The first time you open the Blood Oxygen app on the watch, it takes you through some helpful tips to get a good reading. Apple says your watch band should be snug but comfortable, and to make sure the watch isn't too low on your wrist. You should keep the watch facing up and try not to move during the reading. Resting your arm on a table can help. Apple Watch Series 6 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that they may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, they should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. The standout feature here is a new sensor that can measure the oxygen saturation of your blood, also known as SpO2. This metric indicates how well your circulatory and respiratory systems are delivering oxygenated blood to your body. Your SpO2 reading alone can't diagnose COVID-19, but as the Yale School of Medicine advises, a reading below 90 percent may warrant a trip to the emergency room. Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a water resistance rating of 100 meters under ISO standard 22810. It may be used for recreational scuba diving (with compatible third-party app from the App Store) to 40 meters and high-speed water sports. Apple Watch Ultra 2 should not be used for diving below 40 meters. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information see support.apple.com/HT205000.

It’s a feature that started off being quite erratic for us, but over the space of a few days it became more accurate. The new colors and designs are interesting, with the new blue and red flavors, in particular, appealing on the wrist, the aluminum casing blending nicely with the more striking hues.Charge times are from 0–80% and 0–100% using the included Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB-C Cable. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2022 using preproduction Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular) paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software, Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB-C Cable (Model A2515), and Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter (Model A2305). Charge time varies with region, settings, and environmental factors; actual results will vary. There are various opinions on what 'good' looks like for a percentage, but if you're over 95% then generally you're in a good place. We're not sure why Apple isn't offering those alerts, and it makes it hard to say whether the SPO2 meter is particularly useful as a result. Features are subject to change. Some features, applications, and services may not be available in all regions or all languages. View complete list. Well, the simple answer is: it's a nice thing to have to stay informed. If you're seeing a drop in SPO2 often at the same time as feeling other ill effects, you can head to the doctor to put your mind at rest. If you're at elevation, and suddenly the oxygen saturation level in your blood drops, you can make a decision.

When you start a blood oxygen scan, you'll see a 15-second countdown timer on the screen along with a relaxing blue and red graphic. After 15 seconds, your blood oxygen saturation percentage will appear onscreen. You can also view blood oxygen measurements in the Health app on your iPhone. We noticed last year that the addition of the always-on display had a real impact on battery life, and while the new S6 chipset inside the Watch 6 has definitely improved the power efficiency, it hasn’t solved some key issues. We’ve been wearing both the Watch SE and the Watch 6 for the testing period, and rarely did they both fire at the same time when we turned on a tap and began scrubbing up – there was often a five-second disparity. The final feature we’ll nod to here is the translation capability of Siri – which, by the way, is pretty sensitive on the Apple Watch 6, activating far more often than it’s meant to, even when you’re not talking to the Watch.We'd rather there was an option for just a very, very dimly-glowing set of numbers for the time – we don't want to see the whole watch face, just a little view of the time that's not distracting. Apple Watch 6 blood oxygen monitor But... for the most part. According to the Health app on the phone, which records this information, there was a moment when our SPO2 level fell to 88% – was that something to worry about? We assumed that, because it wasn't repeated, it was just an outlier reading, but it was still a little disconcerting to see.

Meets California Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency Standards for Small Battery Charger Systems as outlined in the California Code of Regulations. Requires an iPhone and Apple Watch with second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. Ultra Wideband availability varies by region. Apple says it increased the maximum brightness of the display from 200 nits to 500 nits when your wrist is down, which makes it easier to see in the sunlight. That's a welcome addition for me personally, as I live in Florida and spend a lot of time at the beach. And I can attest that the Series 6's screen is noticeably easier to read when I'm outside walking my dog and glance down.

But before we get to that, let's just remind ourselves what a blood oxygen (or SPO2) sensor actually does. Firing red and infra-red light under the skin, the diodes on the underside of the Apple Watch 6 can read the color of your blood, and work out from that how much oxygen you're pumping around. Irregular rhythm notification requires the latest version of watchOS and iOS. It is not intended for use by people under 22 years old or those who have been previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF).

In the Health app on your iPhone, you can view a record of all your measurements and see graphs of your blood oxygen level readings for the day, week, month, or year. It also shows your range and daily average, and you can filter the data to show just your SpO2 level in high-elevation environments or while sleeping. You do need to get the gesture right though, and too often we found that Siri wasn’t in fact listening, which turns you off from using a voice assistant instantly, especially if other people can see you. Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor, and are only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes. The Apple Watch 6 is still a strong contender, which is why it's maintained a place in ours best smartwatch round-up, although it's not as high as it once was. Charge times are from 0–80% and 0–100% using the included Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB-C Cable. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2023 using preproduction Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) and Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular), each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software, Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charging USB-C Cable (Model A2515), and Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter (Model A2305). Charge time varies with region, settings, and environmental factors; actual results will vary.The Apple Watch Series 6 design is the same as that of any recent Apple Watch (as in, from the Apple Watch 4 onwards).