Apple launched the Watch Series 6, successor to last year’s Watch Series 5, on Tuesday. The Watch Series 6 does not stray far from the Watch Series 5, or even the Watch Series 4, when it comes to design with major upgrades coming in the form of an updated, faster silicon and new sensors that will let users track, among other things, their blood oxygen saturation. Apple is also investing in studies to test if blood oxygen can be used to detect people with COVID-19.

Apple says the Watch Series 6 is 26% faster than the previous generation thanks to its new dual core S6 processor which is based on the custom A11 chip that powers the iPhone 11. Always-on functionality that Apple launched last year with the Watch Series 5 is also getting an update in the Watch Series 6 – it is claimed to be two and a half times brighter now. Elsewhere, there are new finishes including (PRODUCT)RED, which is a first for the Apple Watch. Aluminum models are now made of 100% aluminum like the recent MacBook Pro models. There is also a new “Solo” Loop that is made from a single piece of silicone without any buckle.

The Watch Series 6’s headlining fitness tracking feature is its ability to measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) – it can do that in just 15 seconds, Apple says. There is also a dedicated blood oxygen app that will allow users to keep track of their data. The other big headline is “improved” sleep tracking. Speaking of which, the Watch Series 6 will run watchOS 7 out-of-the-box. Apart from sleep tracking, watchOS 7 will also bring handwashing detection designed to automatically detect and encourage users to keep washing their hands for full 20 seconds, in addition to reminding them to wash their hands once they get home.

With the Watch Series 6, Apple is also debuting Family Setup, a feature that will allow parents to setup and manage kids’ Watches in case they do not have an iPhone of their own.

Apple Watch Series 6 India prices, availability

Watch Series 6 India price starts at Rs 40,900 for the model with GPS while the version with GPS and Cellular will start at Rs 49,900. Interestingly, Watch Series 6 India price is same as Watch Series 5 launch price. Apple says Watch Series 6 will be available “soon” through Apple Authorised Resellers.

Additionally, the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop in (PRODUCT)RED will be available in late October.

Alongside the Watch Series 6, Apple launched its first truly affordable Apple Watch, aptly called the Watch SE on Tuesday. The Watch SE comes with a seemingly more “modern” design as well as feature set like the Watch Series 6, but it is actually successor to the Watch Series 3. Core hardware is getting a refresh too and there are also more finishes to choose from. In India, the Watch SE will start at Rs 29,900 with both GPS and GPS plus Cellular models to choose from – unlike the Watch Series 3 which did not have cellular.

The Watch SE has the same design, the same case as well as the same screen size as the Watch Series 6. It will come in only aluminum though. Unlike the Watch Series 6, or even the Watch Series 5, the Watch SE does not have an always-on display.

Also Read Apple Watch Series 6 launched with blood oxygen saturation tracking; India price starts at Rs 40,900

Apple says the Watch SE has the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter as Apple Watch Series 6. It supports Apple’s fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, and the Noise app. Like the Watch Series 5, the Watch SE also comes with a Compass app. There is an optical heart sensor to measure heart rate plus up to 50m water resistance.

Under the hood, the Watch SE has an S5 System in Package (SiP) and dual-core processor, the same hardware that powers the Watch Series 5 – this makes it two times faster than the Watch Series 3, Apple says. Like the Watch Series 6, the Watch SE will also run watchOS 7 that will bring features like sleep tracking and handwashing detection to it.

Apple Watch SE India prices, availability

Watch Series SE India price starts at Rs 29,900 for the model with GPS while the version with GPS and Cellular will start at Rs 33,900. Apple says Watch SE will be available “soon” through Apple Authorised Resellers.