The Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch you can buy right now. In its sixth version, the smartwatch king has spoiled the users with smooth performance, state-of-the-art design and display, brilliant features, and trouble-free setup. Any Apple Watch owner can vouch for the smartwatch’s seamless experience and that's the biggest reason why nearly half the market uses it.

So, what’s new with the Watch 6? The Apple Watch 6 has introduced a host of new features such as the oximeter for blood oxygen monitoring for the first time, a brighter always-on display, and always-on altimeter, and a faster chip. Though other competitors seem to take larger leaps with their products, Apple has stuck to its 18-hour battery life.

The watchOS 7 update brings with it some useful tools such as the sleep tracking process, along with a bunch of new watch faces and watch bands. So, if you are planning an upgrade from the older versions or buying for the first time, you are in for a refreshed hardware, software, and accessories supplies.

Design and Display

The Apple Watch 6 is gaining the edge over other smartwatches with technology and experience. It looks like the Watch 6 is similar in shape and design as the last few Apple smartwatch launches. The new Watch comes in exclusive blue and red casings. There were speculations about microLED displays but that didn’t materialize, though Apple offers an always-on setting. Apple claims that the always-on setting is over twice as bright this time. It’s not worth trying to quantify, but it certainly looks sharper than the Series 5 in a side-by-side comparison.

Explore the new features here!

• Apple Maps: Apple Maps can now give proper directions to cyclists, working best on cycling paths warning the riders about steep inclines and stairs. Though it will only be available in select cities after launch - New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Shanghai and Beijing in China, Apple said it will come to more cities in the future. When you are in the cycling direction mode, Maps will also direct you to dismount and walk the bike or take stairs to save time.

• Watch Faces: With the new watchOS 7, developers will now be able to offer more customized options for their apps. It comes with a wide range of watch faces, most of which you can customize, but unfortunately, all watch faces are not available in all regions and models. You now have the Activity Analog which shows your work progress, Artist which displays engaging face changes every time you raise your wrist or tap the display, Astronomy, which shows an updated 3D model of the solar system and many more such interesting options.

• Blood oxygen monitoring: This intuitive feature allows blood oxygen sensors to measure the oxygen saturation level of your blood. As a form of pulse oximetry, SpO2 monitoring in the Apple Watch 6 will let users know their blood oxygen concentrations with 15-second on-demand readings, as well as periodic background checks. This monitoring is important as the low levels of oxygen can indicate underlying health issues. Furthermore, the measurement is mostly correct and ideal. Though Apple is not the first brand to release SpO2 monitoring in the health features, seeing the past release of features we believe it has got it right.

• Handwashing: With WatchOS 7, your watch can tell when you begin washing your hands, simply by the motion of your hands and the sound of water running. We found you do need to enable it in Settings first though. Once the watch detects you're washing your hands, it will start a countdown to make sure you wash your hands for as long as recommended by health officials - 20 seconds.

• Siri: In WatchOS 7, it will give you access to many new Siri updates which are coming with the iOS 14. The new on-device dictations aim to improve voice-to-text messaging and results to search queries. You will be able to use translation features to hold conversations in other languages directly from the wrist.

• Sleep tracking: The new updates include tracking the sleep habits and using the Bedtime features we have seen on the phone. The idea to set a sleep goal, bedtime, and wake up on time to make sure the same pattern is followed. As part of this, the watch offers silent haptic alarm if the watch is set on silent or gentle sounds, while the wake-up screen will show the battery. Sleep tracking will use the detection of micro-movements from the Apple Watch's accelerometer to capture when you are sleeping and how much sleep you are getting, but that's only part of the story - you can still use the app even if you don't use the Sleep Tracking part.

• Wind Down mode: A new Wind Down mode is also part of the Sleep app, working with the iPhone to help you wind down for bed. The suggested time for the same is 45 minutes before the suggested period. You can perform various activities such as turn on a soothing music playlist or open meditation apps, and in fact, activate home presets.

Should you upgrade?

When it comes to making a buying decision, you will know you are not missing out on the game-changing upgrades. The fact that Apple Watch 3 is up in the market and has brilliant category standards is proof for the same.

Don’t feel pressured to upgrade your series yet. But yes, if you are in the market looking for a new watch and are interested in the new Apple Watch 6’s oxygen monitoring and brighter and better display, Watch 6 is your option.

Basically, whichever you ultimately decide to pick up, be sure to check out the complete specifications for getting the most out of your smartwatch and choose the one which suits your needs and requirements.