What has Apple got against doctors? Did

Tim Cook’s GP once try to amputate a toe

without offering any anaesthetic? Did Phil

Schiller have a finger inserted somewhere

uncomfortable without sufficient

warning? Because it seems that with

every new iteration of its Watch line-up,

Apple adds something that seeks to make

our medical friends obsolete.

This year it’s SpO2, which means the

Watch Series 6 can detect how much

oxygen is in your blood – a good indicator

of general respiratory health. Topical.

That’s on top of the electrocardiogram

(ECG), excess noise alerts and fall detection

that were already on board, of course.

Inside, its dual-core S6 processor is based

on the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11, meaning

it runs up to 20% faster than the Series 5,

while the always-on screen is 2.5 times

brighter – all without sacrificing any of the

18-hour battery life. That’s probably for

the best, because with seven new faces

available you’re probably going to be

looking at it a hell of a lot.

Finally, the emergency SOS feature is still

present... after all, there are some things

a watch will never be able to do.

As hot as... Tim Cook’s infected toe

from £379 / apple.com

TRUST A

BLOODVESSEL

Apple Watch Series 6

HOT

SIX

Clasp war

There are some new

finishes available, including

blue and Product Red versions

of the stainless steel model,

while the new silicone and

polyester Solo Loop bands

have got rid of any

clasp or buckle.

Crystal gaze
It takes 15 seconds for
the new Watch to work out
your SpO2 level. LEDs and
photodiodes built into the back
crystal shine light onto your
bloodvessels and measure
how much of it is
reflected back.