Apple launches Apple Watch Series 6 with blood oxygen monitoring

Apple today unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 6 at its virtual ‘Time flies’ event in Apple Park. This year’s upgrade to the Watch brings faster performance, blood oxygen monitoring, new Solo Loop bands and watch faces, among other additions.

The Apple wearable is powered by an upgraded S6 System-in-Package (SiP) that is based on iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic chip. It is up to 20 percent faster in performance than the Series 5. The always-on Retina display is now up to 2.5 times more brighter than its predecessor, while maintaining the same 18 hours battery life that can fully charge in just 1.5 hours. There’s also an always-on altimeter included that provides real-time elevation above ground level. It can also be added as a watch face complication.The U1 chip and Ultra Wideband antennas included support short-range wireless interaction for features such as digital car keys.

With Apple Watch Series 6, blood oxygen monitoring makes its way on your wrist. It’s also known as SpO2 monitoring, and measures the oxygen saturation level of your blood. The sensor uses four clusters of green, red and infrared LEDs to measure light reflected back from the blood, with the help of four photodiodes on the back of the Watch. Apple says it uses an advanced custom algorithm built into the Blood Oxygen app which measures blood oxygen between 70 to 100 percent. All data is curated in the Health app.

Coming with watchOS 7, new watch faces include a Stripes, Chronograph Pro, Tachymeter, Memoji, and more. It will also alert users with warnings for low VO2 max, in addition to sleep tracking and handwashing detection. Moreover, there’s also a new Family Setup feature debuting in watchOS 7. It will extend Apple Watch to the entire family, including kids and older family members who don’t have an iPhone. Parents can manage who their kids communicate to through the Watch, set up location alerts, and enable DND modes for lessons.

The Series 6 comes in a new blue aluminum case, an updated classic gold stainless steel, graphite stainless steel, and PRODUCT (RED). The cases are provided with matching bands, including new Solo Loop bands. The Solo Loop bands are stretchable coming in nine different sizes with no buckles at all. It is offered in two variants: soft silicone and braided yarn.

The Nike edition comes with new colors for the Nike Sport Band and Nike Sport Loop along with a new Nike Compact watch face. On the Hermès side, it has a stainless steel case offered in silver or space black paired with Single or Double Tour styles, in addition to a new Hermès Circulaire watch face with increased options for complications. The fall collection also includes Hermès Attelage Single Tour and slimmer Attelage Double Tour bands.

Also, Apple will not be including a USB power adapter inside the box, as part of its effort to reduce environmental impact. There will be a charging cable included, though.

Apple Watch Series 6 starts at $399 for the GPS variant and at $499 for the Cellular model, with availability beginning Friday, September 18 in the US, Puerto Rico, and 27 other countries and regions.