The latest Apple Watch adds new safety features and a temperature sensor for some intriguing uses for women’s health and family planning. But otherwise it remains the same as last year’s version.
Like the latest iPhones, the Series 8 gets a £50 (AU$30 in Australia) price hike over its predecessor, costing from £419 (AU$629) although it remains $399 in the US. United, due to weak exchange rates against the dollar. But the Series 8 isn’t Apple’s most expensive new smartwatch. That title goes to the Ultra model which costs £849 ($799 / A$1,299).
The new, now mid-range Series 8 watch is essentially identical to the Series 7. The iPhone-only smartwatch has a smooth metal body, a bright and crisp always-on display, and lasts around 36 hours between charges, including sleep tracking. It’s still the best performing smartwatch.
In addition to existing fall detection, a new accelerometer and gyroscope can detect the extreme forces associated with a car crash and automatically call emergency services if you don’t respond within 20 seconds. A potentially lifesaving feature that is hopefully just there for peace of mind.
A pair of temperature sensors can track how your wrist temperature changes overnight, establishing a five-night baseline with sleep tracking turned on. It can’t tell you your exact temperature, but small changes can indicate different things, from exercise and alcohol consumption to illness and jet lag.
The primary use of the sensor is optional enhanced female health tracking for recording the menstrual cycle and ovulation. The watch tracks the small rise in body temperature that typically occurs after ovulation, which it combines with recorded cycle data to give a retrospective estimate of the day of ovulation. It takes about two cycles for the estimates to be calculated, but it could be a useful tool for those trying to get pregnant or avoid it, as well as generally tracking their health cycle for any irregularities.
Health data collected by the watch, including heart rate, ECG results, and cycle data, is saved in your phone’s Health app and end-to-end encrypted when backed up to your iCloud account. This means that only you and those you intentionally share the data with, like your partner or doctor, can see it. Neither Apple nor third parties can read it.
Features
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Suitcase size: 41 or 45mm
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Case Thickness: 10.7mm
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Lester: 32/38.8g or 42.3/51.5g
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Processor: S8
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RAM: 1 GB
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Storage: 32 GB
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Operating system: WatchOS 9
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Water resistance: 50 meters (5ATM)
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Sensors: HR, ECG, spO2, temperature, microphone, speaker, NFC, GNSS, compass, altimeter
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Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, NFC, UWB, 4G/eSIM optional
WatchOS 9
The recently released watchOS 9 software added new watch faces, sleep stage tracking, and various other small improvements, but one of the best additions was the workout app.
Now you can change the metrics displayed on the face during runs, cycles, and other workouts to precisely what you want. There are also new advanced metrics to use, including heart rate zones, running power, vertical oscillation, stride length, and ground contact time. You can finally customize interval workouts as well. The Series 8 uses around 15% of the battery to track an hour-long run, so it’s capable of covering a marathon.
Sustainability
Apple doesn’t provide an expected lifespan for the battery, but it should last over 500 full charge cycles from at least 80 per cent of its original capacity and can be replaced for £85. Repairs cost between £309 and £409 depending on the model.
It contains recycled aluminum, gold, rare earths, tin and tungsten. Apple offers free exchange and recycling of devices, and breaks down the watch’s environmental impact in its report.
Price
The Series 8 is available in two different sizes and two different materials, as well as the 4G option which requires an eSIM add-on and a compatible phone plan.
Aluminum or Nike versions in 41mm cost £419 ($399 / AU$629) or £449 ($429 / AU$679). 4G models cost an additional £110 ($100/A$160). Stainless steel models cost from £729 ($699 / A$1,099).
For comparison, the Apple Watch SE costs £259, the Apple Watch Ultra costs £849, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 costs £269 and the Garmin Venu 2 costs £299.
Verdict
Series 8 is the most minor update to the Apple Watch in a few years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since its predecessor was the best smartwatch available for the iPhone and that’s still true for the newer model.
Crash detection is a cool feature that you hope you never use. While ovulation tracking isn’t new, there are only a handful of mainstream wearables, such as some Fitbits and Oura Ring, that offer similar functionality. It’s good to see more in-depth women’s health tracking added to another mainstream device. Data from the temperature sensor may also prove useful for other wellness features in the future.
If you have a recent model, the upgrade is not worth it. But if you’re looking for a general new smartwatch for an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the one to buy. It’s head and shoulders above the competition, it’s just a shame about the price hike caused by the currency.
Advantages: excellent haptic vibrations, always-on screen, ECG, temperature sensor, optimal health tracking, excellent activity tracking, 50 meters water resistance, solid battery, car accident detection, long software support, recycled materials .
The inconvenients: expensive, only works with iPhone, blood oxygen data not very useful, no 3rd party watch faces, minor upgrade.
