The Apple Watch Series 6, released in September 2020, brought significant updates to health features, performance, and design, making it one of the most advanced Apple Watches at the time. Here are the key features and improvements:
Key Features:
1.Blood Oxygen Monitoring (SpO2 Sensor):
•The standout feature of the Series 6 was the Blood Oxygen (SpO2) sensor, which allowed users to measure the oxygen saturation in their blood directly from the watch. This feature provided insights into respiratory and cardiovascular health, especially during sleep or fitness activities.
2.S6 Chip:
•The Series 6 was powered by the S6 SiP (System in Package), based on the A13 Bionic chip from the iPhone 11. This made the watch up to 20% faster than the Series 5, improving overall performance and responsiveness.
3.Brighter Always-On Display:
•The Always-On Retina display was made 2.5 times brighter than the Series 5 when outdoors, making it easier to view in sunlight, even without raising your wrist.
4.U1 Chip and Ultra-Wideband:
•The Series 6 included Apple’s U1 chip and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, allowing for more precise location tracking and enabling future features like digital car keys and more secure wireless communications.
5.Faster Charging:
•The watch offered faster charging, taking about 1.5 hours to fully charge, which was beneficial for users who wanted to wear the watch overnight for sleep tracking.
6.Enhanced Altimeter:
•The always-on altimeter provided real-time elevation tracking, useful for hiking and other outdoor activities that involve elevation changes. It tracked changes as small as a foot in height.
7.New Colors and Materials:
•The Series 6 came in a variety of new case finishes, including Blue and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum. It was also available in stainless steel and titanium.
8.Health and Fitness Features:
•In addition to blood oxygen monitoring, the Series 6 continued to offer ECG (Electrocardiogram) functionality and optical heart rate monitoring.
•It included advanced fitness tracking, including automatic workout detection, activity rings, and personalized fitness coaching via the Fitness+ service.
9.watchOS:
•The Series 6 shipped with watchOS 7, which introduced new features like Sleep Tracking, Family Setup (allowing parents to set up watches for kids without an iPhone), Handwashing Detection, and more customizable watch faces.
10.Battery Life:
•The battery life remained similar to previous models, with up to 18 hours of use on a full charge. However, improved power management helped maintain battery life even with the always-on display and new health monitoring features.
11.Family Setup:
•The Series 6 supported Family Setup, which allowed multiple Apple Watches to be connected to a single iPhone, making it easier to manage watches for family members, particularly children or older adults.
Discontinuation:
•The Apple Watch Series 6 was discontinued in September 2021, when the Series 7 was introduced. However, the Series 6 remains a popular choice for its performance, health monitoring, and durable design.