IFixit today has isolated the Apple Watch Series 6, with new sensors added to enable blood oxygen tracking to get an inside look. There is also one major piece of hardware that has disappeared from the watch: the technology used to enable Force Touch.
Force Touch's screen allows the Apple Watch to recognize how much force you're applying, and it's been a part of the Apple Watch since the first model was released in 2015. But the latest version of WatchOS removes Force Touch from earlier models, and now it's clear why: it's not part of the Series 6 watch.
Phones starting with the iPhone 6S in 2015 had an equivalent feature called Apple 3D Touch. The tech giant has begun removing 3D Touch on its smartphones and replacing it with Haptic Touch in 2018.
The smartwatch also has a larger battery and a larger taptic engine than its predecessor. According to iFixit, the battery of the 44mm Apple Watch Series 6 is 3.5 percent larger and the 40mm size battery is 8.5 percent larger. This is a significant difference to both sizes, which Apple claims is that the Series 6 Watch has an 18-hour battery life similar to the Series 5. The latest models have a brighter screen than their predecessors, which may be one reason to upgrade the battery.
If you want to see our first thoughts on the Apple Watch Series 6, check out my colleague Dieter Bone wearable first look.
