Upgrade Your Fitness Journey With Apple Watch Series 8 Apple has unveiled three new smartwatches this year: the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra. Among these, the Apple Watch Ultra stands out as the company’s most robust smartwatch to date, emphasizing durability and ruggedness. The Apple Watch Series 8 introduces significant updates, notably including a temperature sensor. In the Indian market, the Apple Watch Series 8 is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and offered in aluminum and stainless steel case finishes. Additionally, the Series 8 is offered in both GPS and GPS + cellular models, providing users with diverse connectivity options.
The 41mm GPS model of the Apple Watch Series 8, featuring an aluminum case, is priced at Rs 45,900, while the cellular model with GPS is available for Rs 55,900. For the 45mm aluminum variant, the GPS model is priced at Rs 48,900, and the cellular model with GPS is priced at Rs 58,900. Additionally, the stainless steel model of the Apple Watch Series 8, available in the 41mm size with GPS + Cellular, is priced at Rs 74,900. Our review unit was the Apple Watch Series 8 GPS + Cellular model in the 45mm aluminum midnight finish, which we extensively used for a month. Let’s know the review of the Apple Watch series 8
The evolution of the Apple Watch Series 8 reflects the brand’s characteristic gradual refinement, where noticeable changes may not be immediately apparent. In line with this trend, the Series 8 maintains consistency in its display and overall aesthetic compared to its predecessor, the Series 7. The design, including buttons and appearance, remains largely unchanged, with only minor distinctions discernible upon close examination, primarily on the rear panel. It is worth noting that the alteration is limited to the name inscription on the rear panel. However, the impeccable fit and finish characteristic of Apple watches persist.
Our review unit came equipped with a black sports band crafted from premium-quality silicone, ensuring comfort and durability. With a total weight of 38.8 grams, the Series 8 remains lightweight and conducive to extended wear. Through extensive daily use averaging 10 hours per day, the watch exhibited no discomfort, attesting to the strap’s skin-friendly nature and overall usability.
The Apple Watch Series 8 retains the familiar 1.9-inch LTPO OLED Always-On Retina display, consistent with its predecessor, the Series 7. Despite the familiar display, users can expect an array of new and captivating watch faces with the Series 8. Notably, the Series 8 features an Ion-X glass display, renowned for its durability and scratch resistance. Throughout our review period, the smartwatch encountered numerous collisions with walls and other surfaces, yet remarkably, no scratches were evident, underscoring the robustness of the Ion-X glass display.
It’s worth noting that the stainless steel model of the Apple Watch Series 8 is equipped with sapphire crystal glass, enhancing its durability and scratch resistance. With a water-resistant design and an IP6X rating, the Series 8 can withstand immersion in water up to 50 meters without sustaining damage. Charging convenience is ensured with the inclusion of a magnetic USB Type-C charger. The display boasts a peak brightness of 1000 nits, consistent with the Watch Series 7, and a resolution of 352×430 pixels, delivering crisp visuals.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is equipped with 32 GB of built-in storage, providing ample space to sync and store music. Despite a month of usage, only 7.2 GB of storage was utilized, showcasing the device’s generous storage capacity. The Series 8 seamlessly tracks activity automatically, although there were occasional inconsistencies with the sedentary reminder function. Users may receive sedentary reminders erroneously, even when not sedentary or while engaging in physical activity such as walking. However, the automatic workout tracker functions reliably and accurately captures workout sessions.
When cycling, the tracking on the Apple Watch Series 8 initiates from the onset of the activity, despite the notification for recording being received later. This ensures that data collection commences promptly from the beginning of the cycling session. Additionally, the Series 8 is equipped with a blood oxygen tracker and ECG sensor, enhancing its health monitoring capabilities.
Compared to the Apple Watch Series 7, the Series 8 introduces a new temperature sensor specifically designed for tracking women’s menstrual cycles. It’s important to note that this sensor does not provide information about fever. Additionally, the Series 8 includes a hand wash reminder feature, enhancing its utility for personal hygiene maintenance.
With the introduction of watchOS 9 and the latest S8 SiP chipset, the performance of the Apple Watch Series 8 is notably smooth and efficient. App launching is virtually instantaneous, demonstrating the device’s swift responsiveness. Additionally, the Series 8 incorporates crash detection functionality, utilizing state-of-the-art accelerometers and gyroscopes to ensure user safety. Notably, the device boasts enhanced accuracy in sleep tracking, with improved capability to monitor and analyze sleep patterns. The sleep data provided by the Apple Watch Series 8 is highly precise and reliable.
The Apple Watch Series 8 offers seamless connectivity options, including WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and the W3 wireless chip. Additionally, it features the U1 chipset, enhancing its overall performance. Users can expect an improved calling experience with the Series 8, characterized by clearer sound quality compared to previous iterations. Notably, the battery life of the Series 8 is satisfactory, even with the Always-On Display feature enabled. Users can anticipate approximately one and a half days of battery backup under typical usage conditions, with the potential to extend it to three days with prudent usage management.
In summary, the Apple Watch Series 8 is an ideal choice for individuals prioritizing their health, with particular benefits for women due to its comprehensive features tailored for menstrual tracking. The Series 8 offers a range of health-focused functionalities including a period tracker, temperature tracker, fall detection, crash detection, ECG monitoring, and e-SIM support, alongside excellent connectivity options. While existing users of the Apple Watch Series 7 may not find significant reasons to upgrade, individuals purchasing an Apple Watch for the first time will find the Series 8 to be an excellent investment.
