If Apple follows their regular release pattern, we will see a new Apple Watch, possibly called the Series 6, in September this year.
Series 5 Updates
The latest features released with the Series 5 was the built-in compass, always-on display, international SOS trigger for Watches which is cellular-enabled without even having a contract, as well as titanium and ceramic finishes. Now we could see a long-awaited feature coming to the Watch his year.
Sleep Tracking
Bloomberg reported that Apple is possibly working on a sleep monitoring feature for the next Apple Watch. It’s allegedly being tested in secret facilities around their headquarters in Cupertino and if successful, will be added to the next Watch.
It also stated that Apple will lower the competitive edge that Fitbit – a big player in the sleep monitoring business – has on the current market.
Apple also owns Beddit, a company selling a sleep-tracking strap, which tells us that Apple does have some interest in sleep monitoring. Hopefully, they will extend that interest to one of their own products soon.
Screen
Rumours are also suggesting a new type of screen, called a microLED. This type has one big advantage, power-efficiency. This means that the next generation could have better battery life.
There is also a chance that Apple may move the antennas out of the case and into the band, to make space to add, wait for it, Touch ID on the display, according to a recent patent Apple registered.
Performance
Not much to say here, just that the next generation will probably be faster and that WiFi and cellular speeds may increase.
Water Resistance
Better water resistance is also a possibility due to a projection from Ming-Chi Kuo, stating that circuit boards for the next generation could be made from LCP which stands for liquid crystal polymer, instead of polymide which the current and previous Apple Watch models use.
Digital Crown
Another patent shows the Digital Crown making its departure, paving the way for an optical system. Because the Digital Crown is so big, it takes up space that could have been used for other components and it is also vulnerable to wear and tear.
The optical system will be able to sense movement on the sensor and execute the same operations as it would by turning the crown.
Name, watchOS and Release
I doubt that Apple will make a sudden change in the 6th generation of Apple Watch so we will probably see an Apple Watch Series 6. Chances are huge that Apple will launch it in September because of previous launches also occurring in September along with with the device it extends, the iPhone.
It is very likely that no change will be made in the watchOS naming convention as well, bringing watchOS 7 to the Apple Watch Series 6.
Pricing and Release
Apple doesn’t usually wander off their pricing which means that we will probably see the next-generation Watch starting at $399 or R5,884.17*. Apple Watch Series 5 pricing in South Africa currently start at R7,699 for a 40mm Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band and R7,999 for other 40mm case colours and sport bands from Digicape. Pricing at iStore is R7,999 for all 40mm cases with a Sport Band.
*- Exchange rate from Investing.com as on 4 February 2020 at 16:27.
*- Pricing excludes import and other taxes.
Closing
Some exciting stuff could happen to Apple Watch in September this year, but most are still just rumours, so there is no need to get excited or angry just yet.
