![]() Offering advanced health and fitness features, car-crash detection, and all the notifications and third-party apps that people have come to expect from smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 8 has the best combination of features and price for most people. ![]() This year, Apple has three new models: the Apple Watch Series 8 (which replaces last year’s Series 7), a second-generation Apple Watch SE, and the expensive, rugged, and huge Apple Watch Ultra. But with all of Apple’s newly introduced watches, deciding which Apple Watch to choose is harder than ever. For most people, the Watch SE offers plenty for a nice price - especially if you can live without an always-on display and IP6X dust resistance.If you have an iPhone and you want a smartwatch, buying an Apple Watch is a no-brainer, and for most people, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the best option available. These aren’t tools that I’d use regularly enough to warrant spending an extra $150 on the higher-end model. While it’s nice that you can get ECG and blood oxygen readings on the Series 8, I didn’t run those very much during my time with the device. Most of these features will be available to those using older Apple Watches once the software update is installed. Reminders to take the medications I have saved to Apple Health were also helpful, and I liked being able to use the watch to log pills I took. (The date for the festival in Mandarin is also a colloquialism that refers to the moon.) When I switched Focus Modes on my phone, the corresponding symbol showed up at the top of the Series 8’s screen to indicate it also adopted that profile. The Lunar screen in particular helped me remember that the Mid-Autumn Festival was this past weekend, since I could clearly read the date in Mandarin on the page. I also enjoyed checking out some other watchOS 9 updates like cardio zone pages during workouts and the new watch faces. I was impressed by how little it felt like I had to sacrifice in exchange for the extra juice. It managed to last another two hours at least while also being able to track my performance during the HIIT class. I used the new low power mode in watchOS 9 one morning when the Series 8 was down to 20 percent battery and I still had to run to the gym for an 8am workout. I also suspect that the larger size might have something to do with this. It did last a little longer in general, though I need more time testing to know for sure. Though the Series 8 uses a newer S8 system-in-package processor, it didn’t feel dramatically faster than its predecessor. The new beige Starlight color option isn’t something I’m excited about, but it does make the Watch feel less like a black stone on my wrist. I also can’t safely test crash detection, so that’s not something I can vouch for either.įor now, though, living with the Series 8 is a lot like using the Series 7. With all that’s involved in testing this feature, I’ll need to wait a little longer before I can get a better idea of how useful it is. It doesn’t translate to a major functional difference, but the size discrepancy did make some features harder to test. The older model in my possession is the 41mm version, while the Series 8 I have is the 45mm option. It’s hard for me to truly compare the Series 8 to the Series 7 because I received a larger size to test than usual. (Yes, that is a lot of watches on my wrists.) And, while I don’t feel ready to pronounce a full verdict, I can comfortably say most people will be satisfied with the Series 8. I’ve spent about a week testing the Series 8 alongside the Watch SE, as well as the Series 7. On its own, the Series 8 is a superb watch that makes a great multipurpose wearable with excellent health and fitness tools. Still, since most people don’t upgrade their smartwatches on a yearly basis, a generational comparison isn’t the most useful to make. ![]() ![]() And with the high-end Watch Ultra arriving soon, it’s hard to imagine anyone is feeling excited about the Series 8. At $399, it also faces stiffer competition from the Watch SE, which not only saw a price reduction this year to $250, but also shares the same processor as the Series 8, among many other features. With its main updates being crash detection and a new skin temperature sensor that allows for ovulation tracking, the Series 8 feels like a small update to last year’s Series 7. The Series 8 is the middle child of Apple’s 2022 Watch lineup, and unfortunately it might be the easiest to overlook. ![]()
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