As wearable technology matures into something closer to a personal physician, Apple's anticipated Watch Series 6 represents a quiet but meaningful shift — from device that counts steps to one that monitors the invisible rhythms of life itself. Expected to arrive in September 2020, the new watch would add blood oxygen detection and a more reliable electrocardiogram alongside the long-awaited arrival of sleep tracking, extending the device's reach into the body's most fundamental processes. The changes ask a deeper question than any spec sheet can answer: how much of our health are we willing to
Apple Watch Series 6 Expected to Add Blood Oxygen Detection, Sleep Tracking
Blood oxygen below 80 percent can compromise heart and brain function
Mark
So blood oxygen detection—is that something people actually need on a watch, or is Apple just adding sensors for the sake of it?
Mimi
It's a real health metric. Low blood oxygen can signal serious problems—respiratory issues, cardiac trouble. The watch would catch it passively and alert you, which is genuinely useful if you have sleep apnea or other conditions that affect oxygen saturation.
Luke
But we should be clear: the source doesn't say Apple has tested this clinically or that it's FDA-cleared. It's code in iOS 14, which means it's planned, not proven.
Mark
Fair point. What about the sleep tracking—is that finally the feature people have been asking for?
Mimi
Yes, watchOS 7 brings it to all Apple Watches, which is huge. You can set sleep schedules, see how much you actually slept, and tie it to Wind Down routines. It's basic but functional.
Luke
The source notes it's "rather basic" and that Bloomberg reported sleep tracking might be hardware-dependent on the Series 6. So the Series 6 could have better sleep tracking than older watches, even though they all get the software feature.
Mark
So you're saying the Series 6 might have exclusive sleep hardware?
Mimi
Possibly. The reporting suggests Apple could use new hardware to offer deeper sleep insights on the newest model, but it's not confirmed yet.
Luke
Right—it's speculation based on Bloomberg's reporting. We don't know what that hardware would be or what it would do differently.
Mark
And the design stays basically the same?
Mimi
Yes. No major changes from the Series 5. But Force Touch is being removed, which could mean more room inside for battery or sensors.
Luke
That's an interesting point—removing Force Touch hardware could enable a thinner watch or bigger battery, but the source doesn't confirm which Apple will actually choose.
Le Pouls
- Blood oxygen monitoring — capable of alerting wearers when saturation drops to dangerous levels — would give the Series 6 a clinical capability previously reserved for dedicated medical devices.
- A persistent gap in the current ECG app, where readings between 100 and 120 BPM often return inconclusive results, has frustrated users and undermined trust in the feature Apple once celebrated as life-saving.
- Sleep tracking, conspicuously absent from Apple Watch for years while rivals made it a standard offering, finally arrives through watchOS 7 — though the Series 6 may unlock a deeper, hardware-powered version unavailable to older models.
- The removal of Force Touch, a once-signature interaction method, signals a quiet architectural rethink — potentially freeing internal space for a larger battery or additional sensors without altering the watch's familiar silhouette.
- COVID-19 has already disrupted Apple's iPhone launch timeline, and uncertainty lingers over whether the Watch announcement will follow the same fate or hold its expected September slot.
As wearable technology matures into something closer to a personal physician, Apple's anticipated Watch Series 6 represents a quiet but meaningful shift — from device that counts steps to one that monitors the invisible rhythms of life itself. Expected to arrive in September 2020, the new watch would add blood oxygen detection and a more reliable electrocardiogram alongside the long-awaited arrival of sleep tracking, extending the device's reach into the body's most fundamental processes. The changes ask a deeper question than any spec sheet can answer: how much of our health are we willing to delegate to a machine on our wrist?
Apple's next Watch is shaping up as a health-first upgrade, with code found inside iOS 14 pointing to blood oxygen detection as the headline feature. The capability would passively monitor oxygen saturation in the bloodstream — healthy levels sit between 95 and 100 percent — and alert the wearer if readings fall to a dangerous threshold, echoing the way current models already flag irregular heart rhythms.
The electrocardiogram app is also due for improvement. Existing Series 4 and 5 models frequently return inconclusive readings when heart rates land between 100 and 120 beats per minute, a limitation Apple intends to address through hardware or software refinement in the new model. Whether these health features will remain exclusive to the Series 6 or extend to older watches through watchOS 7 is still unclear, though Apple's track record suggests they will serve as a compelling reason to upgrade.
Sleep tracking arrives this year for all Apple Watch models via watchOS 7, bringing scheduling tools, sleep analysis, and Wind Down routines. The Series 6 may go further, with dedicated hardware enabling more nuanced insights than the software-only version available to earlier watches.
Outwardly, the Series 6 will look much like its predecessor — same form factor, possibly new colors or materials, but no dramatic redesign. The more consequential change is internal: Force Touch is being retired entirely, and the freed space could accommodate a larger battery, thinner casing, or new sensors. Apple is also said to be preparing a budget successor to the aging Series 3, targeting the entry-level fitness tracker market.
For anyone weighing a purchase now, patience is likely rewarded — a September announcement alone may push down prices on current models, and the new health capabilities could make the upgrade worthwhile for those tracking blood oxygen or sleep.
Apple's next-generation Watch is shaping up to be a health-focused upgrade. Code buried in iOS 14 has revealed that the Series 6 will add blood oxygen detection—a feature that measures oxygen saturation in the bloodstream and alerts users when levels dip below a safe threshold. Healthy blood oxygen sits between 95 and 100 percent; anything below 80 percent can compromise heart and brain function and raise the risk of respiratory or cardiac arrest. The Watch would monitor this passively and notify the wearer if saturation drops dangerously low, much the way current models alert users to irregular heart rhythms.
The Series 6 will also bring an upgraded electrocardiogram app. The current Series 4 and 5 models struggle with inconclusive readings when heart rates fall between 100 and 120 beats per minute—a gap Apple plans to close with either a hardware or software improvement. Whether these new health sensors will be exclusive to the Series 6 or rolled out to older models through watchOS 7 remains unclear, though Apple's history suggests the company will use them as a reason to upgrade.
Sleep tracking, long absent from the Apple Watch, finally arrives this year through watchOS 7. The new Sleep app lets users set schedules, review sleep analysis, and configure Wind Down routines and sleep goals. The feature works across all Apple Watch models, not just the Series 6, though the newest watch may include dedicated hardware that enables more sophisticated tracking than the basic software version provides. Bloomberg reported earlier that sleep tracking would be tied to new hardware, suggesting the Series 6 could offer deeper insights than what watchOS 7 delivers to older watches.
Design-wise, the Series 6 will look nearly identical to the Series 5. No major overhaul is expected; the watch will maintain the same form factor introduced with the Series 4. Apple may introduce new colors, finishes, or casing materials—the Series 5 debuted a titanium option—but the overall shape should remain familiar. One significant internal change is the removal of Force Touch, the hardware feature that let users press firmly on the display to access hidden menus and change watch faces. watchOS 7 deprecates Force Touch entirely, pushing developers to surface those controls in regular screens instead. Dropping the Force Touch hardware could free up space for a larger battery, thinner casing, or additional sensors.
Apple is also preparing a successor to the Series 3, the entry-level watch that still sells for $199. The Series 3 has aged in both design and processing power, and its replacement will aim to compete with budget fitness trackers from Fitbit and others. Details are sparse, but the new model may retain the Series 3's design while adding a faster processor and features like fall detection.
The Series 6 is expected to be announced in September 2020 alongside the new iPhone lineup, though COVID-19 has already pushed the iPhone launch back by several weeks. Whether the Watch announcement will slip as well remains uncertain. For anyone considering buying a Series 5 now, waiting is probably the smarter move—the Series 6 announcement alone will likely trigger price cuts on older models, and the new health features may justify the upgrade for those who care about blood oxygen and sleep data.
Citations marquantes
Blood oxygen levels between 95% and 100% are considered healthy; blood oxygen levels below 80% may lead to compromised heart and brain functionality.— Source material on blood oxygen health thresholds
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