There’s a tingling sensation sending waves throughout the tech community every time an Apple event commences. Well, the unveil is already behind us, and Apple has surprised us with not one but two new Apple watches – the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE.
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Design and display
Apple has always been very meticulous about the design of its devices. Everything is really well thought out, and form meets function in perfect synchronicity. Maybe that’s the reason why Apple Watch has retained its design ever since its debut back in 2015. It’s the same story with the Apple Watch 6 – we have the same rectangular design that made this wearable so popular in the first place. With this generation, though, we get some new colors: blue, classic gold, classic graphite, and a stunning Apple Watch Product Red, for the first time.
Software and performance
With every new Apple Watch generation, there’s a leap in performance, courtesy of a new chipset. The new S6 chip, powering the Apple Watch Series 6, is 20% faster than the previous generation. It is based on the same A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11. Another big hardware upgrade in the Series 6 is the built-in pulse oximeter sensor. It can measure blood oxygen levels in just 15 seconds and send that information to the newly introduced Blood Oxygen App.
The new Apple Watch 6 and iOS 7 are very serious about fitness and health. That blood oxygen monitoring will allow for much better medical alerts and nutrition advice than ever before on a smartwatch. Besides, Apple has introduced Fitness+ subscription with a wide variety of workouts and features to help you improve your workouts and keep you motivated. The service features 10 types of studio workouts, yoga, cycling, dance, treadmill run, strength and core, mindful cool-downs, and even a beginner program. You will get it for free for three months with your purchase of the new Apple Watch.
- Watch face sharing
- More than one Complication per app can be shown on a watch face
- More Workout app modes: Core Training, Dance, Functional Strength Training, and Cooldown
- Sleep tracking
- Hand-washing detection
- Cycling directions
- Headphone listening duration tracking
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Battery
Battery life is always important in a smartwatch. Apple claims that Apple Watch Series 5 offers an 18-hour battery life, which we tested and confirmed in our Apple Watch Series 5 review. The latest leaks show a 303.8 mAh battery being certified by the KTR, a Korean regulatory body. The current Apple Watch Series 5 has a 296mAh battery, and considering the new features and sensors in the Apple Watch Series 6, we expect more or less the same battery life of around 18 hours. That’s also the official claim made by Apple about the battery life of the Apple Watch 6.
Price
Apple has adhere to its pricing tradition once again. Apple Watch Series 6 starts at $399, while the more affordable Apple Watch SE model will retail at $279. You can order both today and availability starts this Friday, September 18.
ALSO Read: Best Apple Watch deals right now
Conclusion
The big question remains – should you upgrade? There’s no simple answer, as there are many variables. If you own an Apple Watch Series 5 there aren’t many reasons to go for the Series 6. Granted, the new watch has a better processor, a brighter screen, and a blood oxygen sensor. On the other hand, the Apple Watch 5 has the same size screen and same ECG capability, and isn’t exactly “slow”. Things are quite different if you’re coming from the Series 3 or 4. It’s perfect timing to take that leap in performance and features, all at the same starting price as ever.
