Apple Watch Series 6 Review: The Best Feature-Rich Watch
"The Apple Watch Series 6 is the most complete smartwatch package you can buy. If you want to get the most out of all of Apple's wearable offerings, this is it."
-
Comprehensive health and activity tracking
-
Reliable software
-
Always on the screen ensures visual appeal
-
New colors in blue, red and gold look great
-
The Apple S2 chip is a powerhouse
-
ECG and SpO2 measurements can only be used to a limited extent in practice
In my opening paragraphs on the Apple Watch SE review, I asked how Apple could improve on the already excellent Apple Watch formula and the answer was to cut the price where the Apple Watch SE is successful. Now the question is, where is the Apple Watch Series 6 for more than $ 389? How does it get you into buying the SE or upgrading from a previous generation model?
Interestingly, it does this in a typically watch-like fashion while making sure that the nerd among us also gets new technology.
design
Apple hasn't changed the look of the Apple Watch Series 6 from the Series 5, but it did what many watchmakers do when they come across a popular design: they change the colors and introduce a special edition. You can buy the aluminum Apple Watch Series 6 with a blue case, a new gold case, or a special (PRODUCT) RED finish that compliments the existing silver and room gray models. Along with the new case, there are two new strap designs, the Solo Loop and the Braided Solo Loop, as well as new colors for many of the existing straps. (The straps are of course backwards compatible with earlier models.)
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
You can see the blue version in our photos and it is very pretty. It's dark blue, so it contrasts well with other colors. It's not as flashy as the happy (PRODUCT) RED version. Combine it with the right bracelet and you have a modern, sporty watch that is more interesting to look at than the space gray or silver versions. It's the 44mm version on my wrist, and a 40mm version is also available for smaller wrists. The size and weight are virtually the same as the Series 5, except for a tiny, imperceptible reduction in depth.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I choose the Sport Loop in Deep Navy (because it contains a reference to the Tag Heuer Formula 1 Gulf Special Edition), which is made of a soft nylon fabric and secured with a Velcro system and is immensely comfortable. The gently curved ceramic and sapphire caseback adds to this comfort, and the smoothed screen and sides ensure that it slips happily under your sleeves. I've been wearing the Apple Watch SE and now the Series 6 for two weeks and never once felt the need to take it off because it is hot, scratchy, sweaty or generally annoying.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The cheapest Series 6 is made from 100% recycled aluminum. However, you can spend more to purchase a stainless steel model or a titanium “watch edition”. So should you These materials are more durable to some extent, but both are heavier than the aluminum model, and few will tell the difference between the three materials if not informed. Much of the usefulness of the Apple Watch Series 6 is that it can be worn all day. As you add weight it may be less likely to do so. So think twice if you want to spend more.
Always in the display
The screen introduced in the Series 5 is the feature most are using to consider the reason to spend more and get the Apple Watch Series 6 instead of the Apple Watch SE. Instead of the screen going dark as you fall asleep after not having used it for a minute or two, the watch face subtly changes design and dims so that the time remains visible. Aside from enhanced utility, the Apple Watch makes your wrist look more interesting.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I like the way the watch faces change. It's not a sudden change, but a slow animated change between the main dial and its surrounding alternative. On some faces, like the new GMT face, the change is almost imperceptible, while on others like the new artist face, the change is significant as the color is completely derived from the screen. The Series 6 screen is sharp and detailed, and also brighter than the Series 5 screen, and I never had to change the brightness to see it outside.
Apple Watch California face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple Watch California surrounding face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple watch artist face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple Watch Artist surrounding face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The permanently visible screen is really all about the graphics, because as life with the SE has shown, the gesture to wake up the Apple Watch is so immediate and reliable that the time is always there when you need it. Keeping something on screen all the time changes the way the Apple Watch looks on your wrist from soulless technology to something with life and movement. Apple's diverse collection of watch faces is also highly customizable, adding another element of personalization beyond the bracelet and case color choices.
The always-on screen is one reason to buy the Apple Watch Series 6 through the Apple Watch SE. However, it is fashion, not utility.
SpO2 monitoring
"Blood oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use." Not my words, but the words from Apple that were taken from the explanation page for using the Apple Watch Series 6's blood oxygen measurement (SpO2) tool.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Medically, pulse oximetry checks that there is enough oxygen in the blood and is important for people who have had a heart attack, lung disease, asthma, or other breathing problems. Because of this, SpO2 helps identify serious complications from COVID-19. However, when using a medical pulse oximeter in place of a consumer product like the Apple Watch. In this article on the benefits of owning such a device at home, Dr. Denyse Lutchmansingh of Yale School of Medicine: "Unless a patient has real lung disease, there is no need to monitor pulse oximetry."
What good is it if it's not intended for medical use? Based on the fact that outside of a medical setting, some data are better than no data, blood oxygen levels can initially help identify sleep problems such as snoring and sleep apnea, generate recommendations for post-exercise recovery time, or assess altitude acclimatization in hikers or hikers .
Reading on Apple Watch Series 6 takes 15 seconds and requires nothing more than tapping the Start button in the associated app. It can also be set up to take regular measurements and notify you when a drastic change is detected. Seen in this way, the SpO2 measurement of the Apple Watch is another tool in its already well-equipped medical bag.
If you remember, it makes sense to think of SpO2 monitoring as a silent feature, rather than a feature that you use every day or record the readings regularly. Along with other health characteristics, it gradually creates a picture of your general condition, monitors trends, and can quickly let you know if things change dramatically.
Take an EKG
You can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) with the Apple Watch Series 6, just as you can with the Series 4 and Series 5. This feature is primarily used to provide data to your doctor and does not detect a heart attack, blood clot, stroke, or other heart-related disease . Not my words, but Apple's words on their support page for the EKG feature. Do you see a pattern here?
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
However, the EKG is more useful than measuring blood oxygen. It's approved for use in the US and the UK (apparently only for people over the age of 22), and Apple states that it will provide readings similar to the EKG machines your doctor prescribes. So, if you've been diagnosed with problems that may affect your heart, Apple Watch can help. Again, it can be helpful as an early warning system when used with other Apple Watch integrity functions. However, reports can be found questioning the validity of warnings emanating from the watch.
It takes 30 seconds to perform the ECG. You need to sit and rest in a certain way and touch the digital crown throughout the exposure. The results are displayed immediately and can be saved for further examination by your doctor. It worked consistently for me, just like the blood oxygen measurements, and the app is both clear and attractively animated.
The EKG is another nice to have feature that can be of real use in extreme medical emergencies. For most people, and for most of the time, you won't realize it's there. Neither it nor the SpO2 readings are reasons to buy the Apple Watch Series 6, but knowing they are there is somewhat comforting.
Fitness and health monitoring
In my Apple Watch SE test, I went into more detail about the Apple Watch's training plans, the hand washing function, and sleep tracking. Since all of this applies to the Apple Watch Series 6, take a moment to read the sections on these aspects in this review as my experience here was identical.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Apple Watch is a great tracker for everyday activities. The activity ring system is clear and motivating for people who want to increase their daily activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The data provided in the Apple Health app is clear and simple. It is not for the serious athlete concerned with running cadence, interval training, or high-precision remote-rate heart rate monitoring.
This approach is reflected in the sleep tracking feature introduced in watchOS 7. The data that is made available all night after wearing the Apple Watch is actually only permanent and does not contain any information on sleep phases, interruptions or quality. It's just another piece of the health puzzle that Apple Health uses to keep you in the loop instead of bombarding you with detailed data.
Battery and performance
Keeping the screen on all the time does affect battery life, but it might not be as severe as you fear. The Series 6 can be used for a day and a half on a single charge. This includes all health monitoring functions, e.g. B. active SpO2 monitoring and overnight sleep monitoring. It lasts until the afternoon of the second day. At this point, it is recommended to switch to power saving mode to last several hours, but with limited functionality.
Adding an hour of fitness tracking (without GPS) drains the battery about 10% more, which seems to cut average usage time by about an hour. If you use GPS – the Apple Watch Series 6 has its own GPS so you can use it without your phone – it is likely to have a significant impact on battery life. Turn off the clock overnight and two full working days are possible.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Charging the Apple Watch when you want to track sleep becomes an issue. It takes about 80 minutes to fully charge from zero. This is a sizable chunk of the time to determine if you're not putting it on the charger overnight. Incidentally, the Apple Watch does not come with a charging stone, just the USB cable with a magnetic charging base.
The Apple Watch Series 6 features Apple's new S6 processor and promises a performance improvement over the Series 5 and Apple Watch SE, which use the older S5 processor. The speed of the Series 6 is obvious. Navigating watchOS 7 seems to be 1.5x because everything is so snappy. It's the little things that get you noticed. It's faster to tell when you're washing your hands than the SE, which usually has the timer on the screen between 10-15 seconds after your 20-second wash, but the Series 6 is 10 seconds and less The watch face gives you instant access to your data without any lag in the lightning-fast animations.
These aspects really only show up in comparison, but those who upgrade from a much older Apple Watch will really notice. If you get to the Series 6 from Series 4 or even earlier, you'll think Apple has strapped a big turbo to the side of the processor that feels so fast.
Life with the Apple Watch Series 6
Daily life with the Apple Watch Series 6 is not that different from life with the Series 5, except for the slight increase in speed that you will notice at first. It's practically the same as living with the Apple Watch SE except for the always-on screen. The Series 6 offers the same helpful functions as Apple Pay support, comprehensive music control, the walkie-talkie function, reminders to get up every hour, the relaxation exercise to breathe, Apple Maps and Siri.
Apple Watch apps are displayed Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple Watch Twitter notification Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple Watch Instagram notification Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
You can buy a Series 6 with cellular connectivity if you want to use data services without having to carry your phone around. However, this will cost you extra each month. Without this feature, Apple Watch will continue to process calls as long as it's connected to your phone, and the speaker will be surprisingly loud too. However, callers don't always hear you well when you're outside. The notifications it receives are clear and concise, and almost all of them can be interacted with in some way.
Since wearing and using the Series 6 every day is so similar to the Apple Watch SE, check out my review of this watch I wore before the Series 6 for more information on how it looks for general use.
Price and availability
The aluminum Apple Watch Series 6 with a sports loop, solo loop, or sports band costs $ 399 for the 40mm model or $ 429 for the 44mm model. When you add cellular connectivity, it costs $ 499 and $ 529, respectively. If you want the solo braided loop strap, you need to add $ 50 to these two prices. Stainless steel Series 6 models start at $ 699, titanium models start at $ 849, and Hermés models start at $ 1,249.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
In the UK, a 40mm aluminum series is £ 6,379 or £ 479 with cellular connectivity while the 44mm model is £ 409 without or £ 479 with cellular. Stainless steel models start at 649 pounds, titanium models from 799 pounds, and the Hermés models from 1,199 pounds.
All are available through Apple's own online shop. Most of the models can be purchased through Amazon and other retailers, while wireless carriers also offer the cellular models.
Our opinion
The Series 6 is Apple's most complete smartwatch to date. While there are some features that you probably won't be using that often, this is the ultimate smartwatch package for your wrist. What if you own an Apple Watch Series 5? There's no really compelling reason to upgrade unless you absolutely have to have the blue, red, or new gold case. It's probably better to see what Series 7 brings next year.
If you've only ever used a Wear OS smartwatch, especially one connected to an iPhone, the Apple Watch will surprise you with its performance, reliability, and capability. If you've never used a smartwatch connected to an iPhone and are tempted, the Apple Watch is the only way to go.
Is there a better alternative?
No. Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch you can buy. However, ask yourself beforehand if you will ever need EKG or SpO2 readings and if the always-on screen is essential. If the answer to any of these questions is no, take a look at the Apple Watch SE as it is also great and will save you some money.
The only realistic competitor if you don't have an iPhone and don't plan on buying one is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, which outperforms smartwatches with Google's Wear OS software with its better usability and nifty control system. Samsung also offers two sizes, and the Galaxy Watch 3 has both an EKG and SpO2 meter.
How long it will take?
At least three years. The old Apple Watch Series 3 got the latest watchOS 7 software to give you an idea of how long the Series 6 will be supported, for example. The Series 6 is the better buy over the SE when it comes to longevity as it already has all of the top features. The aluminum case isn't particularly sturdy, but if handled well it won't be easily damaged, while the Apple Watch Series 6 is water-resistant to 50 meters and also swim-proof.
Should you buy one?
Yes, it's the best, most feature-packed Apple Watch out there this year and the best smartwatch you can buy if you own an iPhone.
Editor's recommendations