First impressions of the Apple Watch Series 6 have now been shared by select media outlets and YouTubers, giving a closer look at the device’s new features, including blood oxygen measurement and a bright always-on display.
Starting with measuring blood oxygen, EngadgetIts Valentina Palladino points out that the Apple Watch needs to be worn a certain way to get a successful lesson:
It took about seven tries of fiddling with the placement before I got it to work. Data often comes in when the watch is on my wrist while securing my small/medium sports band to the third notch. Apple provides guidelines in the Blood Oxygen app that explain proper placement, and one of the things it recommends is not to place the watch too low on the wrist.
Palladino suggested that the new Solo Loop band could be Apple’s way of solving this issue, as it keeps the Apple Watch flush against his skin for accurate blood oxygen readings. Apple says the Solo Loop comes in nine sizes to provide an “super comfortable” fit, with a wrist sizing guide available on its website.
TechCrunchIts Brian Hitter was disappointed that the Series 6 continues to offer the same advertised 18-hour battery life as previous models, especially with the addition of sleep tracking. However, during its Time Flies event this week, Apple hinted that the Series 6 could charge 20 percent faster than the Series 5.
The VergeIts Dieter Bohn says his favorite new feature is the bright always-on display, which he describes as “very bright”. Bohn also praised the new (product) red finish option, which looks quite vibrant in his photos.
Powered by a new S6 chip, Apple says the Series 6 is 5 to 20 percent faster. The Rolling StonesIts Brandt Runge says that in real-world use, the Series 6 feels “incredibly fast,” noting that apps load faster, Siri feels more responsive, and animations like the activity rings closing look much smoother.
Additional impressions:
- David Phelan at Forbes
- Brenda Stolyar at Mashable
- Todd Haselton on CNBC
- Jack Kroll on CNN
- Stuart Miles in Pocket-lint
For more information, we’ve also collected Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE unboxing videos
