Angela Lang/CNET
The subsequent Apple Watch (seemingly a Sequence 6) remains to be months away from making its grand debut alongside the rumored iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. However there’s nonetheless loads of hypothesis surrounding a Sequence 6 smartwatch to carry us over within the meantime. We have compiled a roundup of believable and compelling new options for the Apple Watch Sequence 6 based mostly on the newest leaks, rumors and Apple patents.
Design: A spherical Apple Watch, however not this yr
Save for a number of minor adjustments akin to bigger screens, totally different supplies and numerous watch band designs, the look of the watch hasn’t modified a lot since Apple launched the primary Apple Watch in 2014. And this yr will likely be no totally different.
Rumors of a round watch face on the Apple Watch have been making the rounds for a number of years now. A few of its Android counterparts just like the Samsung Galaxy Watch have round designs, so it would not be an excessive amount of of a stretch to suppose Apple would comply with go well with. So as to add gasoline to the fireplace, the corporate has additionally issued a pair Apple Watch patents that present a spherical show. However up to now, it is only a risk; the existence of a patent would not assure Apple will use it in a product. Even when considered one of these patents does grow to be a actuality, it will seemingly take years. A change this massive would require Apple to transform the hardware and software program of the watch, and up to now we’ve not heard something that may point out it is taking place in 2020.
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Apple Watch Sequence 6: What to anticipate
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New watch face choices, however no retailer
The Apple Watch has tons of customizable watch faces (often called “problems”) starting from animated Disney characters to weather-centric interfaces. However Apple nonetheless hasn’t loosened the reins for third-party watch faces, and we do not see that altering anytime quickly.
As a substitute Apple may permit customers to share watch faces. Based on a 9to5Mac, every watch face configuration will likely be shared as a singular file through AirDrop. The report, which cites leaked iOS 14 code because the supply of its data, additionally says WatchOS 7, the following model of Apple’s smartwatch software program, will add an analog-style tachymeter to its design choices that may measure velocity and distance.
You may additionally be capable to use shared albums out of your photographs app to create a personalized watch face that cycles by way of the photographs in that album. Which means members of the family might add particular person photographs to the shared album for everybody within the group to see on their wrists.
Lastly, for patriotic customers, WatchOS 7 might add an “worldwide” possibility that permits you to select a rustic’s flag as your watch face.
A brand new health app
Health has been on the core of the Apple Watch since its launch, and this yr Apple might take it even additional. Based on MacRumors, the corporate is engaged on a standalone health app. In contrast to the present Exercise app that tracks your progress and is already on the Apple Watch (and iPhone), this one would provide you with guided exercises for an assortment of various actions akin to working, biking, rowing, power coaching, dance and yoga.
There is not any scarcity of third-party health apps like this for the Apple Watch, however a local health app might put a number of these out of enterprise. The app can be out there on the iPhone and Apple TV in addition to the Apple Watch. And it is perhaps free. The MacRumors report says there is no proof of in-app purchases, however that does not essentially rule out a subscription based mostly method like Apple Music.
Native sleep monitoring might lastly arrive
This might lastly be the yr when Apple Watch will get native sleep monitoring. Since buying the sleep sensor Beddit again in 2017, a tracker that sits underneath the mattress, there have been rumors about Apple integrating an analogous function within the Apple Watch. A “Sleep app” was additionally by accident talked about in a screenshot of Apple’s preinstalled Alarm app within the App Retailer. The picture was noticed by a reader of MacRumors again in October, and has since been eliminated. An April 30 leak on Twitter appears to corroborate this rumor.
At the moment, sleep monitoring is out there on the Apple Watch by way of third-party apps and one of many greatest hurdles for Apple to supply it natively has been battery life. The present Apple Watch fashions final a couple of day and a half of regular use, however a function like this may require in a single day monitoring. This could seemingly drain the battery a lot quicker. It is within the firm’s finest curiosity to resolve this difficulty quickly although; many Apple Watch opponents like Fitbit and Samsung have had it on their gadgets for years.
Pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen ranges
Even when the Sequence 6 would not have native sleep monitoring, Apple will seemingly proceed increasing well being and wellness options for the following Apple Watch.
This yr’s massive well being function might be what’s often called SPO2 monitoring. This could permit the watch to measure your blood oxygen ranges, like a pulse oximeter, and provide you with a warning if it dips under a sure threshold, according to 9to5Mac. That is good timing, as a result of some doctors are recommending pulse oximeter devices to monitor COVID-19 symptoms, and folks have begun purchasing pulse oximeters during the coronavirus pandemic. The April 30 leak corroborates this rumor as effectively.
The Apple Watch already does one thing related with coronary heart fee, and alerts you if it detects an abnormally excessive, low or irregular coronary heart rhythm indicative of atrial fibrillation (afib).
For this to be doable, the Sequence 6 might require a brand new sort of sensor, seemingly a pulse oximeter. Or it’d be capable to pull with a software program replace and use the present hardware. The Apple Watch already tracks VO2 max (or most oxygen consumption) contained in the Exercise app utilizing the GPS and coronary heart fee sensor throughout train.
Different well being rumors embody glucose and blood-pressure monitoring on the following Apple Watch, however these might be additional off.
Blood stress with out the cuff
A current Apple patent found by Apple Insider suggests the corporate may additionally add blood stress monitoring to future Apple Watch fashions. Based on the patent, the Watch would use a mixture of recent sensors and software program to measure blood stress with out counting on a standard arm cuff.
The existence of a patent nevertheless, whereas promising, would not assure the function will grow to be a actuality. Even when it does, the current date of the submitting suggests it would not be able to launch on this yr’s Sequence 6.
A child-friendly Apple Watch
The leaked iOS 14 code reportedly additionally references new instruments for folks. Quite than give their children an iPhone, dad and mom trying to keep related with their children, might arrange a second Apple Watch (utterly separate from theirs) utilizing their iPhone and Apple ID because the host. This could additionally give dad and mom the ultimate say on what sort of content material their children can entry on the watch like emergency contacts and music.
With a function known as SchoolTime in WatchOS 7, dad and mom might even decide what apps can be utilized at what instances to restrict distractions within the classroom.
This could additionally imply adapting among the well being options for youthful customers. Based on 9 to five Mac, the ring system (used for exercise monitoring) can be based mostly on totally different metrics. The crimson transfer ring, for instance, would monitor energetic minutes as a substitute of energetic energy because it does with adults. The Watch may also incentivize children to maintain shifting by providing digital rewards once they participate in sports activities or out of doors actions.
Monitoring panic assaults and stress
The Apple Watch Sequence 6 may also reportedly include a number of psychological well being monitoring options, together with the power to detect when the wearer is about to expertise a panic attack (one other well timed function, if it pans out, throughout the world pandemic). This rumor was additionally mentioned in the April 30 leak, which referenced “Psychological Well being Abnormalities Detection.”
