Apple Watch 6 Series Review, Price, Specs
The Apple Watch 6 still needs a bigger headline feature
While the Apple Watch is one of the standout wearables you can buy, we're still waiting for another leap in functionality and, perhaps, design too. The blood oxygen monitor is another weapon in the health arsenal that Apple is building out, but it's not the title feature most potential upgraders will be clamoring for. As always, incremental improvements to battery life and performance are welcome, but it seems there's still untapped potential with Apple's line of wearables.
Pros
- Great color additions
- Sleep tracking finally appears
- Always-on display
- Fast new processor
- Measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) on demand
Cons
- Lacks a headline upgrade
- Siri can automatically fire easily
- Battery life needs to be longer
Apple Watch 6 Series Review
The Apple Watch 6 (or Apple Watch Series 6, if you want to be all proper about it) is the latest watch from the company alongside the Apple Watch SE that launched at the same time.
Apple Watches remain some of the most popular smartwatches despite not working with Android phones at all, serving as small second screens that connect your iPhone to your wearable. While the Apple Watch 6 is no longer the most advanced model on the market with the just-announced Apple Watch 7, and you might be wondering whether the year-old model offers anything massively alluring; if you're thinking about upgrading from an older Apple Watch, you’ll be especially keen to learn what’s new here.
Well, here are the highlights: Starting at $399 / £379 / AU$599 for the 40mm version (sadly no discount despite the Apple Watch 7 being out), Apple's sixth Watch has one There's a blood oxygen sensor, new colors for joy (we're in red) and a more efficient S6 engine at its heart. It's also supposed to be a brighter display in sunny conditions - we'll come to that soon.
In addition, the rest of the new features that come with the Watch 6, such as sleep tracking, hand-wash tracking, and a new buckle-less band, will be made available to the older Apple Watch.
Keep in mind: The Apple Watch 6 is the company's most sophisticated wearable yet, but there's not enough new here to deserve an upgrade to the latest smartwatch. On the other hand, there isn't much improvement over the brand new Apple Watch 7 other than a 20% bigger screen and always brighter display. Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, the Watch 7 doesn't include any new health sensors or features, so you're not missing out on much by choosing the slightly older Apple Watch 6 instead.
On the outside, the Apple Watch 6 continues with the same design language used in previous models – around, metal body with a square display that elegantly curves into the device itself.
The new colors and designs are interesting, with the new blue and red flavors, in particular, the attractive, aluminum casing on the wrist, blending well with the more attractive colors.
Using OLED technology, the display is as bright and clear as ever – we didn't see any extra glare outside, despite claims made by Apple, but equally, we never struggled to read the display, rich Thanks to the colors and good contrast ratio.
As has been the case in recent years, fitness is the main focus of the new Apple Watch, and it's more prominent than ever. A new sensor allows you to see how saturated your blood is that uses oxygen, and for the most part, it works well.
However, Apple is clear that this is not a medical device, and should only be used for general fitness or wellness monitoring – so it's an interesting thing to check out from time to time, but it doesn't feel like a titular feature. Is.
More interesting is Apple's new Fitness Plus service, which lets users interact with fitness workouts no matter where they are — and any new Apple Watch will come with three months of workouts.
As an overall fitness tracker, the Apple Watch 6 looks like it has some incredible benefits - great activity tracking, good monitoring and motivation to stay active, a wide range of monitoring activities - but still for 'Pro Mode' There is no step. Those who want to take their fitness to another level. Potential Apple isn't exploiting.
As always, the battery life of a new Apple Watch is strange. Once again, we regularly got longer than the advertised 18 hours between charges, typically around 28-30 hours before needing to reach for the charging cable.
The thing is, there's still not a lot of time for what this watch can do. With sleep tracking now on board, you have another useful metric to help you keep your health on top.
But you still need to work if you're going to find a 90-minute window every day to charge your watch if you're not going to do it overnight, which is frustrating.
watchOS 7 brings some small upgrades – Apple isn't saying as much, but it's clear that something is designed to help with the current pandemic we're facing: a hand-washable monitor just by chance. Not likely, and it is a useful weapon in the fight against Covid-19, even if surveillance is a bit hard to please.
The Apple Watch 6 is almost the best Apple has to offer in the wearables space, and if you're concerned about your heart health or respiratory system, those extra features will give you a welcome degree of reassurance.
However, for many consumers—especially those who don't bother about having an always-on display—the Apple Watch SE offers nearly every feature the Watch 6 is packing and does it for a very small cost. Is.
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Apple Watch 6 Price & Release date
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  | Apple Watch Series 6 | Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm) - Blue Aluminum Case with Deep Navy Sport Band | Check On Amazon |
 | Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) | Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) - (Product) RED - Aluminum Case with (Product) RED - Sport Band | Check On Amazon |
 | Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm) | Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band | Check On Amazon |
The Apple Watch 6 release date was Friday, September 18th, and you (relatives) can easily pick one up online or in-store.
In terms of the price of the Apple Watch 6, you're looking at $399 / £379 / AU$599 for the 40mm version, while the 44mm version starts at $429 / £409 / AU$649 (those prices are GPS-only). version, without cellular connectivity).
If you want an LTE-ready watch, the 40mm starts at $499 / £479 / AU$749, and the 44mm starts at $529 / £509 / AU$799.
The most expensive model will still set you back $1,499 / £1,449 / AU$2,259 if you go for the sleekest straps and finishes – but Apple still believes that the allure of its watch has a great deal of fashion. Is part of.
And remember: you can still get a rough Apple Watch 3 for $199 / £199 / AU$299, or try and get the similar Apple Watch 5 discounted at multiple retailers. The Apple Watch SE starts at $279 / £269 / AU$429, so this is another low-cost option you can pick up.
Apple Watch 6 Series Design
- Great new colors
- Identical design to recent years
- New Solo loops to choose from
The Apple Watch Series 6 design is similar to any recent Apple Watch (as does the Apple Watch 4 ahead).
Coming in 40mm and 44mm flavors for smaller or larger wrists respectively, you'll see the same rounded edges that merge into the screen, the Digital Crown that rotates through the interface with a simple flick of a finger, and The power button below that works as a way to jump between apps.
On the back of the Apple Watch 6, you've got a heart rate monitor that's been updated frequently and includes new features like blood oxygen sensing and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors, in addition to checking your regular heart rate, Is performed. And alerting you if things turn out to be more or less than usual.
The Apple Watch 6 is also 5ATM certified, which means it can be used for swimming and popping down to a depth of 50 meters for 10 minutes if you want – but, really, that means Apple Watch is completely protected from 'normal'. ' Swimming.
The big story in terms of the Apple Watch 6 design is the new range of colors – and the shade that particularly catches our eye is red. It's (PRODUCT) red, a color that Apple has used to help promote an organization trying to rid the world of AIDS for a few years now, and it's by far the most eye-catching color of the bunch — And, happily, that's what we've got to review.
The other colors, (Gold, Silver, Graphite, Space Gray, and Blue) are also premium looking and fit in well with the well-built feel of the Apple Watch. The price is high, granted, but you're getting a beautifully made device for your cash.
It's also lightweight - at 36.5 grams (for the 44mm version) we didn't feel like it weighed much on our wrists, and it's easy to forget sometimes.
As always, you're able to customize your watch with different bands, and the new addition in 2020 is the Solo Loop, an (expensive) band that doesn't have buckles or Velcro to fasten it together, and which Made instead of stretchy silicone or braided silicone that you drag your hand over your wrist.
Sadly, the Solo Loop we were sent for review purposes was huge—it hung around the wrist like a bangle—but we could see the promise of being able to slip it on the wrist, and Don't have to mess with the clasps, or worry about it being moved around during the day.
Apple Watch 6 Series Display
- Good OLED technology
- The always-on display can be handy
- Finally dims at night when tracking sleep
The Apple Watch 6 display uses OLED technology, and as a result, it is a good-looking screen. When you're in dark places, it's just the numbers, letters, or whatever else on the screen you can see, as OLED technology enables the incredible contrast between black and white tones, which is what the Apple Watch 6 has to offer. But whatever it is, it looks attractive.
Where older Apple Watch models (and the newer Apple Watch SE) required you to raise your wrist to see what time it is or check a notification, the Watch 6 continues where the Watch 5 is the always-on display. left with.
That means you don't have to lift your wrist to see the time or alerts, and you can just look down to see what's going on. Depending on the watch face you set up — and there are many now — you'll also see news, health stats, or updated information on battery life without needing to raise the Apple Watch and fully wake up your device (which uses will do) and more rights).
However, although it is useful, we feel that it is still not well implemented. The always-on display is helpful at times, but mostly we just want to see the time. The problem is, even though the Apple Watch 6's screen dims when it's not being viewed, it's still bright.
So whenever things get dark, you either need to put it in theater/cinema mode (which is a hassle to do and then requires a button-press to display the time), low light Start sleep tracking to get the monochrome version. Display, or just accept that your watch will shine brighter.
We wished there was an option for a very, very dimly-lit set of numbers for the time being—we don't want to see the whole watch face, just a small view of the time that isn't distracting.
Apple Watch 6 Series: Blood oxygen monitor
- Interesting feature
- Not designed for medical use, so can it be trusted?
- Needs alerts embedded
The Apple Watch is a wearable designed for fitness, and the Apple Watch 6 is by far the pinnacle of the company's health and fitness ambitions. Every year we get new fitness and wellness features, so let's start with the big one for the Watch 6: Blood Oxygen Monitor.
First, don't forget that it's been around as an option on other wearable devices like the Fitbit Charge 4 (and phones including members of the Samsung Galaxy range) for a long time.
So it's not a new feature, but the question is how Apple is implementing it in the new watch, and whether it can actually be useful, especially when the world is facing a respiratory disease-based pandemic.
But before we get to that, let's remind ourselves what a blood oxygen (or SpO2) sensor does. Burning red and infra-red light under the skin, the diodes on the bottom of the Apple Watch 6 can read the color of your blood, and track how much oxygen you're pumping around you.
There are different opinions about what percentage looks good for, but if you're over 95% you're generally in a good place.
You can run a dedicated SPO2 test on the watch, sitting still for 15 seconds to test it, or you can test the Apple Watch 6 all day – we did both, and the results were pretty much matched, And for the most part, we were above the 95% threshold.
But... for the most part. According to the health app on the phone that recorded this information, there was a time when our SPO2 level dropped to 88% - was this a cause for concern? We assumed, because it wasn't repeated, it was just an outside read, but it was still a bit distracting to watch.
And therein lies the rub with the new SPO2 sensor on the Apple Watch. On one hand, it can be comforting to see your blood oxygen level sitting well where it should be... it should be noted, most wearables on the market with SpO2 sensors are also touting).
What do you do with that information if Apple says it's not made for medical use? Should we trust it? Or should it be ignored if results can vary with fit and speed over time?
Well, the simple answer is: staying informed is a good thing. If you are noticing a frequent drop-in SPO2 along with feeling other side effects, you can go to the doctor to put your mind at ease. If you are at altitude, and suddenly the oxygen saturation level in your blood drops, you may decide.
But it seems odd that Apple isn't notifying you that your SPO2 dropped randomly during the night—which can indicate the sometimes serious condition of sleep apnea—or, advises you when your heart speed becomes less or more than normal. , do you need to do something about it immediately.
We're not sure why Apple isn't offering those alerts, and it's hard to say whether the SpO2 meter is particularly useful.
However, even with the ability to take an ECG and monitor your heart's regular output, it's still a comfort, and people with heart conditions will probably turn to the Watch 6 as a result.
Apple Watch 6 Series: Fitness
- New workout options
- Still needs a 'pro' fitness model
- GPS can go slightly awry
With the new Apple Watch 6, there are several ways to keep track of your general well-being, and being able to turn off your 'move rings', the metric Apple uses to tell you how active you are.
With each new Apple Watch release, the brand brings more ways to track your efforts so you know exactly how active you are and encourage you to try new things too.
As regular readers of TechRadar know, we're really in a race. Chucking on a Garmin or Apple Watch and going for a few mile jaunts is something we enjoy regularly, and the Apple Watch is getting better at surveillance every year.
Running has now become more involved in activities than ever before, with dancing and 'cooling down' being added to a growing roster of fitness facilities.
 |
| (Image credit: TechRadar) |
But it's not just about moving: the watch helps with alertness and attention (the latter is especially appreciated thanks to the onboard 'Breathe' app, which tickles your wrist with tiny vibrations). to tell you when to breathe in or out).
By tracking these activities with your Watch and monitoring your heart rate, you're getting an accurate calorie burn so you can see how well you're doing if you're on a fitness kick.
The Apple Watch 6 (and others in the watch range) will help you on your way to your goals of standing enough time, walking enough, or getting enough exercise by motivating you to be active at times during the day when you feel like your Have a moment to do it - it's very helpful.
However, fitness tracking on the Apple Watch is also limited in some ways. We took the Watch 6, Watch SE, Watch 5, and Watch 4 for a 15-mile run, and there are still some things the Watch 6 hasn't fixed.
Firstly, the running part of the Workout app is still a bit limited. Apple makes it so that the GPS inside (which should be fairly accurate, since you can connect to multiple satellites to find your location) doesn't have to 'lock' you out before running, just to get you out and accelerate. pavement for
It's good when you're starting out, but it's less accurate when you build up to longer ranges. Comparing the watch range to the Garmin, which requires a proper GPS lock before starting, there was a small disparity in our distance-run numbers, especially when driving through a tree-covered environment.
It also varies significantly when doing the same run over and over again—while doing the same 6.5-mile course with the Watch SE and Watches 6, we saw a 0.2-mile unevenness, and completely different mile splits— Which doesn't create complete confidence in the distance and speed tracking.
However, on other shorter runs, the distance was fairly comparable, so it often depended on the terrain and how strongly the GPS signal could be picked up.
There's also a heart rate monitor on the back - we often find that this on-the-wrist pulse-monitoring technology is less accurate than wearing a chest strap, and there are times when the Apple Watch 6 monitors our heart rate. Struggles to keep. when we were running.
That shouldn't leave to potential watch owners who love the idea of a heart rate monitor on their wrist—it was as good as anything we've tested recently, let alone some high-end running watches; It's just that it loses connection from time to time.
Holding the watch face up helped our hand accuracy (since it's easier for the sensor to read the pulse through the skin here), but it wasn't comfortable and eventually fell forward.
The Apple Watch 6 still feels like a fitness wearable for everyone, appealing to the fitness conscious rather than the masses. And that's the right way - those who want something a little more dedicated can easily find it elsewhere.
We've all wanted to wear the Watch 6 for everything, though, so it would be great if Apple equipped this device with a way to set up interval training, when you're trying to beat a mile PB, or just step. Enhance Workout app to encourage those who have been training for years to take the next level with the Watch.
Right now fitness on the Apple Watch still feels a little basic, and after all these years we were hoping to see a little more depth.
Apple Watch 6 Series Battery life
- Easily lasts a full 24 hours, and often longer
- Fast charging is a godsend
- S6 internal chipset makes activities more efficient
Apple Watch 6 battery life is another thing we wish had improved this year – it's a key thing that's keeping the Apple Watch range from being an instant recommendation.
We saw last year that the addition of an always-on display had a real impact on battery life, and while the new S6 chipset inside the Watch 6 improved power efficiency, it didn't solve some major issues.
Let's start with one of the strangest things Apple does: it consistently represents the battery life of its Watch range. Since the first models of the Watch, claimed battery life has always been pretty stingy – Apple calls this 'all-day battery life and lets the Watch 6 last up to 18 hours in normal use.
Well, we always connected it to a phone or Wi-Fi all day, and we took it running, apps with controlled music – and we always got over 24 hours of use before needing to reach for the charger.
However, while that might sound like a good thing, in reality, 24 hours isn't that helpful over 18, especially when you have sleep tracking in the mix. Now that watchOS 7 allows you to monitor your sleep, you need a device that you can take to bed at night and will leave a good slug of battery when you wake up.
The Apple Watch 6 can manage it, but you'll need to charge it soon after waking up – so if you're going to use this Watch to the fullest, and can turn on its sleep track, you'll need to Will need a daily window where you can charge it.
On the plus side, the S6 chipset inside the Apple Watch 6 is, in fact, the most efficient processor Apple has ever put in a wearable. For example, you'd expect a combination of an always-on display and an SPO2 sensor to be far more battery-draining than the Apple Watch SE; But, in the 15-mile, 110-minute run we found the Watch 6 used less battery than the SE, as Apple has made GPS tracking more efficient.
The same is true for music playback, so these smartwatch features are less of an issue battery-wise on Apple's latest models.
The Watch 6 also charges much faster than previous models - in comparison with the Watch SE, the Watch 6 was fully charged from 0% in 75 minutes, while the Watch SE was powered by the older S5 chip. Also, used to take 100. Minutes to fill.
In 'normal' use, which is with the SPO2 sensor and always-on display firing, the Watch 6 will run 20% less than the Watch SE under similar usage conditions, although, of course, you can always turn these features off - You may not be getting the same functionality, but it is one way to get the best battery life on any Apple Watch.
With all settings off, you'll get battery life comparable to the Apple Watch SE, but with a longer lifespan while working out or listening to music.
And don't forget: there's no charging block in the box anymore (but you do get a charging cable). That said, if you can't find a USB charging block somewhere, it makes us wonder where you've been for the past decade.
Apple Watch 6 Series: watchOS 7
The Apple Watch 6 is the showcase for the latest version of Apple's wearable operating system, but the usual caveat applies: The same features (except for blood oxygen monitoring) are also coming to the new Apple Watch SE, and will be rolled out to every device. Will go from Watch 3 onwards.
However, we'll be interested to see how these new features perform on the Watch 6 to see how well the device is optimized for them. There are some we haven't noticed, like dancing and cool-down monitoring in fitness, new ways to personalize and share your watch face with your complications, and mapping your bike ride on the go - You can find out all about those, and others, in our dedicated watchOS 7 hubs.
Sleep tracking
The first thing we wanted to try with the new Apple Watch was sleep tracking, which eventually became Apple's wearable.
This is an especially welcome feature for those who are already wearing their watch to bed, not least because you can set a bedtime and the display goes monochrome, and you can easily use it. Won't wake you up, as you'll need to spin the Digital Crown to come back - it's a great way to help you resist the temptation to check that last notification when you're about to fall asleep.
However, sleep tracking itself is pretty basic. When you put down your phone, it'll work when you get to bed, and then monitor how long you've been sleeping. This data is fed into your phone's Health app, so you can see how your sleep time is increasing or decreasing.
There's no information about whether you spent time in deep sleep, light sleep, or REM, nor any association with bedtime, or how stressed out you were during the day—these are increasingly becoming standard features on other fitness wearables. So we expected more from Apple here.
The wake-up screen is nice, showing you the amount of battery remaining and the weather for the day – so while it's a limited feature, the elements in it are well executed.
hand washing monitor
The handwashing feature wasn't created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but its presence on the Apple Watch 6 is useful for reminding you to wash your hands for 20 seconds, providing a countdown when you do.
This is a feature that was quite unsettling to us, but in a matter of days, it became more accurate.
We've worn both the Watch SE and Watch 6 for the test period and rarely did they both fire at the same time we turned on a tap and began scrubbing—often a five-second disparity.
The handwashing feature is also hard to please - if your hands aren't near a running faucet but are still washing them vigorously enough, the clock will stop the countdown timer. It feels unfair when you're washing your hands, but the result is you spend longer washing time to satisfy the watchful gaze from your wrist.
In fairness, this must have been an incredibly difficult feature to work well – the Watch has to detect a very specific hand motion as well as listen for the distinctive sound of running water, so it’s impressive enough that It works as often as it does.
translation
The last feature we'll look at here is Siri's translation capability—which, by the way, is pretty responsive on the Apple Watch 6, activated much more often than not, even when you're not talking to the Watch.
However, say something like "Translate 'I have a lovely bunch of coconuts, there they are all standing in a row, the big ones, the small ones, some as big as your head' into French" and the voice assistant quickly turns around to respond. - and plays it with correct pronunciation too.
There's a wide range of languages Siri can translate — Mandarin, French, German, Italian and Spanish — but you can't interact with your wrist, as the Watch can't translate back to English yet.
Other features we used
As mentioned, watchOS 7 is built on a system that packs a lot of useful (and some not-so-useful) functionality at its heart. The main one we're using is lifting to talk to Siri - where you don't need to say 'Hey Siri' or press a button - just lift your wrist and start speaking.
When it works, it's great, allowing you to quickly set a timer, find out what song is playing, call a friend, or turn off the lights in your smart home.
You need to get the gesture right though, and a lot of times we found that Siri wasn't really listening, which prevents you from using a voice assistant right away, especially if other people can see you.
One thing we didn't mention is the use of cellular data with your Apple Watch. The number of times you'll need it is limited—the ability to have Siri with you when your phone isn't there, or to make calls, or listen to Apple Music playlists, but the added cost of data makes the plan less appealing.
Speaking of phone calls, however, we took a few calls using the Apple Watch when our iPhone was in another room, and the speaker is clear and crisp, with the microphone picking up every word—it's important to appreciate how much it sounds. It's nice to be able to do that.
One element we didn't use much was the walkie-talkie mode - in the past year, we've found that we'll chat with people using this method (while saying 'over' at the end of each sentence) at that point. Where now we think we are going to be upset by requesting a chat.
We went back to using the feature to talk to a friend with whom we communicated regularly - but it feels like something fun to use in short bursts from time to time, rather than an integral feature. Is.
The last thing we tried was the Watch App Store, to see if it carried on over the past year. In some ways, it has more Apple Watch apps available than ever before — but the App Store opening screen on the Watch makes you feel like there isn't much.
There's no categories to dig into, or a long list of tailored recommendations, a shortlist of seemingly random options, and when we just love the idea of being able to grab a new app without needing to reach for our phones. If it doesn't, it doesn't feel like it's worth the effort to do so on a smaller screen when the larger iPhone can do the job more effectively.
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