With the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8 and a new Apple Watch SE, Apple has extensively revised its own smartwatches. The Apple Watch Ultra offers the most innovations, the Series 8 focuses primarily on new temperature sensors and accident detection.
Apple Watch Series 8
Two new temperature sensors
In contrast to its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 8 now has a temperature sensor that is also intended to help women with cycle tracking by allowing the Apple Watch to predict ovulation during the cycle based on changes in body temperature. Apple installs a temperature sensor on the back of the watch and one on the top directly under the display. This combination is intended to improve the measurement accuracy by taking external influences into account during the measurement. At night, the Apple Watch 8 measures body temperature every 5 seconds, with a deviation of 0.1 degrees Celsius.
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Apple Watch Series 8 (Image: Apple)
Features like ECG and blood oxygen measurement are still available with the Apple Watch Series 8. Nothing has changed on the housing with 41 and 45 mm and it is still protected against dust according to IP6X. The display again offers 396 × 484 pixels on the 45mm model and 352 × 430 pixels on the 41mm model. Apple's Ion‑X front glass is used in the aluminum model, and sapphire glass in the stainless steel version.
Apple Watch 8 detects car accidents< /h3>
In addition to fall detection and the ability to call 911 from the watch, the Apple Watch 8 now also detects car accidents and automatically dials 911 if the user doesn't respond. The Apple Watch Series 8 uses the gyroscope and an accelerometer for this purpose. In addition, data from the barometer, GPS and the microphone of the iPhone are used to identify typical accident patterns. The smartwatch detects accidents from the side, from the front, from behind and also rollovers with the car.
Apple Watch Series 8 (image: Apple)
New power-saving mode for longer battery life
According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 8 offers a battery life of up to 18 hours. A new feature is a low power mode that can double the battery life to 36 hours if necessary. In this mode, features like the always-on display and automatic workout recognition are turned off. Low Power Mode will be available starting with Apple Watch Series 4 and requires watchOS 9.
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Apple Watch Series 8 (Image: Apple)
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Apple Watch Series 8 (image: Apple)
As a processor, the Apple Watch Series 8 uses the S8 SiP (System-in-Package), for which Apple has not yet provided any more precise information, because the S8 SiP is basically the same processor as in the Series 7 and Series 6.
Pre-orders start today
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available starting today and will ship on September 16th. In aluminum it is available in the four colors Polarstern, Midnight, Silver and (Product)Red, the stainless steel version is available in the three colors Silver, Gold and Graphite. The aluminum model starts at 499 euros as a GPS version with 41 mm (539 euros with 45 mm), the LTE model is estimated at 619 euros (from 659 euros for the 45 mm version).
Apple Watch Ultra
Bright display, titanium and sapphire crystal< /h3>
With the Apple Watch Pro, Apple is introducing a completely new model this year, which is located above the Apple Watch Series 8. As expected, Apple relies on a titanium case that is higher than the Series 8 and protects the display. The case, which is larger than the Series 8, always measures 49 mm and the display offers 410 × 502 pixels. The Apple Watch Ultra weighs 61.3 grams, while the 45mm Series 8 weighs 38.8 grams with aluminum and 51.5 grams with stainless steel. The larger and brighter display of the Apple Watch Ultra is protected by a flat sapphire glass. According to Apple, it should achieve a brightness of up to 2,000 cd/m².
S8 SiP with Bluetooth 5.3
For nightfall optimization, the crown can be twisted to activate night mode, which tints the UI red to improve visibility in the dark when using the new Wayfinder watch face. In addition, the Ultra also offers the new temperature sensors like the Series 8. The Ultra also uses the S8 SiP, so Apple does without a more powerful SoC compared to the Series 8. Only the Apple Watch Ultra already has Bluetooth 5.3, while the Apple Watch Series 8 still uses Bluetooth 5.0.
Apple Watch Ultra (Image: Apple) Image 1 of 6
Apple Watch Ultra (image: Apple)
Action button, LTE and more micros
In addition to the crown on the right, the watch has a new, orange action button on the left that can be assigned by the user himself. The use of the crown and buttons should also be optimized for wearing gloves. A second loudspeaker should increase the volume, while three microphones ensure good intelligibility when making phone calls via the Apple Watch Ultra, even in strong winds, in order to be able to call for help in emergencies. The Apple Watch Ultra will only be available as a cellular variant with cellular connectivity.
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Apple Watch Ultra (Image: Apple)
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Apple Watch Ultra (Image: Apple)
More battery and better GPS
A larger battery is said to enable a battery life of up to 36 hours, with a separate power-saving mode that reduces the frequency of GPS and heart rate measurements, up to 60 hours are possible. As an outdoor smartwatch, the Watch Ultra is said to offer the best GPS to date by supporting L1 as well as the latest network frequency L5. A new feature allows the wearer to backtrack their route as it is automatically recorded, and set waypoints to get back to where they started if they strayed off the route. An audio signal as a siren with 86 decibels should also be used in emergencies.
Apple Watch Ultra (Image: Apple)
Military-standard protected
The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for temperatures from -20 to 55 °C and is certified according to MIL-STD-810H. It was tested for low air pressure (altitude), high temperature, low temperature, thermal shock, liquid contamination, rain, humidity, submersion, sand and dust, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock and vibration.
The Watch Ultra as a dive computer
The Apple Watch Ultra can also be used as a dive computer, offering automatic depth measurement and supporting a depth of up to 40 meters. As a dive computer, the Apple Watch Ultra also measures the water temperature. It is also certified according to WR100 and EN 13319. The new Depth app displays the time, current depth, water temperature, dive time and maximum depth while diving.
Apple Watch Ultra (Image: Apple)For 999 euros starting today
The Apple Watch Ultra can be pre-ordered starting today for 999 euros . Deliveries will start on September 23rd. With the Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band, Apple has developed three new wristbands that are intended to provide the appropriate support for the respective applications. The new Wayfinder watch face was specially designed for the larger display and shows up to eight complications in addition to the compass.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is also undergoing a renewal. With the S8 SiP, the Apple Watch SE relies on the same SoC as the Series 8, making it 20 percent faster than before. However, it has to do without features such as the temperature sensor of the Series 8 and the ECG and blood oxygen function, but crash detection and heart rate measurement are also included in this model. The SE's display is 30 percent larger than the Series 3 and still doesn't offer always-on functionality. The 44mm model has 368 × 448 pixels, the 40mm model has 324 × 394 pixels.
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Apple Watch SE (2022) (Image: Apple)
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Apple Watch SE (2022) (Image: Apple)
The Apple Watch SE is available in the colors Silver, Midnight and Starlight, each with an aluminum housing. The size has not changed with 40 and 44 mm. Apple's Ion-X front glass is still used for the glass. What is new, however, is that the back is matched to the color of the Apple Watch SE and is made of nylon composite material. The GPS model of the Watch SE (2022) costs 299 euros, while the LTE model costs 369 euros.
Comparison of all new models
Apple itself offers a very good comparison of the technical data of all new Apple Watches.