As expected, Apple today took the wraps off of its newest smartwatch.
The Apple Watch Series 6 features a design similar to last year's model, but it comes in new color options and has some new colors. There's a new blue aluminum model as well as a gray-black stainless steel model called Graphite and a Product(RED) version.
In addition to those new colors, Apple Watch Series 6 features the ability to monitor your blood oxygen levels from your wrist. You can choose to check it manually in around 15 seconds, but Apple says that the Series 6 will also perform periodic background readings.
When it comes to raw specs, the Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a new S6 processor that's dual-core and based on the A13 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 11. Apple says this new S6 processor is up to 20% faster than the S5 processor in last year's Apple Watch.
The upgraded Apple Watch Series 6 also includes an always-on altimeter and an always-on display that's 25% brighter outdoors when your wrist is down.
On the software side, the Apple Watch Series 6 comes with several new watch faces. A Chronograph Pro watch includes a tachymeter to help you measure speed, and a GMT watch face will show you multiple time zones at once. There's also a Count-Up watch face to help you track elapsed time at any point.
Apple says you can order an Apple Watch Series 6 starting today, with availability set for this Friday. Pricing starts at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the GPS + Cellular version.
Also announced today are a couple new Apple Watch bands to go with the new hardware. The new Solo Loop has no buckle, clasp, or overlapping parts. Instead, it's made of silicone and is stretchy so you can just slide it on and off your wrist. There's also a new braided version of the silicone Solo Loop coming, too.
