The Apple Watch has been our longstanding Editors' Choice for its excellent performance, unparalleled app selection, and ample health and fitness tracking features. With the Series 6 (starting at $399), Apple builds upon its flagship smartwatch with the addition of a blood oxygen saturation sensor that calculates your SpO2 level on demand and captures periodic background measurements when you're sleeping and inactive. Putting this technology in a consumer wearable has never been more important given the global COVID-19 pandemic, as it indicates how well your circulatory and respiratory systems are delivering oxygenated blood to your body, and can help you gauge whether a hospital visit is necessary. Beyond this, Apple's changes include a faster processor, an always-on altimeter that lets you see your elevation in real time, and a bump in screen brightness when your wrist is down. These improvements, plus many new additions in watchOS 7, including a 20-second handwashing timer and...

With an unrivaled user experience, fantastic apps, and potentially lifesaving health and fitness features, the Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch you can buy.

Measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) on demand; Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation tracking; Improved wrist-down screen brightness; WatchOS 7 adds a handwashing countdown timer and sleep tracking; Fast new processor; Best third-party app selection; Attractive new watch colors and band options

Expensive; Offers only a slight battery life improvement

The Apple Watch Series 6 isn’t much different from the Series 5, and the changes that matter most aren’t necessarily the ones you can see. That said, we’ll never complain when an already great smartwatch gets practical improvements like faster performance, longer battery life and quicker charging.

Speedier performance; Faster charging; Slightly improved battery life; Timely handwashing feature

Sleep tracking in watchOS 7 isn’t super useful

Apple debuted the new Apple Watch Series 6 earlier this month and I've been testing out the new (PRODUCT)RED 44mm GPS model. At first glance it doesn't seem much different than the Apple Watch Series 5 , but there's more than meets the eye.

Gorgeous; refined hardware; Bright and useful always-on mode; Blood oxygen sensor; Sleep tracking capability; Excellent third party application support

Expensive; Battery life about the same as Series 5; Limited sleep details

If you are looking for the absolute best wearable to pair with your iPhone, this is it

The best smartwatch for iPhone users just got better

The already bright always-on screen is now brighter; Charging is faster; Processor is more powerful

Overall an iterative update over its predecessor; Best watchOS 7 features also coming to older versions; Apple Watch SE offers similar functionality

Despite the new sensors feeling like a tick-box exercise, there's still no better smartwatch on the market. It's just that this time around it offers many features you'll want, along with many that you aren't aware you'd want, plus lots that you'll simply never use.

New dimmed display option; Display is brighter than before; Fluid performance; Lovely design options for both size options

No game-changing improvements over Series 5; Sleep tracking raises battery charging questions; Altimeter doesn't feel well executed; Why do we have a blood oxygen monitor?

The Apple Watch Series 6 is far from a huge upgrade and I would say that if you’ve got a Series 5 (or even a Series 4) then there’s very little to entice an upgrade. But that really shouldn’t take anything away from the Apple Watch Series 6 as it’s an excellent product and still the best all-round...

Lovely new colours; Very accurate fitness tracking; Plenty of health features; The best smartwatch OS around

Sleep tracking lacks depth; No big improvements to battery; Minimal improvements over previous model

The Apple Watch S6 is the best all-rounder smartwatch on the market, especially for iPhone users, but there are better deals to be had.

Brighter display; Zero lag; Comfortable (even when sleeping); Faster charging

Could do with more use cases for bloody oxygen function; Battery life could be better; In reality; not a huge jump from Apple Watch Series 5

Apple just made the Watch even better and although not a lot has changed, it’s still the best smartwatch you can buy.

Great performance; Great screen; Useful health features

Poor sleep tracking; Still have to charge every day

The Apple Watch Series 6 is the best version of the best smartwatch in the world. But it might not be the right device for you. The classier materials, new colors and always-on display are key reasons to buy, as are ECG and SpO2 for those looking for a health watch.

SpO2 and ECG; New colors; The best version of the best smartwatch