Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch Series 6 GPS, 40mm, Silver/Red(M00A3B/A)

Apple Watch Series 7 is priced at Kes 31,000  here at Novelty Tech Solution in Nairobi, Kenya

Full Model Identification & Overview

• Marketing Name: Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS)

• Your Model Number: M00A3B/A

• Case Size: 40mm (The smaller of the two standard sizes available at the time).

• Case Material: Silver Aluminium (Lightweight and durable).

• Band Included: The “(Silver/Red)” in the name indicates it originally came with a Product(RED) Sport Band, featuring a Red band with a Silver aluminium pin.

• Connectivity: GPS Model (Requires a paired iPhone for connectivity features like calls, messages, and streaming).

Detailed Technical Specifications

• Chip: Apple S6 SiP (System in Package)

  • Based on the A13 Bionic chip from the iPhone 11. It was significantly faster than the S5 chip, especially for app launches.

• Display: Retina LTPO OLED Always-On display

  • Brightness: Up to 1000 nits (A key improvement, making the Always-On mode much easier to see in daylight compared to the Series 5).

  • Feature: Always-On display is enabled.

• Health & Wellness Sensors (The Key Upgrade for Series 6):

  • Blood Oxygen (SpO2) App: This was the flagship new sensor for the Series 6. It measures the oxygen saturation of your blood using a new sensor array with red, green, and infrared LEDs.

  • Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG App): Can generate an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram.

  • Optical Heart Sensor (2nd generation): For continuous heart rate monitoring, including high and low heart rate notifications and irregular rhythm notifications.

  • Always-On Altimeter: Provides real-time elevation changes.

• Key Features & Software (at launch):

  • Family Setup: (Required a cellular model; not available for this GPS-only version).

  • Workouts: Extensive tracking, including a new Blood Oxygen measurement during sleep.

  • Sleep Tracking: Basic sleep tracking was introduced with watchOS 7 (it did not track sleep stages).

• Battery Life:

  • All-day battery life: Up to 18 hours (Standard for models from Series 4-8). The Always-On display and new sensors were efficiently managed to maintain this lifespan.

• Charging: Included a USB-A Magnetic Charging Cable. It does not support the faster USB-C charging introduced with the Series 7.

• Durability:

  • Water Resistance: 50 meters (WR50) – Swim-proof.

• What’s in the Box:

  • Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, Silver/Red Aluminium Case)

  • Product(RED) Sport Band (S/M and M/L sizes)

  • 1m Magnetic Charging Cable (USB-A)

Who Is This Model Perfect For?

• Someone Finding a Budget-Friendly Older Model: As a three-generation-old model, its primary appeal today is a lower price point on the refurbished or used market.

• Users Wanting Core Health Sensors: It was the first Apple Watch to offer both the ECG and Blood Oxygen apps, making it a strong health-focused device in its time.

• iPhone Users Needing a Solid Companion Watch: For general use, notifications, fitness tracking, and basic health monitoring, it remains a capable device if its software limitations are accepted.

Important Considerations & Limitations

1. Aged Hardware: This is an older model and is considered “Vintage” by Apple. This means official repairs and service are no longer available.

2. Missing Modern Sensors & Hardware:

   • No Temperature Sensing (Series 8 & later).

   • No Crash Detection (Series 8 & later).

   • No Fast Charging (Series 7 & later).

   • Smaller, Thicker-Bezeled Display compared to Series 7 and later.

3. Software Support: Its final major watchOS update was watchOS 9. It does not support watchOS 10 or any future updates. This means it misses out on new features, apps, and security patches.

4. GPS Only: This model cannot operate independently of your iPhone for connectivity.

Comparison to Newer Models

• vs. Apple Watch Series 7: The Series 7 has a much larger screen with slimmer borders, a crack-resistant front crystal, fast charging, and a full keyboard.

• vs. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): The SE (2nd Gen) has a newer chip (S8) and Crash Detection, but it lacks the always-on display and the critical health sensors: ECG and Blood Oxygen app.

• vs. Apple Watch Series 9: The Series 9 is a massive leap forward in every way, including a brighter display, Double Tap gesture, on-device Siri, and all the health sensors from later generations.

Final Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm, Silver/Red) was a landmark model in its day, introducing the valuable Blood Oxygen monitor.

However, today it is best viewed as a budget-conscious option. Its lack of modern software support and hardware features makes it difficult to recommend over a newer Apple Watch SE or a discounted Series 8/9, unless found at a very significant discount and for very basic use.