Apple Watch Series 6: What to expect

The next Apple Watch (probably a Series 6) is still months from his big debut next to the rumor iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro max in the fall, but there are many rumors and a few clues hidden in the current WatchOS 7 update unpack in the meantime. Below we’ve put together a summary of plausible and compelling new features for the Apple Watch Series 6.

Design: A round Apple Watch, but not this year

This year’s Apple Watch will likely look very similar to its predecessors: a square case with rounded edges and an OLED screen that curves on the sides. As in previous years, Apple could introduce some minor improvements, such as: B. the enlargement of the screen (to present the new watch faces that are included) WatchOS 7), different materials for the frame and a few more watch band options, but so far there isn’t much evidence of a radical redesign of the Apple Watch … Not yet.

Circular rumors Dial on the Apple Watch have been circulating for a few years and Apple has even granted several Apple Watch patents that show what a round display could look like. However, the existence of a patent does not guarantee that Apple will use it in a product, and such a major change would require Apple to revise the watch’s hardware and software, so it could take a few years before it becomes a reality.

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Apple Watch Series 6: What to Expect

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Pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen levels

Health has been a key growth category for the Apple Watch since its inception. Most recently, native sleep data, mobility metrics and hearing health have been added in WatchOS 7, and we expect the trend to continue. The big health feature of Series 6 this year could be SpO2 tracking or the ability to monitor blood oxygen saturation.

According to 9to5Mac, iOS 14 code fragments indicate that the next Apple Watch can not only detect blood oxygen levels, but also send a warning if it detects values ​​below a threshold that is considered “healthy”, much like the watch does with warnings at high and low heart rate. Blood oxygen content is generally measured using a Pulse oximeter At your fingertips and to do this on your wrist, Apple would most likely need to add new hardware to the watch, making it an exclusive Series 6.

This would be good timing as some doctors recommend it Pulse oximeter devices to monitor COVID-19 symptomsand people started Purchase of pulse oximeters during the coronavirus pandemic.

Robust sleep tracking

The Apple Watch (Series 3 and higher) will finally get it native sleep tracking with the update to WatchOS 7 in the fall, but Series 6 could still improve sleep tracking by improving battery life and tracking blood oxygen levels at night.

Unlike sleep apps and Apple Watch competitors that include a breakdown of sleep quality and stages, the Apple Watch mainly focuses on the time you spend sleeping. If the Series 6 has SpO2 tracking, it may also be able to display estimated oxygen fluctuations at night and help users identify sleep-related conditions such as sleep apnea.

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 filing 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, such as: B. Emergency contacts and music.

With a feature called SchoolTime, 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 9to5Mac, 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 they take part 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 tell when the wearer is going 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.