The most recent version of Apple Watch – the Series 8 – introduces some outstanding new health and safety attributes, with the most notable being a temperature sensor that has intriguing applications for women’s health and fertility tracking.
In terms of aesthetics, there is minimal difference between the Series 8 and the Series 7. This iPhone-exclusive smartwatch features a super sleek metal body, a bright and sharp always-on display, and a battery life of around 36 hours between charges (which includes sleep tracking). It continues to be the most advanced, high-performance smartwatch on the market for purchase.
Alongside the existing fall detection feature, the Series 8 is now equipped with an accelerometer and gyroscope that can identify the significant forces linked with a car collision and automatically contact emergency services if the user is unresponsive within ten seconds. This potentially life-saving feature, hopefully never needed, provides peace of mind for users.
Another novel aspect of the watch is a duo of temperature sensors capable of monitoring temperature fluctuations on the wearer’s wrist during sleep, establishing a baseline over five nights when sleep tracking is activated. While the temperature readings might not be entirely precise, minor changes can indicate various conditions such as alcohol intake, physical activity, time zone changes, pregnancy, or illness. The temperature data can be viewed alongside sleep data within the Health app on the iPhone. These sensors, combined with other sensors on the watch’s back, measure blood oxygen levels, heart rate, perform ECGs, and support a wide range of general health monitoring features.
The primary use of the sensor is for enhanced tracking of women’s basal body temperature to monitor the menstrual cycle and ovulation. The watch registers the slight increase in body temperature typically occurring post-ovulation, which it combines with stored cycle data to provide a retrospective estimation of the ovulation day. On average, it takes approximately two monthly cycles for the estimates to be accurately calculated, proving to be a valuable tool for individuals aiming to conceive or prevent pregnancy, as well as those monitoring cycle irregularities for health concerns.
All health data collected by the watch, including cycle information, ECG results, and heart rate, is recorded in the Health app on the linked iPhone and securely encrypted when backed up to the user’s iCloud account. This ensures that only the user and authorized third parties, like medical professionals or partners, can access the data. It is crucial to note that neither Apple nor any external parties have access to this data.
WatchOS 9
The recently released watchOS 9 software brought in new watch faces, sleep stage monitoring (with comparative charts in the iPhone app), and a spectrum of other enhancements, such as the ability to set medication reminders and track activities directly from the watch. Notifications no longer interrupt the screen while in use, appearing as compact banners that can be expanded similar to iPhones. Background apps are more visible in the dock, while the calendar app has undergone improvements for a more convenient week and day view. Notably, the workout app has seen significant improvements. The watch can now document running power without additional accessories and display additional metrics like stride length, ground contact time, vertical movement, and heart rate zones. Users can personalize interval workouts as well. During an hour-long run, the Series 8 consumes approximately 15% of its battery, ensuring it can last through a full marathon.
Specifications
Case dimensions: 41 or 45mm Case thickness: 10.7mm Weight: 32/38.8g or 42.3/51.5g Chipset: S8 RAM: 1GB Storage: 32GB Operating system: WatchOS 9 Water resistance: 50 meters (5ATM) Sensors: HR, ECG, spO2, temp, mic, speaker, NFC, GNSS, compass, altimeter Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, wifi n, NFC, UWB, optional 4G/eSIM
Price
The Series 8 is available in two sizes and different materials, with the option for a 4G model requiring an eSIM and a compatible phone plan add-on.
The aluminum or Nike variants in 41mm are priced at £419 ($399/A$629). 4G models incur an additional cost of £110 ($100/A$160). Stainless steel models start from £729 ($699/A$1,099).
For comparison, the Apple Watch SE is priced at £259, and the Apple Watch Ultra is priced at £849.
Conclusion
The Series 8 introduces several significant enhancements to the Apple Watch, especially in the health and safety aspects. Crash detection offers peace of mind with its invaluable feature, while ovulation tracking provides practical benefits, with very few consumer wearables (like select Fitbits and the Oura Ring) offering similar functionalities. It’s encouraging to see mainstream devices enabling women to access more detailed data. Additionally, temperature sensor data might provide insights into other well-being aspects in the future.
If you are in search of a premium smartwatch for your iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 8 stands out as the top choice available: it surpasses any comparable device by a large margin.
To make a purchase, please visit the Apple Watch 8 website
Users who leverage the innovative temperature-sensing capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 8 can obtain retrospective ovulation estimations and enhanced period predictions, aiding in family planning efforts.
With the introduction of iOS 16 and watchOS 9, Cycle Tracking can now issue alerts if a user’s tracked cycle history suggests any irregularities, such as irregular, infrequent, or extended menstrual cycles.
The Crash Detection functionality utilizes a sophisticated sensor-fusion algorithm and an enhanced accelerometer and gyroscope in the Apple Watch to detect and deliver accurate car crash notifications, automatically dialing emergency services if the user is unresponsive after a ten-second countdown.
Available in starlight, midnight, silver, and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum casings, and silver, graphite, or gold finishes in stainless steel, the Apple Watch Series 8 offers a diverse choice of style options.
Apple Watch Nike showcases fresh Sport Band colors and a new Sport Loop featuring the motivational “Just Do It” seamlessly woven into the band design.
Image Source: Thanes.Op / Shutterstock
