It has been exactly one month since the Apple Watch Series 6 was released Maybe you ordered one on the day it was released, or maybe you used it a bit and had some questions before purchasing If so, I hope I can provide some answers for you

Since the release of the Apple Watch 6, I have worn it almost every day and can confidently say that it is the best smartwatch I have ever owned It is responsive, intuitive, and has everything an iPhone-using user could want on their wrist

But that doesn't mean I'd recommend going out of your way to spend $399 (or maybe a little less, thanks to the Black Friday Apple Watch special) In particular, the $279 Apple Watch SE and $329 Fitbit Sense promise similar key features at more affordable prices

Apple Watch 6 vs Apple SE compares the differences between these top smartwatch models That said, if you are more or less committed to the Series 6, you might be interested to hear how my feelings about the Series 6 have changed now that the fog of first impressions has lifted

Here are my thoughts on the Apple Watch Series 6 after one month

I have tested several smartwatches with blood oxygen monitoring capabilities prior to the Apple Watch 6 and thought Apple would put this on the wearables map, as SpO2 levels are a reliable indicator of respiratory health, and given the ongoing pandemic, it seemed that customers would be interested in this type of tool Heck, I was going to be checking my blood oxygen daily

But it's not In fact, outside of work purposes (such as when I wrote a guide on how to use the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch 6), I have never taken a blood oxygen reading However, I am happy to report that I have not experienced any of the several problems that reviewers and users alike have run into in getting accurate readings

Unless you need to know your body's oxygen saturation frequently, I don't think the blood oxygen sensor alone justifies the purchase of the Series 6 The brighter always-on display is a much more universal upgrade

For once, I can finally stop complaining about the battery life of the Apple Watch It's taken me three years to get to this point, and I apologize to anyone who has nagged me along the way Even though the always-connected Series 6, like the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch Series 4 before it, are supposed to last 18 hours, I have found the latest Apple Watch to go the distance Some days it can be used for 24 hours before needing to be recharged

Of course, activity tracking and GPS use drain the battery faster than normal Overall, however, we are not distracted by the battery level I used to be obsessed with watch faces that showed battery life at a glance, but I no longer worry about wearing my Apple Watch all night long for sleep tracking

Yes, if only the Apple Watch could survive an overnight trip without a charger A friend told me about a $20 portable Apple Watch charger for a keychain, which I look forward to trying out

One of the first things I didn't like about the Apple Watch Series was the Solo Loop band that came in the box The stretch band sounded like a great alternative to the traditional sport band, but I eventually went right back to the classic strap I realized that I probably had the Solo Loop sized incorrectly (I needed a printable measuring tape to find my size), but it seems I was not the only one having problems

I then got the right size Solo Loop If you don't mind spending a few extra dollars, the braided solo loop is a worthwhile accessory The lightweight, comfortable material makes it the most comfortable Apple Watch band I've ever used, and I appreciate that it's made from 100% recycled material

This is not an Apple Watch Series 6-specific feature, but it is worth mentioning as it relates to the watchOS 7 software Now that I am familiar with sleep tracking, hand washing, and fun new watch faces, I am appreciating some of the more underrated upgrades of the year

Sharing watch faces is one of them The launch of the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch SE coincided with birthdays and anniversaries of my loved ones, so I gave these new smartwatches as gifts (when I could afford them) Most of them were first-time users, so to help them get started, I sent them some of my favorite complications using the watch face sharing feature in watchOS 7

While watchfaces can be shared with mobile and Apple Watch contacts, it would be foolish for app companies not to extend their brand identity by sharing watchfaces on social media It would not surprise me if this feature is used more often

In short, the best (for me) of the Apple Watch 6's overall upgrades is the longer battery life and the elimination of the hassle of managing remaining battery life

Also, while the new Solo Loop is great (if the size fits), these bands fit my older Apple Watch, so no need to upgrade The same goes for watch face sharing I don't know if the blood oxygen level check will be a real game changer, but your call may be divided

For more Apple Watch tips and tricks, check out our guide to using the Apple Watch, and be sure to check out our great Apple Watch deals before you buy your Apple Watch