Apple unveils Apple Watch Series 6 and Fitness+ subscription service

15 September 2020, 20:19

The new Apple Watch Series 6 contains a health sensor that can measure blood oxygen levels
The new Apple Watch Series 6 contains a health sensor that can measure blood oxygen levels. Picture: PA

Apple has unveiled the next generation of its Apple Watch and its Fitness+ class subscription service that will be linked to the device.

The Apple Watch Series 6 features a health sensor which is able to measure the user's blood oxygen levels in 15 seconds.

It was revealed alongside the new "affordable" Apple Watch SE which will start at £269 and will contain many of the core features of the Series 6, which will have a starting price of £379.

The $2 trillion company has increasingly marketed the Watch as a health and fitness device, earlier this year announcing that sleep tracking and a prompt around hand-washing would also be introduced to the device this year.

It is hoped the fitness class subscription service will help it compete with rivals such as Peleton.

Read more: Apple becomes first US two trillion-dollar company

Read more: Apple accused of swerving MPs’ questions on its environmental record

Apple Event — September 15

Speaking during a virtual event on Tuesday to announce the products, Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams called the Series 6 the "most advanced Apple Watch ever" having taken "another big leap forward".

He also said the SE combined the "features customers love" at a lower price, which means there is now an Apple Watch "for everyone".

The US technology firm also confirmed its plan to launch a new exercise subscription service called Fitness+, which will be powered by the Apple Watch and will cost £9.99 a month.

It will enable users to stream fitness classes with professional trainers on their iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, with their exercise metrics automatically tracked by their Apple Watch while also being shown on-screen.

Read more: Apple delays debut of anti-tracking tool in iPhone software

Read more: Apple and Google reveal contact tracing notification system built into phones

The new iPhone SE — Apple

The service will be linked with Apple Music, the tech giant's music streaming service, to provide playlists for each workout.

A range of workouts, including walks and runs on a treadmill, yoga and HIIT sessions will be available when the service launches later in the year and will be seen as a direct competitor to platforms such as Peloton, which has had success with its own exercise bike and linked subscription service of associated workout classes.

The new subscription service joins a growing number of similar products offered by Apple, which has increasingly turned to its services business in recent years as a key revenue source as hardware sales slowed.

As part of that expansion, a new bundle of all its subscription services known as Apple One was announced, which at the top tier will include access to iCloud storage, Apple Music, TV+, Arcade, News+ and Fitness+ for £29.95 a month.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Nicholas Prosper killed his family

Teenager who murdered family planned to massacre 30 school children to become UK's most notorious mass killer

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall making a statement on welfare reform in the House of Commons, London. Picture date: Tuesday March 18, 2025.

Labour's battle on benefits begins as rebels say crackdown will cause 'immense suffering'

A woman in her 20s died at the scene, police said

LIVE: Woman in her 20s dies after ‘van hit three people’ near The Strand in central London

A woman in her 20s died in the crash

Woman killed after van hits three pedestrians in Strand in central London, as man arrested for drug driving

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have reportedly shared their first phone call since the election.

US ‘could recognise Crimea as Russian in peace deal’ as Trump to hold ceasefire talks with Putin

Paul Young and his wife Lorna had been on holiday in Santorini when the fall happened

Paul Young rushed into intensive care after horror fall on luxury Greek holiday

Owen Cooper

Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 15, reveals iconic role he wants to play and how his friends reacted Netflix drama

Israel launched a wave of strikes on Gaza last night - the largest attack since the January ceasefire

'Greatest fear realised': Families of Israeli hostages slam Netanyahu as Gaza strikes put captives 'at grave risk'

A group picture of all the researchers – from various science projects -- at the South African research station, SANAE IV, Antar

Revealed: Why Antarctic scientist 'snapped' on remote base as team begs for rescue after 'assaults and death threats'

Rescue teams at work after the plane crashed into the sea, on Roatan island, Honduras

Plane crash kills seven including popular music star after jet goes down off Honduras coast

The NHS watchdog has called for overweight patients to be weighed each year.

Overweight patients should be weighed every year so doctors can monitor them, says NHS watchdog

Pat McFadden

Pat McFadden defends changes to welfare system as he insists Cabinet 'united' behind plans - despite backlash

Driving test rules have changed

Warning over new rules for driving tests, as ministers push to slash waiting times

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Portrait

Fresh twist in death of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy as it emerges she called doctors a day after police say she died

Exclusive
Civil servants are having their credit cards frozen

'We need to treat taxpayer money with respect': Ministers freeze civil service credit cards after spending quadruples

Exclusive
Part of the River Trent had 50 times the bacteria of safe swimming water

'There's something wrong with the water': Bacteria in UK river 50 times higher than safe swimming levels