Apple brought some big announcements today at its online press conference, although those hoping for the new iPhone reveal will have to wait a bit longer. However, the event did live up to its "time flies" headline, announcing the new Apple Watch Series 6 along with a range of other new products, such as the new iPad.
The Apple Watch Series 6 has a larger focus on health benefits with a cool new sensor that monitors blood oxygen via a trio of infrared lights. This data will appear in the Health app and Apple even announced it would be looking into the effects of COVID-19 on users to assist with ongoing health studies.
One of the highlights of Apple's event is of course learning about the technical specs of the new hardware. The new Apple Watch will feature a dual-core CPU with an A13 bionic chip that will be 20% faster than previous processors. The smart watch will also feature 18 hours of battery life and will have a faster charging battery along with a retina screen that is 2.5 times brighter than previous models. A new U1 chip and Ultra Wideband antenna will also give the watch short range wireless communication abilities. Elevation tracking is also a focus of the new wearable with an integrated altimeter, which should help users track elevation on hikes or climbs.
The Apple Watch Series 6 will retail for $399 for the Wi-fi version, or $499 with cellular, and will be available in just a few days' time on September 18. The watch also comes in a range of new colors including blue aluminium, graphite, and Product Red as seen in the latest iPhone models. A new band design called the Solo Loop was revealed which is a continuous stretchy band of material rather than one with a buckle or clasp. A range of new bands were also announced to be coming from regulars Nike and Hermes.
Continuing the trend of offering budget friendly alternatives, Apple also announced the Apple Watch SE. One of the best new features of the SE is its larger retinal display which is 30% bigger than the Series 3. The watch doesn't include the health monitor of the new S6 Watch but does have a S5 processor, making it faster than Series 3 builds. The Apple Watch SE will be available at a lower end price of $279 or $329 with cellular. Both Apple Watches are available for pre-order now.
Apple announced that the new operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch would begin rolling out as soon as today. The new fitness focus of the Apple Watch Series 6 will also pair perfectly with Apple's new Fitness+ program which is an at-home workout alternative to gyms and will allow Apple Watch displays to be projected onto the TV while exercising.
The Apple Watch Series S6 and Apple Watch SE will be available on September 18.
Source: IGN