The Apple Watch Series 5 didn't offer a ton of upgrades over its predecessor, but it did have one major addition: an always on display. Now a new report claims that Apple has another big new feature planned for its next smartwatch.
Apple is reportedly planning to add a Touch ID fingerprint sensor to the Apple Watch Series 6. According to The Verifier and its "senior sources" (via MacRumors), Touch ID will be built into the digital crown on the side of the Apple Watch Series 6's. Apple currently uses the side of the watch's crown for capturing an ECG.
Today's report goes on to claim that Apple plans to move the fingerprint reader to the display of the Apple Watch Series 7.
Touch ID might seem like a strange addition to a smartwatch at first, but it could have its uses. For example, the Apple Watch recently gained its own App Store so that you can download apps directly on the watch, and in-app purchases are a thing on the Apple Watch now, too. Touch ID could be used to authenticate these downloads. It could also be useful as a quick way to unlock you Apple Watch when you first put it on.
Getting back to the Apple Watch Series 6, it's said that Apple is also planning to give its next watch a better battery, broader LTE support, and Wi-Fi 6.
On the software side, today's report claims that Apple will give watchOS 7 a "fresh design" with updates to some of the built-in apps. Apple is purportedly working to add pulse oximetry support to measure oxygen levels in the blood, which can help make sure your blood oxygen saturation doesn't drop too low.
Also said to be coming to watchOS 7 is sleep tracking, a rumor we've heard before.
watchOS 7 will purportedly be available on the Apple Watch Series 3 and later.
Apple typically launches new Apple Watch hardware and software in the fall. Last year, watchOS 6 was released on September 19th and the Apple Watch Series 5 launched one day later on September 20th. Considering that, we could see the Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7 launch in around 6 months.
