the same time every night, and I've noticed that I'm getting more restful zzzs as a result.
Apple Watch 6 review: Other watchOS 7 features and Apple Fitness Plus
Apple's programmed workout library gives it an advantage over the finest fitness trackers. Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cool Down activity monitoring have been added to the Apple Watch with the watchOS 7 update.
It also works with Apple Fitness Plus, which will be available to Apple Watch owners by the end of 2020. The fitness subscription service offers ten different types of programs, all of which are taught by genuine instructors. Apple Fitness Plus costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with three months free for Apple Watch 6 owners.
Other major watchOS 7 improvements include a hand-washing timer, mobility metrics, and watch face sharing. I don't think the hand-washing timer works very well. The mobility metrics are great for keeping track of things like walking speed, stride length, and step asymmetry for senior users. Although I'm not going close enough to anyone these days to observe (and steal) their screen layout, watch face sharing is cool.
Apple Watch 6 review: Battery life
The Apple Watch 6 has the same 18-hour battery life as its predecessors, the Apple Watch Series 5, Series 4, and Series 3. On days when I completed GPS-guided workouts, I didn't even get a full 18 hours of sleep, which was to be expected. We would have hoped to see some progress in this area, but for the time being, everyday change is required.
The Apple Watch 6 can be fully charged in 90 minutes, which is a plus. My Apple Watch 5 takes close to two hours to fully charge.
Apple Watch 6 review: Verdict
Yes, there aren't many differences between the Apple Watch 5 and the Apple Watch 6, but the SpO2 sensor is a useful feature, especially with the increased focus on personal health.
Apple continues to get away with slow Apple Watch improvements thanks to its clean software, small design, and seamless ecosystem interaction. Users don't seem to mind if Apple isn't first to market with every feature as long as it's convenient.
The competition, on the other hand, is more convincing than ever. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and Fitbit Sense are only two of the most current Apple Watch rivals that include SpO2 and ECG. Even the $279 Apple Watch SE, which is a pared-down version of the Apple Watch 6, is appealing, but it lacks many of the high-end sensors.
Our smartwatch buying guide can also assist you in evaluating your requirements and determining which of this year's wearables is best for you.