Apple Watch Series 6 Review

Apple Watch Review Overview

The Apple Watch has been the Editor’s Choice for a long time, now for its unparalleled app selection and excellent performance. With Apple Watch Series 6, Apple plans to build upon the flagship smartwatch with blood oxygen saturation sensor which can calculate the SpO2 level. It can also capture the period background measurement when you are inactive or asleep. Including this technology in a wearable hasn’t been more important given the COVID-19 pandemic. The technology indicates how respiratory and circulatory systems are delivering oxygenated blood to the body. 

It might not be the best deal but it definitely justifies the cost by offering great value. The update comes with some new additions including sleep tracking capabilities.

The Apple Watch Series 6 is much better than popular Fossil Garett HR because it automatically syncs and comes with blood oxygenation level monitoring software. According to Apple, it will help you decide when you have to visit the hospital. 

The American multinational technology company selling computer software, online services, and consumer electronics has reached new heights with the Apple Watch update. The fact that it took the company 4 generations to get it in spite of its rapid strides in hardware sums up the whole thing. 

Read this Apple Watch Series 6 review to find out if it is the right choice for you. By the end of the Apple review, you will learn if it is worth it. 

Pros

  • Accurate activity tracking
  • Smart capabilities that is close to perfect
  • Improved wrist-down screen brightness
  • Fast new processor
  • Attractive new band and watch colour options

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Comes with only slight battery-life enhancement

 What should You Consider Before Buying a Smartwatch?

Smartwatches have switched over to a different approach in comparison to what they were even a few years back. These days, it is more than just a smartphone notifier. Smartwatches like Apple Watch Series 6 comes with features like media controls, fitness, and also calls. 

Even though smartwatches Malaysia have not seen the pace of revolution which smartphones have, there have still been improvements ranging from battery, design, features, and software. The smartwatches have little tricks up their sleeve. 

When you are planning to buy a smartwatch, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. Let’s take a quick look at this Apple Watch Series 6 Review

  1. Price
  2. Brand
  3. Features 
  4. Warranty
  5. Battery life
  6. Design

Specification of Apple Watch Series 6 

DesignRetina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak)448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density)Sapphire crystal glass
StrapNo Clasp Buckets in a wide range of colours 
Screen Size1.78 inches, 10.0 cm2 (~60.0% screen-to-body ratio)
ModesAirplane Mode, Turn on Theatre Mode, and Theatre Mode.
SensorAccelerometer, Barometer, SpO2, always-on altimeter, heart rate, VO2max, compass
Dimension 44 x 38 x 10.4 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.41 in)
BatteryLi-Ion 303.8 mAh (1.17 Wh)
Weigh47.1 g
Features Available Natural language commandsAbility to dictate text repliesSiri language translationsApple PaySPo2 Sensor
Price in Ringgit MalaysiaRM 1749-RM 3249

Reasons to Buy Apple Watch Series 6

The Apple Watch Series 6 is a little faster and brighter. It is available in two sizes 40mm or 44mm. Check out the amazing features that have been included in the smartwatch. 

1. Design and Display

Series 6 has a distinctive square design. The case has a rounded corner that Apple watch is popular for. The 44 mm model measures 1.73 by 1.48 by 0.42 inches, while the 40mm model measures 1.56 by 1.35 by 0.42 inches. 

When you place the new watch next to Series 5, you don’t find any difference apart from the band and the case colour. The brand hasn’t changed the resolution or size of the display. The 40mm model has a 1.57-inch display and 394 by 324 pixels, while the 44mm model has a 1.73-inch display and 448 by 368 pixels. 

The new Apple Watch is comfortable on the wrist and you can even wear it to bed. The 40mm and 44 mm models that are made of aluminium weight 1.07 and 1.28 ounces, respectively, without the strap. The stainless steel models weigh 1.40 and 1.66 ounces and are the heaviest. Its titanium models weigh 1.22 and 1.45 ounces.

Apple Watch Series 6 cool design

Apple Watch Series 6 is water-resistant to 165 feet. According to the claims made by Apple, it is safe for activities in shallow water such as swimming in the ocean or pool. The watch can also be worn in the shower or while soaking in a hot tub. However, it isn’t suitable for wearing while you are waterskiing, scuba diving, or engaging in high-velocity water activities. 

The Series 6 is partially charged. So, when you buy and take it out of the box, turn it on and you will notice a screen appearing on the iPhone. It will ask you to set up the watch. You can set it up for yourself or someone who is using the Family Setup service by Apple. 

The Series 6 Watch will then prompt you to put on the watch, hold it up to the phone camera for pairing. As soon as you do this, the Apple Watch gets paired. Now, you can restore from a backup or just set it up as a new watch. 

While you are setting up the watch, enable the Blood Oxygen app. This is one of the most striking features of the watch. It lets you check your blood oxygen saturation levels and will measure it throughout the day. To receive a notification, enable automatic updates. 

2. Unique Features

  • Fall Detection

It includes fall detection and Emergency SOS features. For calling emergency services, you have to press and hold the side button. As soon as you do this, a message will be sent to your emergency contacts.

Perfect fall detection sensors

In case of fall detection is enabled, the watch is going to call emergency services automatically when it detects that you took a hard fall. You have the option to disable the feature on Apple Watch App if you want. 

  • Blood Oxygen Reading

One of the most striking features of the watch is the new Blood Oxygen Reading feature. The watch can measure the oxygen saturation of your blood. This is also called Sp02. The metric shows how well the respiratory and circulatory system is supplying oxygenated blood to the body. 

However, the SpO2 reading alone cannot detect COVID-19. So, a reading below 90% will warrant a visit to the emergency room. The Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a technology that is similar to that of the pulse oximeter. Its SpO2 will shine red and infrared light through the skin on the blood vessels on the wrist for measuring the colour of blood. This shows the oxygen level of your blood. Dark red blood is less saturated than bright red blood. At times, changes in your body can have an effect on the blood oxygen level.

Apple Watch Series 6 blood oxygen monitoring

When you open the Blood Oxygen app on your watch for the first time, it will take you some tips to get a good reading. To make sure you are getting the correct reading, make sure that the watch is snug but comfortable. It shouldn’t be too low on the wrist. Keep the watch facing up while taking the reading. 

As you start a blood oxygen level scan, you will notice a 15-seconds countdown timer along with a blue and red graphic. Following 15 seconds, you will get to see your blood oxygen saturation percentage. 

Another alternative is to check your oxygen level measurement in the Health App on your iOS smartphone. On the app, you can check the blood oxygen level reading graphs for the month, week or day. It will also show your daily average. 

The Blood Oxygen Saturation Level detection might not be such a novel feature as the other fitness trackers. 

  • Always-On Altimeter

The Series 6 comes with an always-on altimeter. So, it is easier to check your elevation outdoors or indoors in real-time. The feature proves to be useful for downhill skiers and hikers. 

The Series 6 uses data from the barometric pressure sensor, nearby Wi-Fi networks, and GPS to detect the exact location and update the elevation on the fly, if you prefer to add the elevation as a complication to your watch face.

Apple Watch Series 6 altimeter

This feature proved to be useful for me even in flat Florida. I made sure to add the elevation complication to the watch face and it was really interesting to see the changes, particularly when I went to the beach close to my house that in some areas is below sea level. 

The feature can be useful during the hurricane season or when you want to buy a new house. When you start looking for a house in future, you can use Apple Watch Series 6 to check the elevation perspective and make an informed decision. 

3. Performance and Software

The Series 6 comes with 32GB storage and the new dual-core S6 System in Package. This delivers up to 20% faster performance in comparison to the S5 chip present in Series 5 and Watch SE. The new watch includes improved screen brightness. Its display still features the maximum brightness level of 1000 bits. However, it is brighter in ambient mode.

Better performance is for sure

Apple has claimed that it has improved the maximum brightness from 200 nits to 500 nits when you put down your wrist. So, it is easier for you to see in the light. 

It also comes with a new antenna along with Series 5’s double spectrum. This enables it to support 5GHz Wi-Fi. So, it frees up congested 2.4GHz bands allowing you to access speedier 5GHz bands. 

4. Battery Life

Apple claims that Series 6 comes with 18-hours battery life just like Series 5. However, it also mentions that it drains less battery when you track workouts such as outdoor and indoor runs and stream music. After wearing it for 24 hours, it still had a 13% battery left in it. During the whole time, the watch on always-on display mode and used it for tracking 38-minutes runs with GPS. Also, I had the Do Not Disturb mode on all throughout the day. After using it for almost 26 hours, I got a notification that the battery has gone down to 10%. So, I put it on a charge.

Charging and checking battery

One of the improvements is that the watch charges faster than the previous version. It will take 2 hours to charge the Apple Watch Series 6 watch. The watch charges 80% in an hour and 100% in 90 minutes. 

5. Warranty

The Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a one-year warranty but it doesn’t cover water damage. So, it is better to be cautious when you are exposing it to water.

Apple Watch Series 6 warranty coverage

6. Specifications

  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Processor: S6
  • Storage: 32 GB
  • Case Thickness: 10.4mm
  • Case Size: 40 or 44 mm
  • Operating System: watchOS 7
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G, Ultra-Wideband
  • Water Resistance: 50 meters

7. watchOS 7

The watch’s latest version runs on watchOS 7 operating system. It comes with a number of useful features such as sleep tracking, automatic hand washing detection every 20 seconds, new workout types, and cycling directions in certain cities. watchOS 7 also comes with the new watch faces. 

You do not have to get a Series 6 to take advantage of the features. Even if you have Apple’s Series 3, 4, or 5, you can get watchOS 7.

New OS with lots of features

After testing the watchOS 7 feature, the hand washing countdown has turned out to be a necessity, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic. The Series 6 comes with motion sensors that can detect your hand washing movements. It uses a microphone for listening to the sound of running water. As soon as it detects that you are washing your hand, it sets up a 20-second timer on the watch’s screen. When you are done, it vibrates and will give you thumbs up. 

Most fitness trackers and smartwatches already come with sleep tracking capabilities. So, Apple is a tad late to this race. Also, the version that it offers is quite basic. When you wear the watch to bed, the Health App on the iOS device will show when you fell asleep, when you woke up, and the total time you have slept. The watch charts your sleeping time for the entire week and month. So, it can show you your average sleeping time. 

Other Smartwatches You can Consider Buying

Huawei Watch GT2 46mm

Pros

  • Great battery life.
  • Accurate tracking premium looks.

Cons

  • UI performance problems.
  • No stress tracking on iOS.

HUAWEI WATCH GT2 46mm is a smartwatch with good design and battery life. In case you are searching for a basic smartwatch with notifications and tracking, this can be a good choice. Performance isn’t at par with Apple Watch Series 6. It comes with a crisp display that is viewable in direct sunlight.

HUAWEI WATCH GT2 46mm

However, unlike Series 6, it doesn’t come with an always-on mode. You can keep the display on for 20 minutes after using. It might be disappointing for people who are looking for an always-on display. Nevertheless, as soon as you raise your hand, it is quick to wake up. As soon as you lower your hand, the display goes off. 

You can track your health and fitness through the Huawei Health app.

Samsung Galaxy Watch3

Pros

  • Intuitive rotating bezel.
  • Versatile design.
  • eSIM capability.
  • Bright display.

Cons

  • App Availability.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 has a dazzling design, ample new fitness features, and vivid display. However, the brand sticks to a conventional-looking circular display and rotatable bezel. So, you can cycle through the on-screen menus physically.

Samsung Galaxy Watch3

This watch by Samsung is much better than its predecessors. However, its slow charging can be a drawback. Unlike Apple Watch, it takes more than 2 hours to get fully charged. Nevertheless, it includes stress tracking and SpO2 monitoring as its additional features. 

Pros

  • Continuous blood oxygen monitoring.
  • Incredible fitness tracking.
  • Strong sleep tracking.
  • Great battery life.

Cons

  • Slow GPS signal locking.
  • Weak vibration motor.

If you are okay with sacrificing a few smart features for better fitness and health tracking, Garmin Venu SQ can be a good choice. The smartwatch works with iOS, as well as Android. This is what makes it so popular among the masses. 

Even though it is geared towards health and fitness tracking, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to miss out on the smart features. The watch runs on its own operating system Garmin OS. This isn’t as seamless as that of Apple smartwatches. The watch can sync updates easily and you will not experience any lag in opening an app or choosing menu options. 

Buy Apple Watch Series 6 to enjoy all the features that these couple of watches lack. 

Conclusion

Since Apple Watch was launched 5 years ago, one of its main functions has been to track and monitor your health. The Series 6 comes with two key features that will save you in this time of the pandemic. These are the SpO2 sensor that helps you monitor the blood oxygen saturation level and the countdown timer that ensures you wash your hands properly. 

The watch by Apple further impresses by including a faster processor and an always-on display. Its enhanced altimeter will track your elevations in real-time. The watch easily outperforms Galaxy Watch 3 and alternatives. In case you already have Series 5, Series 6 is worth the upgrade if you are looking for SpO2 reading and always-on altimeter. 

Apple Watch Series 6 review makes it clear that for general health-tracking functionalities, it can be a good choice. The watch is easy to use and understand. Also, it is a little cheaper than the Series 4 and 5. The Series 6 has better integration with the iPhone and is fluid. Apple Watch Series 6 is highly comfortable to wear.

About The Author

Kai

Kai

When it comes to contemporary smart tech and IT updates, Mr Specky Geek is the go-to-person. Behind his apparent geekiness is his ability to research the latest tech trends. He may be a nerd in real life, but in his own virtual internet world, he is a champion. Any tech related inquiries- you name it, he’ll recite it as easy as ABC.

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