The Apple Watch 6 will be released in September without much fanfare, despite the fact that it is expected to be a significant upgrade from the Apple Watch 5.

This is according to reliable tech leaker Jon Prosser, who tweeted a set of adjusted Apple release dates. Despite Prosser's claim that the iPhone 12 will be released in October, the new Apple Watch and new iPad are set to be released the week beginning September 7. Apple typically announces new smartphones and smartwatches together.

Since the iPhone 12 was originally expected to be released in September, the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak is likely the source of this shakeup. Apple typically holds its major iPhone events during the second week of September, so if the Apple Watch is revealed by the 7th, it will be a bit earlier than usual for Apple's flagship wearable.

Prosser claims that the Apple Watch 6 will be announced via press release. This seems like an odd way to announce such a major product, but Apple has taken a similar approach with the iPhone SE, iMac 27-inch, and iPad Pro this year.

The biggest change predicted for Apple Watch 6 is the elimination of the Digital Crown, a feature that has defined its operation to some degree since the birth of the Apple Watch. Instead, the Apple Watch 6 could feature optical sensors that navigate the smartwatch's software in response to touch and gestures. Such a sensor would help reduce the overall size of the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch 6 is also said to include health and wellness features such as a blood oxygen monitoring system, improved fall detection, and the ability to feed back health data such as age, BMI, and heart rate to emergency services. The smartwatch is also expected to include a system to help monitor mental health by detecting physical changes that may indicate stress or anxiety.

Other upgrades include improved performance, enhanced water resistance, and a better wireless networking system that will allow the Apple Watch 6 to operate more independently from the iPhone. Combined, these features and upgrades could make the next Apple Watch a significant upgrade over its predecessor and rival Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 3.