The Apple Watch 6 will come with blood oxygen monitoring capabilities, according to a new report detailing the current stage of production for the next generation of wearable devices.
While we are interested in hearing Digitimes say that the Apple Watch 6 production lines are being prepared, we are more curious about the alleged blood oxygen monitoring feature that will be confirmed in the next smartwatch (via 9to5Mac).
We’ve heard whispers about blood oxygen monitoring coming to Apple Watch 6, plus watchOS 7 hinted that it’s in the works, but this is the most credible metric report we’ve seen so far.
Blood oxygen monitoring, also known as SpO2 monitoring, measures the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. If your blood oxygen drops below a specific concentration, which can occur during exercise, the Apple Watch may warn you to relax before injury.
Apple Watch 6 vs. Galaxy Watch 3
Although Apple has more or less set the standard for health and wellness insights in smartwatches, it has been slower to launch certain tools than its fitness tracking counterparts.
But the Apple Watch 6 will follow the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, which will debut alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and will launch on August 5.
New perks like watchOS 7 sleep tracking, and now hardware for blood oxygen monitoring, could be how Apple shows off Samsung’s rotating bezel. Samsung’s upcoming lifestyle smart watch is believed to have both of these features as well, which may narrow the gap between the top two smartwatch makers.
We’ll have to test the Apple Watch 6 versus the Galaxy Watch 3 when they’re available to see what blood oxygen monitoring and other health features do best. The Apple Watch 6 will arrive later, with an anticipated debut alongside the iPhone 12 this fall.
During Apple’s latest earnings report, its chief financial officer, Luca Maestri, hinted that the company’s new products will arrive a few weeks after the typical September date, likely due to supply chain delays. The Apple Watch 6, like the iPhone 12, may be slated for release in October.
