Ahead of the launch of Apple Watch Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE, the first reviews of the devices have been shared by a few media publications.
The Apple Watch Series 7 and the original Apple Watch SE are very similar in appearance.
The S8 chip and car crash detection are new features for both models. The Series 8 does not have any noticeable performance improvements compared to the Series 7 or Series 6 because the S8 chip is the same as the S7 and S6 chips.
The Series 8 is equipped with a new temperature sensor to aid with the existing menstrual cycle tracking feature, while the second- generation Apple Watch SE has new color-matched back cases and a lower starting price, compared to the original. The Series 8 starting price is the same as the Series 7.
Both models are overshadowed by the all-new Apple Watch Ultra, which is set to launch next Friday, September 23 with a larger 49mm titanium case, a larger display, a more rugged design, and new bands designed for the outdoors. The price of the Apple watch is $799.
There are both written and video reviews of the Series 8.
The Series 8 has a new feature that will allow for retrospective ovulation estimates and menstrual cycle deviations.
As for accuracy, it's a little hard to say, as I've only had the Series 8 for about a week. I don’t have two cycles' worth of temperature data, and I've only just established a baseline. For the few nights I do have temperature data for, however, it largely corresponds to what I got on my Oura Ring. For example, two nights ago, the Oura Ring said my body temperature was 0.5 degrees higher than normal, while the Series 8 said it was 0.41 degrees higher.
The Series 8 battery life was commented on by the song.
Fair warning: enabling low-power mode isn't going to magically get you multiday battery life, and I never got the full 36 hours. With regular usage without low-power mode, my Series 8 got around 24 hours before I needed to stick it back on a charger. Low-power mode was mostly a good way to get a bit of extra juice so I could make it home or to get me through the last mile of a long run when I forgot to top up the battery before heading out.
The Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE both have the same chip and perform the same.
Otherwise, this year's Watch SE actually packs the same system-in-a-package (SiP) processor as the $400 Series 8, as well as a high-g accelerometer that makes crash detection possible. In my time with it, the SE has, unsurprisingly, been just as responsive as the Series 8, starting workouts and completing heart rate scans in the same amount of time.
The Apple Watch doesn't have a lot of competition, so Apple can get away with year-over-year updates.
Apple is in an interesting position with its Apple Watch. In the iOS space, there's really no viable competition, especially when it comes to the Apple Watch's app ecosystem, and even on Android, the closest is Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. This leaves the tech giant with very little reason to really push the wearable forward with each new release.
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