Apple Watch Series 6: History, specs, pricing, review, and deals

Apple Watch Series 6 includes two new color options (blue and red), an oximeter sensor, and the new faster S6 chip to enhanced performance.

The Apple Watch Series 6 was Apple’s flagship smartwatch from October 2020 to September 2021. Available in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, it featured for the first time a blood-oxygen sensor and a brighter always-on display. The company ditched the smartwatch for its successor, the Apple Watch Series 7.

History

The Apple Watch was first introduced in 2015 and quickly became the best-selling wearable device of the year, reportedly selling 4.2 million units in Q2 2015. When the company introduced the Apple Watch Series 2 later in 2016, Apple labeled the original Apple Watch as “Series 0” while bringing an updated chip with “Series 1” and a brand new “Series 2” Watch.

When Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017 a lot of things changed. The company started seeing the Watch more like a fitness device rather than a fashion one, although it was available in aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramic models. This Watch had a chip 70% faster than its predecessor, increased RAM, and introduced the LTE cellular connectivity variant with 16GB of storage.

Apple Watch Series 4, which launched a year later, featured a major redesign with a screen that was 30% bigger in both models and a 50% improvement on its processor over the Series 3 version. Speakers and microphones were rearranged so they were louder and more useful, and Series 4 introduced the fall detection feature, ECG capabilities, and the second-generation heart rate monitor.

In 2019, the Apple Watch Series 5 was a notable upgrade over the Series 4: Apple introduced an Always-On display with an energy-saving LTOP OLED screen, a built-in compass, doubled the storage to 32GB, and brought back the Edition tier with a ceramic model and a brand new titanium version.

In 2020, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 6. This Watch brought a new S6 processor, up to 20% faster than its predecessor, a brighter Always-On display, a blood oxygen app, and an always-on altimeter, alongside new health sensors.

In October of 2021, after the release of the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple officially discontinued the Series 6 model.

Apple Watch Series 6 specs and features

The Apple Watch Series 6 comes in two sizes, three finishes, and two connectivity options. With a brighter always-on Retina Display, the Series 6 is available in 40 or 44mm, in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, and with a GPS connection or GPS + LTE.

The Apple Watch Series 6 introduced two new colors to the aluminum version: blue and (PRODUCT)RED alongside silver, space gray, and gold. It has an S6 processor, which is up to 20% faster than the S5 chip. This generation also introduced the blood oxygen sensor, which is recommended just for well-being and is not approved by the FDA like the ECG app is.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has a third-generation optical heart sensor, Digital Crown with haptic feedback, a built-in compass, an always-on altimeter, and a second-generation speaker and mic. With Emergency SOS and International emergency calling, you can quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts.

Apple Watch Series 6 also detect if you’ve taken a hard fall, then automatically calls emergency services for you. The Noise app alerts when decibels reach levels that could damage your hearing. It’s also water-resistant up to 50m in the water.

Apple Watch Series 6 special edition

With the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple created a special Watch edition called Black Unity. It was released in February to celebrate Black History Month:

Apple is supporting six global organizations to help advance their missions in promoting and achieving equality and civil rights in the US and around the world: Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation; European Network Against Racism; International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights; Leadership Conference Education Fund; NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.; and Souls Grown Deep.

In April, the GPS and GPS + Cellular versions of the 44mm model were sold out. Later, Apple took the Watch away from the main page, although it’s still possible to find this smartwatch in the 40mm version here.

watchOS 7

The Apple Watch Series 6 runs watchOS 7. This operational system brings for the first time the Family Setup feature, more Watch Faces, and a new Sleep app.

With the Family Setup, for example, kids or older family members who don’t have an iPhone can now experience Apple Watch. The watchOS 7 brings Activity rings optimized for kids tracking move minutes instead of active calories. Running, walking, and cycling workouts also calculate metrics like distance and pace more accurately for kids.

With watchOS 7, it’s possible to create the ultimate Watch Face for anything. If you’re a surfer, for example, you can get the swell size, water temperature, and wind speed from a single app.

watchOS 7.4

With watchOS 7.4, Apple introduced the iPhone unlock with the Apple Watch while wearing a mask, which works similar to the Mac/Watch integration. This version of the Watch also brings support for the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications to Australia and Vietnam. Learn more about it here.

watchOS 7.5

Here are the watchOS 7.5 features:

• Access to subscription content in the Podcasts app
• Apple Card allows members to track expenses, manage spending, and build credit together with a Family Sharing group
• Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Malaysia and Peru
• Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Malaysia and Peru

watchOS 7.6

Here are the watchOS 7.6 features:

• Adds the ECG app to 30 new regions;
• Add support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in 30 additional regions.

Learn more about these new places receiving these features here.

The latest version available of watchOS 7 is 7.6.1.

watchOS 8

The Apple Watch’s operating system is the watchOS 8, previewed during the WWDC21. Here are its key features:

• New “Portraits” Watch Face;
• Focus mode so you can filter out distractions;
• New Mindfulness app;
• New Pilates and Tai Chi workouts;
• Locate misplaced Apple devices with Find Devices, including Items, Devices, and People.

watchOS 8.1 features

A month after releasing watchOS 8, Apple seeded to users version 8.1. Check out what’s new:

• COVID-19 vaccination card support that allows you to present verifiable vaccination information form Apple Wallet;
• Fitness+ supports SharePlay to allow subscribers to invite up to 32 people to workout together through a FaceTime call;
• Always On may not display the time accurately for some users when their wrist is down.

Apple recently launched watchOS 8.1.1 with some bug fixes for Apple Watch Series 7 owners.

watchOS 8.3 features

Here’s what’s new with watchOS 8.3:

• Apple Music Voice Plan gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri
• Support for App Privacy Report to record data and sensor access
• Fixes an issue where notifications may interrupt Mindfulness sessions unexpectedly for some users.

Learn more about watchOS 8 for the Apple Watch Series 6 here.

watchOS 8.4 features

watchOS 8.4 is another small update for the Apple Watch Series 6. Apple only notes a bug fix when charging the watch:

• Fixed a bug that caused some Apple Watch chargers not to work as expected with the Apple Watch

watchOS 8.5 features

Different from the previous update, watchOS 8.5 brings some interesting new features:

• New emoji;
• New American non-binary Siri voice;
• Ability to authorize Apple TV purchases and subscriptions;
• COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet now support the EU Digital COVID Certificate format;
• Updates to irregular rhythm notifications designed to improve atrial fibrillation identification. Available in the United States, Chile, Hong Kong, South Africa, and many regions where the feature is available;
• Audio hints in Fitness+ provide you with audio commentary of visually demonstrated moves during workouts.

watchOS 8.6 features

watchOS 8.6 is a small update. It includes improvements, bug fixes, and special features for Mexico users.

• Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Mexico;
• Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Mexico.

watchOS 8.7 features

watchOS 8.7 is a small update. It includes improvements and bug fixes. It’s the last watchOS 8 update before Apple released watchOS 9.

Pricing: Watch and Bands

When available at the Apple Store, Apple Watch Series 6 pricing started at $399 and could go up to $899 in the Space Black Titanium Case with Leather Link. The Apple Watch could get even pricier if customers chose a Hermès model, costing up to $1,499.

• Aluminum, 40mm, GPS: $399
• Aluminum, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $499
• Aluminum, 44mm, GPS: $429
• Aluminum, 44m, GPS + Cellular: $529
• Stainless steel, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $699
• Stainless steel, 44mm, GPS + Cellular: $749
• Titanium, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $849
• Titanium, 44mm, GPS + Cellular: $899

Pricing varies depending on the band you choose, as well as if it’s the Hermès model.

• Solo Loop: $49
• Sport Band: $49
• Spor Loop: $49
• Braided Solo Loop: $99
• Leather Link: $99
• Leather Loop: $99
• Milanese Loop: $99
• Modern Buckle: $149
• Silver Link Bracelet: $349
• Space Black Link Bracelet: $449

Although not available on the Apple Store anymore, it’s possible to find it at a better price on the Amazon store here.

Apple Watch Studio

With the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Studio. With this feature, on Apple’s website, you can choose a case, pick a band, and create your style. In the previous versions of the Watch, for example, you had to buy the product with a determined band. Now, you can choose everything.

• To start, click here;
• First, choose the size of the case: 40mm or 44mm;
• Then choose your case finish, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, or Titanium;
• Now, choose a band, it can be the Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, Sport Band, Sport Loop, Leather, and Stainless Steel;
• Save your Watch then check out your bag.

Apple Watch Series 6 Review

In our video review about the Apple Watch Series 6 we recommended upgrading if you’re coming from an Apple Watch Series 3:

“If you’re coming from an Apple Watch Series 3 or below it’s a simple choice: upgrade. You’ll get a much, much faster watch, a larger case with a larger display, better speakers and microphone, and so much more. Plus you’ll be able to take advantage of all of the great new enhancements that watchOS 7 and future upgrades of watchOS bring to the table. In my opinion, it’s a no-brainer decision to upgrade to either an SE or Series 6 if you’re coming from an Apple Watch Series 1, 2, or 3.”

Deals

Over at 9to5Toys, you can find the best deals on the Apple Watch 6 and other Apple products. Download the 9to5Toys iPhone app to receive push notifications for new deals as well.