Apple finally given the public a first look at its Apple Watch Series 8 during its live-streamed “Far Out” product showcase event on Wednesday. CEO Tim Cook announced the news, describing the forthcoming Watches as the “best Apple Watch lineup yet.”
The company bills the Series 8 as inclusive of all of the features Apple Watch users already love, with several new high-tech additions that prioritize watch owners’ health and safety. The Series 8 is packed with advanced motion sensors that document health data and provide comprehensive fall and crash detection.
To build the crash protection feature, Apple tested hundreds of hours of driving data from front impact, side impact and rollover collisions, and then used machine learning to transform its findings into the Watch’s detection algorithm. If the Series 8 observes that a user has been in a car crash, it will automatically connect them to emergency services, as well as notify their emergency contacts.
For health enthusiasts, the Series 8 offers an innovative new body temperature sensor, alongside sensors that track blood oxygen levels and irregular pulse rhythms, keeping users informed on their bodies when they’re exercising. At night, users can log their sleep on the Watch and gain new insight into their deep and light sleep patterns.
The Watch is dust-proof, swim-proof and crack resistant, making it more durable than previous iterations. Battery life spans 18 hours when it comes to regular usage, but can be extended for up to 36 hours on a low-power mode, which temporarily deactivates certain features.
Aesthetically speaking, the interface is pushed to the very edge of the Watch, giving way to narrow screen borders and a brighter, more detailed display. The Series 8 is available in silver, gold and graphite stainless steel finishes
The cellular edition of the Series 8 will now support international roaming and is priced at $499 USD, while a standard GPS mode goes for $399 USD.
Following its reveal of the Series 8, Apple also shared its second-generation Apple Watch SE, a comparably more affordable option. Now featuring the same S8 chip as the Series 8, the revamped SE is 20% faster than its 2020 predecessor. Offered in midnight, starlight and silver colorways, the GPS model runs for $249 USD and the cellular model is slightly more expensive at $299 USD.
In other tech news, Apple unveiled new AirPods Pro with improved sound quality and increased noise cancellation.
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