The Apple Watch is one of the most popular and advanced smartwatches on the market. So it's no surprise that fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the launch of the Apple Watch 8. With improvements in features, performance and design, the Apple Watch Series 8 has once again raised the bar for smartwatches. In this blog we take a closer look at the new features of the Apple Watch 8 and what makes this smartwatch different from its predecessors. From new health and fitness features to improvements in connectivity and ease of use, we cover everything you need to know about the Apple Watch 8. Read on to learn more about this much-talked-about new addition to the Apple Watch family.
The most important features at a glance:
- Two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.
- Always on display.
- Dust and waterproof.
- Health functions, such as temperature gauge.
- Available from €498.75 at Apple .
The Apple Watch Series 8 was introduced in September 2022 and is the new generation of Apple Watch. With this, the Series 8 replaces the Apple Watch 7, which originally came out in 2015.
The Apple Watch 8 has no new design updates compared to the previous model. There are still 41mm and 45mm options and the cases have the same rounded corners: slim bezel display, sapphire crystal back and a digital crown.
There's an Always-On display that allows users to see their watch face and complications at all times, and the Series 8 has shatter-resistant front glass, IP6X dust resistance and WR50 water resistance. Apple Pay purchases are possible with cards stored in the Wallet app, and the watch has the same faster charging speeds with updated charging puck as the Series 7. There's an S8 chip inside, but it's actually identical to the S6 chip of two years ago with no speed improvements.
Design of the Apple Watch 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 does not have a new design compared to the Apple Watch Series 7. It has the same rounded, square look of the previous generations and is available in 41 mm and 45 mm sizes.
All Apple Watch Series 8 models have a black ceramic and crystal back that contains four LED clusters and four photodiodes to enable health monitoring functions such as heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring and ECGs. There's a Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch for scrolling and navigation, and a button on the side for calling up frequently used apps. The Digital Crown looks different depending on the Apple Watch model you buy. LTE models have a red ring around the digital crown so you know they have LTE functionality, while GPS-only models don't have the red ring.
Always on display
As mentioned, the Apple Watch Series 8 has the same display as the Series 7, with 1.7mm bezels and a contour that makes it curve slightly around the top edges of the glass.
The watch uses a poly-silicon and oxide (LTPO) OLED screen with an ultra-low energy temperature to enable the Always-On functionality, allowing the watch face to be visible at all times.
The display dims when the wrist is put down to save battery life, but important functions such as the hands remain lit at all times. By touching the dial or lifting the wrist, the display becomes completely clear again. To minimize battery drain, Apple has optimized the watch faces for this feature. The Apple Watch's display also has a variable refresh rate that drops from 60 Hz to just 1 Hz when the watch is inactive.
Health features of the Apple Watch 8
The Apple Watch 8 offers a third-generation optical heart rate sensor that calculates metrics such as calorie burn, resting heart rate, and high heart rate. The electrical heart rate sensor can be used to take electrocardiograms, while LEDs and infrared light enable blood oxygen monitoring. A built-in accelerometer and gyroscope enable other important health-related functions, such as fall detection. The Apple Watch can detect low heart rate, high heart rate, and abnormal heart rate, check for health issues such as atrial fibrillation, and send notifications when abnormalities are detected.
Blood oxygen control
Sensors on the back of the Apple Watch enable the blood oxygen monitoring feature available in the Apple Watch Series 8. Blood oxygen saturation is approximately 95% to 100% in a healthy person. If the percentage of oxygen in the blood drops below that, it could indicate a serious health problem that needs immediate attention. Green, red and infrared LEDs shine light on the blood vessels in the wrist, with photodiodes measuring the amount of light reflected back. Apple's algorithms then calculate the color of the blood, which is an indication of the amount of oxygen present. The Series 8 can measure blood oxygen levels between 70% and 100%.
ECG (electrocardiogram)
Electrodes on the back of the Apple Watch and the Digital Crown work together to allow users to take single-lead electrocardiograms. An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart and can be used by a doctor to make a diagnosis. EKGs are taken by placing a finger on the Apple Watch's Digital Crown and can detect a sinus rhythm (normal), an abnormal result. The ECG can detect atrial fibrillation at a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute.
sleep tracker
The Apple Watch 8 can also be worn at night to track your sleep. The watch tracks when you're awake and when you're asleep, so you know how much time you've spent in the REM, Core, and Deep phases. When tracking sleep, you can also see how many times you woke up during the night and for how long.
Temperature measurements
Apple has added two temperature sensors to the Apple Watch 8, including one that measures temperature at the wrist and one that measures ambient temperature in the air. The temperature sensor is used for the Depth app. It can take temperature readings every five seconds when the wearer is asleep and aggregate the data into the Health App. Temperature fluctuations can provide data on overall health, but it is also useful for fertility planning.
Battery life of the Apple Watch 8
The battery life of the Apple Watch Series 8 is about 18 hours. This can be increased to a maximum of 36 hours with a Low Power Mode added to watchOS 9.
What is the difference between the Apple Watch 7 and 8?
The Apple Watch Series 7 and 8 have almost identical functions and the same design. So it's good to consider which Apple Watch Series is right for you. Below we have listed all the differences:
| Apple Watch 7 | Apple Watch 8 |
| S7 Chip | S8 Chip |
| Third generation optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG and blood oxygen meter | Optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, blood oxygen meter and body temperature sensor |
| - | Fall detection |
| - | Temperature measurement of the wrist while sleeping |
| Aluminum watch case in the colors: Midnight, Starlight, Red, Blue and Green | Aluminum watch case in the colors: Midnight, Starlight, Red and Silver |
| Stainless steel watch case in the colors: Gold, Silver and Graphite | Stainless steel watch case in the colors: Gold, Silver and Graphite |
Apple Watch 8 bands
Apple regularly designs different types of bands that are available with the purchase of the Apple Watch 8. New bands are introduced at media events in the fall and spring and at other times of the year. At Oblac we also have a wide range of Apple Watch 8 straps . From business leather straps to sportier straps made of high-quality FKM rubber. All our straps fit the Apple Watch 8 with exact precision. You can also personalize your color connectors and buckle based on your own taste.
All in all, the Apple Watch 8 is an impressive Apple Watch. Unfortunately, we don't think it offers many additional features over its predecessors. However, it is packed with features focused on health, fitness and ease of use and offers an unprecedented experience for those looking for the ultimate smartwatch. Whether you're a sports fanatic or just looking for the latest technology, the Apple Watch 8 will certainly live up to your expectations. We can't wait to see how this latest addition to the Apple Watch family stacks up against its competitors and how it will impact the future of wearable technology. Thanks for reading our blog about the best new features of the Apple Watch 8. We hope you learned something and are as excited as we are about this great smartwatch.