Before Apple introduced the Apple Watch (in 2015), I was an enthusiastic collector of low-to-moderately-priced wristwatches. I have dozens and loved them all—skeleton, tank, old, new, quartz, digital, hybrid, and classic. And I took great pride in selecting the appropriate timepiece for any occasion.
I don’t wear any of them anymore. I fell in love with my Apple Watch the first day, and my passion has grown with each new release.
I have been testing Apple’s latest and greatest (Series 6 with watchOS 7) for a couple of months, and it’s better than ever in several ways that matter to me.
Now with More Power
For example, my first Apple Watch often ran out of power before dinnertime; the Series 6 usually runs all day and night (and frequently part of the next day) before recharging. And recharging the Series 6 is faster than ever, requiring less than 1.5 hours for a full charge.
A Brighter Always-On Retina Display
I also like the Always-On Retina display, which Apple says is up to 2.5 times brighter than Series 5. I can’t confirm the amount, but it’s definitely brighter and easier to see outdoors.
Blood Oxygen Measurement
Interestingly, I found little use for one of Series 6’s most ballyhooed features, Blood Oxygen Sensor and App, which measures your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) level. For one thing, it requires you to be very still, so I got a lot of “Unsuccessful Measurements.” And most of my successful measurements were above 97%, which I’m told is good (and expected). It’s been weeks since I invoked a blood oxygen test manually, and while I’ve enabled automatic background measurements, the results (reported in the Health app) are unenlightening.
Bottom line: It works as expected, but it’s not a feature I’d pay extra to have on my Apple Watch.
Covid-19 Related Features
Moving right along, I also like at least one new feature available on all Apple Watches running watchOS 7—automatic handwashing notification and detection. It reminds me to wash my hands whenever I return home from elsewhere and then scolds me if I don’t wash them for a full 20 seconds. I expected to find this feature annoying, but I was wrong. I’ve been washing my hands more often and for longer than ever before, which (at least for me) is a very good thing.
My old watches were lovely, but I haven’t worn one since Apple Watch came into my life six years ago. I don’t often call a tech product “life-changing,” but Apple Watch has changed my life for the better. I don’t think I’ll ever wear anything else on my wrist.
Finally, I think any Apple Watch is better than no Apple Watch. If you’re on a tight budget, consider Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 3, which offer many Series 6 features, but with prices starting at just $199.
