Apple announced major new updates to the Apple Watch Series 8 at their special event today. The new model includes significant health sensor upgrades, a new low power mode, crash detection features, and an innovative temperature sensor.
Enhanced Health Sensors Take Center Stage
The star of the show for the Series 8 is the new suite of cutting-edge health sensors, headlined by a first-of-its-kind temperature sensor designed to help women track their ovulation cycles. As reported by Tom’s Guide:
The sensor leverages 16 infrared LEDs and four photodiodes to sample your wrist temperature every five seconds. That data can be logged in the newly updated Cycle Tracking app within watchOS 9 to detect subtle changes that can indicate where you’re at in your monthly cycle.
This innovative addition, along with Apple’s new cycle tracking features, aim to provide women with deeper insights into their health.
Apple also unveiled an improved accelerometer and gyroscope which can detect extreme car crashes. As CNet describes:
The company added a high-g accelerometer and high dynamic range gyroscope to detect peak impacts — like car crashes — using software and hardware. There’s also a new three-axis gyroscope and high-g accelerometer that’s designed to detect car crash-level impacts in as little as 10 milliseconds.
If a severe car crash is detected, the watch will automatically contact emergency services and notify your emergency contacts with your location to get help right away.
Optimized Low Power Mode Extends Battery Life
In addition to the health sensors, Apple says the Series 8’s new low power mode can extend battery life to 36 hours on a full charge – double the normal 18 hours. ZDNet explains how this works:
Low Power Mode temporarily disables or limits select sensors and features like the Always-On Retina display, heart health notifications, and more. This preserves battery life dramatically.
So by disabling battery-draining features, low power mode will help your watch last an entire weekend trip without needing a recharge.
Additional Updates Improve the User Experience
Beyond the major additions, Apple included a variety of upgrades focused on usability and personalization. As noted by SlashGear, you can now customize the watch face dock with your most frequently used apps:
With watchOS 9, you’ll be able to add complications – little snapshots of data from your apps – along the bottom of the watch face. They’ll effectively create a customizable dock, not unlike your iPhone, ensuring your most-consulted apps are only ever a tap away.
The new theater mode also aims to improve usability by disabling raise to wake and silencing notifications so your watch doesn’t disturb others during movies and performances.
Apple also introduced four new watch faces – Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan and Astronomy – adding more personalization options.
Overall the major sensor upgrades, especially the groundbreaking new temperature sensor, combined with quality of life updates like low power mode and further personalization point to an exciting new generation for the pioneering Apple Watch.
What Happens Next?
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available starting today, September 16th, with pre-orders live now. It comes in four colors: midnight, starlight, silver and Product Red. Pricing starts at $399 for GPS models and $499 for cellular.
We can likely expect strong sales momentum for Series 8 over the holiday season. Analysts project consumers will be enticed by the unprecedented ovulation tracking sensor paired with crash detection and other compelling upgrades. However, some financial analysts say broader economic challenges could mute overall demand.
Looking ahead, rumors suggest Apple is preparing an even more advanced Apple Watch ‘Pro’ model for release in 2024. This next-generation watch may include features like solid state buttons, an enhanced rugged design, and a larger display.
For now, the Apple Watch ecosystem remains years ahead of competitors in terms of health sensors and advanced smartwatch capabilities. The innovations packed into the Apple Watch Series 8 only further that lead. Users can look forward to the most comprehensive health insights yet from the pioneering wearable device.
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