Apple Watch 6 and watchOS 7: What to expect

The next Apple Watch (probably a Series 6) is still months from its big debut iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro max. But there is still a lot of speculation about a Series 6 smartwatch and a new software update that can be announced on Monday WWDCThis brings new functions to the existing Apple Watches to convince us in the meantime. We’ve put together a summary of plausible and compelling new features for the Apple Watch Series 6 based on the latest leaks, rumors, and Apple patents.

Design: A round Apple Watch, but not this year

Aside from a few minor changes like bigger screens, different materials, and different watch band designs, the look of the watch hasn’t changed significantly since Apple introduced the first Apple Watch in 2014. And this year it will be no different.

Circular rumors Dial on the Apple Watch have been doing the rounds for a few years. Some of its Android counterparts like the Samsung Galaxy Watch have circular designs, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to believe that Apple would follow suit. To fuel the fire, the company has also granted several Apple Watch patents that have a round display. But so far it’s only one way; The existence of a patent does not guarantee that Apple will use it in a product. Even if one of these patents became a reality, it would probably take years. Such a big change would require Apple to revamp the watch’s hardware and software. We haven’t heard anything to suggest that this will happen in 2020.

New dial options, but no business

The Apple Watch has countless customizable dials (so-called “complications”) that range from animated Disney characters to weather-centered user interfaces. But Apple still hasn’t loosened the reins Third-party watch facesand we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Instead, Apple can allow users to do this share Dials. According to a 9to5Mac, every dial configuration is released as a unique file via AirDrop. The report, which cited leaked iOS 14 code as a source of information, also says that WatchOS 7, the next version of Apple’s smartwatch software, will add an analog tachometer to its design options that can measure speed and distance .

You may also be able to use shared albums from your Photos app to create a custom watch face that iterates through the photos in that album. This means family members can add individual photos to the shared album that everyone in the group can see on their wrists.

For patriotic users, WatchOS 7 can add an “international” option that allows you to select a country’s flag as the dial.

A new fitness app

Fitness has been at the heart of the Apple Watch since its inception, and Apple could go even further this year. According to MacRumors, the company is working on an independent fitness app. Unlike the existing activity app, which tracks your progress and is already available on the Apple Watch (and iPhone), this app offers guided workouts for a number of different activities such as running, cycling, rowing, weight training, dance and yoga.

There is no shortage of such third-party fitness apps for the Apple Watch, but a native fitness app could get many of them out of business. The app would be available on the iPhone and Apple TV as well as on the Apple Watch. And it could be free. The MacRumors report says there is no evidence of in-app purchases, but this doesn’t necessarily preclude a subscription-based approach like Apple Music.

Native sleep tracking can finally arrive

This could finally be the year Apple Watch gets native sleep tracking. Since the acquisition of the Beddit sleep sensor in 2017, a tracker that sits under the mattress, there have been rumors that Apple is integrating a similar function into the Apple Watch. A “sleep app” was also accidentally mentioned in a screenshot of Apple’s pre-installed alarm app in the App Store. The image was discovered by a MacRumors reader back in October and has since been removed. A leak on April 30 on Twitter seems to confirm this rumor.

Sleep monitoring on Apple Watch is currently available through third-party apps. One of the biggest hurdles for Apple was battery life. The current Apple Watch models last about a day and a half in normal use, but such a feature would require overnight monitoring. This would likely drain the battery much faster and require a larger battery (exclusive to a Series 6) or a software update (WatchOS 7 feature) that would optimize battery life. However, it is in the company’s interest to solve this problem soon. Many Apple Watch competitors like Fitbit and Samsung have had it on their devices for years.

Pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen levels

Even if the Series 6 doesn’t have native sleep tracking, Apple is likely to further expand the health and wellness features for the next Apple Watch.

This year’s major health feature could be the so-called SPO2 tracking. This would allow the watch to measure your blood oxygen level like a pulse oximeter and warn you if it drops below a certain threshold according to 9to5Mac. This is good timing because of some Doctors recommend pulse oximeters to monitor COVID-19 symptomsand people started Purchase of pulse oximeters during the coronavirus pandemic. The April 30 leak also confirmed this rumor.

The Apple Watch is already doing something similar with the heart rate and will warn you if it detects an abnormally high, low, or irregular heart rhythm that indicates atrial fibrillation or AFib.

To make this possible, the Series 6 may require a new type of sensor, probably a pulse oximeter. The Apple Watch already tracks VO2 max (or the maximum oxygen consumption) in the Activity app using the GPS and the heart rate sensor during training. Therefore, only a software update may be required.

Other health rumors include monitoring glucose and blood pressure on the next Apple Watch, but these may be further away.

Blood pressure without a cuff

A recent Apple patent discovered by Apple Insider suggests the company may also add blood pressure monitoring to future Apple Watch models. According to the patent, the watch would use a combination of new sensors and software to measure blood pressure without relying on a traditional arm cuff.

The existence of a patent is promising, but it does not guarantee that the feature will become a reality. Even if this is the case, the most recent submission date suggests that it would not be ready to start in this year’s Series 6.

A child-friendly Apple Watch

The leaked iOS 14 code also reportedly points to new tools for parents. Instead of giving their children an iPhone, parents who want to stay connected to their children could set up a second Apple Watch (completely separate from theirs) that uses their iPhone and Apple ID as the host. This would also give the parents the final say on what kind of content their children can access on the watch, e.g. B. Emergency contacts and music.

With a feature called SchoolTime in WatchOS 7, parents can even determine which apps can be used at what times to limit distractions in the classroom.

This would also mean adapting some of the health functions to younger users. According to 9 to 5 Mac, the ring system (used for activity tracking) would be based on different metrics. For example, the red movement ring would track active minutes instead of active calories, as is the case with adults. The watch will also encourage kids to keep moving by offering virtual rewards when participating in sports or outdoor activities.

Pursuit of panic attacks and stress

The Apple Watch Series 6 is also reported to have several mental health monitoring features, including the ability to recognize when the wearer is about to experience one Panic attack (Another current feature if it fails during the global pandemic). This rumor was also mentioned in the April 30 leak related to Mental Health Abnormalities Detection.