Unveiled on 7th September 2022, Apple Watch Series 8 is the latest addition to the Apple Watches. It has a few unique features that set it apart from other smartwatches. These features include crash detection, body temperature sensor, new workout modes and new fitness tracking features.
You should get the Series 8 if you want a smartwatch with plenty of health and fitness features. For more details on how it can improve your health and fitness, find out below:
Apple Watch Series 8 Specifications
The Series 8 is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. It also comes in aluminium and stainless steel. Both sizes have a retina display with a 396 x 484 pixels resolution. It also has the S8 SiP with a 64-bit dual-core processor.
With a water resistance rating of WR50, it can withstand water immersion of up to 50 meters for up to 5 minutes. It runs on watchOS 9, which is the latest OS version for different types of Apple watches.
Here are the detailed Apple Watch Series 8 specifications:
- Display: 41mm or 45mm LTPO OLED display with Always-On Retina display
- Sensors: Optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter, compass, SpO2 sensor, blood oxygen sensor, VO2 max sensor, temperature sensor, and electrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensor
- Processor: S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
- Power and Battery Life: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering up to 18 hours of battery life with USB-C magnetic fast-charging cable
- Water Resistance: WR50 water resistance
- Operating System: watchOS 9
- Finishes (GPS + Cellular): Aluminum (Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Red), Stainless Steel (Graphite, Silver, Gold)
- Chip: S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 (Apple wireless chip), U1 chip (Ultra Wideband
- Connectivity: LTE and UMTS7 (GPS + Cellular models), Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3
- Package Content: Apple Watch Series 8, Band/Loop, and Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m)
Notable Apple Watch Series 8 Features
Series 8 has several new features that make it more powerful and versatile. As such, it's a significant upgrade over previous Apple watch models. Here are the features to look out for:
Temperature Sensor
The built-in temperature sensor can track your body temperature throughout the day. Temperature data can help you track your menstrual cycle. It may also help detect potential health problems and optimise your sleep.
A pair of temperature sensors on the watch help measure your wrist temperature. One sensor lies on the back of the watch, near your skin. And the other sensor lies under the display. The two sensors work together to offer a more accurate reading of your wrist temperature.
The temperature sensors comprise tiny transistors that can measure the heat energy of nearby atoms. They have calibrations to offer accurate temperature readings. The readings don't change even when wearing the watch in a cold or hot environment.
You shouldn't mistake the temperature sensor for a medical-grade thermometer. As such, it can't help in a medical diagnosis or treatment. But, the data it offers can improve your health and wellness.
To use the temperature sensor on Series 8, turn on the Wrist Temperature feature in the Watch app. Once the feature is active, your Apple Watch will measure your wrist temperature every five seconds while you are asleep. It will store the data in the Health app on your iPhone.
Open the app and tap the Temperature tab to view your wrist temperature data. The Temperature tab shows you your current wrist temperature. It also lists your average wrist temperature over the past day, week, or month.
Crash Detection
The crash detection feature uses a combination of sensors to detect the crash impact. If it detects a crash, the watch will automatically call emergency services and alert your emergency contacts. But it doesn't work for all types of crashes.
In particular, the accelerometer measures the force of acceleration and deceleration. The gyroscope measures the rotation of the watch. And the heart rate sensor measures your heart rate.
When you turn on Crash Detection, your Apple Watch constantly tracks these sensors for signs of a crash. If your watch detects a severe car crash, it will respond in certain ways.
First, the alert will ask if you are okay. If you don't respond, your watch will automatically call emergency services. It will also play an audio message.
The audio message will inform emergency services that you are in a severe car crash. It will also give them your location. Expect it to send a notification to your emergency contacts about the crash.
Crash Detection is a valuable safety feature that can help to save lives. But, it's not perfect and may not detect all severe car crashes. So, if you experience a car crash, check yourself and others for injuries and contact emergency services.
The feature is always active by default. But you can check to ensure it is on in the Watch app. You can also update your medical ID on the app.
Your Medical ID includes your name, date of birth, blood type, and other important medical information. Keep this information updated so emergency services can help you in a crash. You should also set up emergency contacts who will come to your rescue.
Enhanced Always-On Display
The Always-On display is brighter and easier to read, even in direct sunlight. This way, it's easier to see the time and notifications. The display is also more energy-efficient, consuming less battery power.
A new low-power LTPO OLED display powers this feature. It can refresh as fast as 120Hz when you're interacting with it. But it can slow down to as low as 1Hz when you're not using it. This way, it helps to conserve battery life while still keeping the Always-On Display visible.
The time and date are always visible, even when your wrist is down. You can see glanceable information like the weather, your heart rate, and your next appointment without raising your wrist. Notifications from your iPhone are also visible, even when your wrist is down.
The LTPO OLED display features millions of tiny pixels you can turn on or off. As such, it allows the display to create a wide range of brightness levels, from very bright to very dim.
The enhanced Always-On Display is active by default on Apple Watch Series 8. But you can turn it off in the Watch app on your iPhone.
New Workout Modes
The watch features workout modes for swimming, surfing, and hiking. These modes offer more detailed data and insights to help you improve your performance. For instance, the swimming mode can track your strokes, distance, and pace.
You can even use the surfing mode to track your waves, speed, and distance.
The two new workout modes on Apple Watch Series 8 are Tai Chi and paddleboarding modes. Tai Chi mode helps track your movements and heart rate during a Tai Chi session. Paddleboarding mode can track your speed, distance, and calories burned while paddleboarding.
The Series 8 also comes with many other workout-related updates. In particular, you can track your heart rate in five different zones. This way, it helps you understand your fitness levels and performance.
You can now measure your running power to run better. The watch can also estimate your VO2 max, a measure of your aerobic fitness. These new features and modes make Series 8 the most advanced fitness tracker.
Faster Charging
The Series 8 charges faster than previous models. As such, you can get back to your workout sooner. It takes about 45 minutes for the watch to charge from 0 to 80 percent.
Fast charging on Series 8 uses a special cable and power adapter. The Apple USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable has a USB-C connector on one end. It also has a magnetic charging puck on the other end.
The power adapter can be either the Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter or a comparable third-party USB-C power adapter. But, the third-party adapter should support USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) of 5W or greater.
To fast charge your Apple Watch Series 8, connect the magnetic charging puck to the back of your watch. Then, connect the other end of the cable to the power adapter. Your watch will start charging immediately.
The charging time may vary depending on several factors. These factors include the temperature of your watch and the power output of the power adapter. You can only use it on the Series 8, Series 7, and SE.
Get Your Apple Watch Series 8 Today
Overall, Apple Watch Series 8 is a significant upgrade over previous models. It offers many new features, making it a more powerful and versatile fitness tracker. So, if you're looking for a smartwatch to help you stay active and healthy, the Series 8 is a great option.
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