The latest Apple Watch Series 8 introduces new health and safety features, with a notable addition being a temperature sensor that offers various benefits for women’s health and fertility tracking.
Visually, the Series 8 closely resembles its predecessor, the Series 7. This smartwatch, compatible only with iPhones, features a sleek metal body, a bright always-on display, and a battery life of around 36 hours, which includes sleep tracking. It continues to be the most advanced and powerful smartwatch on the market.
In addition to the existing fall detection feature, the Series 8 now includes an accelerometer and gyroscope that can detect high forces typical of a car crash. In case of an emergency, if the user does not respond within ten seconds, the watch will automatically call for help, potentially saving lives and offering peace of mind.
One of the standout new features is the pair of temperature sensors that can track temperature changes on the wearer’s wrist overnight. After five nights of monitoring with sleep tracking, a baseline is established. While the temperature readings may not be exact, minor variations can indicate various conditions like alcohol intake, physical activity, jet lag, pregnancy, or illness. This temperature data can be viewed alongside sleep data in the iPhone’s Health app. Combined with other sensors measuring blood oxygen levels, heart rate, ECG readings, and general health tracking features, these sensors offer a comprehensive health monitoring experience.
The primary application of the temperature sensor is for enhanced tracking of women’s basal body temperature, aiding in monitoring the menstrual cycle and ovulation. By recording the slight increase in body temperature after ovulation and combining it with stored cycle data, the watch provides retrospective estimates of ovulation day. It usually takes about two monthly cycles for these estimates to be useful, making it a valuable tool for those trying to conceive, avoid pregnancy, or monitor cycle health for irregularities.
All health data collected by the watch, including cycle details, ECG results, and heart rate readings, is stored in the Health app on the linked iPhone. This data is end-to-end encrypted when backed up to the user’s iCloud account, ensuring it can only be accessed by the user or authorized third parties like medical professionals or partners. Neither Apple nor any other party can access this data.
WatchOS 9
The recently launched watchOS 9 software introduces new watch faces, sleep stage tracking with comparison charts in the iPhone app, and various other enhancements. It allows users to set medication reminders and log activities directly from the watch. Notifications no longer interrupt the screen when in use, appearing as smaller banners that can be expanded. Background apps are more visible in the dock. The workout app has seen significant improvements, now capable of recording running power without additional accessories and displaying a range of metrics like stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and heart rate zones. Interval workouts can now be customized. The Series 8 can last the duration of a marathon with about 15% battery drain during an hour-long run.
Specifications
Case size: 41mm or 45mm
Case thickness: 10.7mm
Weight: 32/38.8g or 42.3/51.5g
Processor: 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 Apple Watch Series 8 comes in two sizes, two materials, and an optional 4G version that requires an eSIM and compatible phone plan add-on.
Aluminum or Nike versions in 41mm are priced at £419 ($399/A$629), with 4G models costing an additional £110 ($100/A$160). Stainless steel models start from £729 ($699/A$1,099).
For comparison, the Apple Watch SE is priced at £259, while the Apple Watch Ultra costs £849.
Conclusion
The Apple Watch Series 8 introduces significant updates, particularly in health and safety features, making it a standout device in the smartwatch market. The crash detection feature provides peace of mind, while ovulation tracking offers valuable insights. It is commendable that mainstream devices like the Series 8 are enabling users to gather detailed health data. The temperature sensor may provide further wellness insights in the future.
For iPhone users seeking a premium smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 8 stands out as the top choice, surpassing other comparable devices in the market.
To purchase, please visit the Apple Watch Series 8 website
**Disclaimer:** Users leveraging the new temperature-sensing capabilities in the Apple Watch Series 8 can benefit from retrospective ovulation estimates and improved period predictions for family planning.
With iOS 16 and watchOS 9, Cycle Tracking now sends notifications if a user’s cycle history indicates irregularities like irregular, infrequent, or prolonged periods.
The Crash Detection feature on the Apple Watch Series 8 uses advanced sensors to accurately detect car crashes and automatically alert emergency services if the user is unresponsive.
Apple Watch Series 8 offers various color options in aluminum and stainless steel, including special Nike editions.
Image Source: Thanes.Op / Shutterstock
