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Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 6 with additional health features and a new low-end model called the Apple Watch SE as it looks to expand its share of the smartwatch market.
The Apple Watch Series 6, starting at $ 399, looks similar to last year’s models, but adds a faster S6 chip and a new sensor for measuring blood oxygen levels. That is in addition to the heart rate monitor and EKG sensors from previous generations, showing the company’s growing focus on healthcare technology.
The new processor is 20 times faster than the S5 in last year’s model, Apple’s chief operating officer Jeff Williams said when announcing the product Tuesday at the company’s virtual event.
The Apple Watch Series 6 also adds new colors, including a blue model, an updated gold finish, a graphite stainless steel option, and a new Product Red version.
Apple said a new blood oxygen app can take a reading in 15 seconds. The company said the measurement is another indicator of a user’s general health and breathing capacity. The company said it is also launching new health studies that take advantage of the new sensor.
The Series 6 also has a display that is 2.5 times brighter while in the sun and an always-on altimeter to track altitude. The new watch also has several new faces and bands.
The company also announced a new feature called Family Settings that allows parents to set up their children’s Apple Watch through their iPhone. This is useful for children who don’t have an iPhone but want an Apple Watch.
The cheapest SE is $ 279. It uses the S5 chip from last year’s model. The lower-end device competes more with watches from Fitbit Inc., which has agreed to be acquired by Google.
The Apple Watch has become one of the company’s best-selling devices, making it the largest contributor to Apple’s accessories and accessories division. That segment generated revenue of $ 24.5 billion in fiscal 2019, nearly double two years earlier.
The Apple Watch was last updated in September 2019 when the company added an always-on display and new cases. This is the first year since 2016 that two new models were announced at the same time.
Earlier this year, Apple announced that watchOS 7, the software that runs on new models and some earlier versions, will add functionality for sleep tracking, dance tracking, and handwash monitoring.
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