The Apple Watch Series 8, expected to be announced at Apple’s event on September 7, could mark several milestones for Apple’s popular smartwatch. It may be the first to include a temperature sensor, and also the first to come in a new “Pro” variant tailored for extreme sports. That is if reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal prove to be true.
The Series 7, which Apple introduced alongside the iPhone 13 lineup last September, hasn’t received many significant changes beyond the larger screen, faster charging and improved durability. Aside from the expected temperature sensor, the standard 8 Series could follow the same route. Bloomberg reports that the Series 8 hardware will be broadly similar to the Series 7.
We’ll know for sure once Apple announces its next smartwatch. The company is expected to introduce the Series 8, a Pro version of the Series 8, and a new Apple Watch SE this fall alongside the iPhone 14 and AirPods Pro 2. Until then, current Apple Watch owners will get new software features when WatchOS 9 debuts this fall.
Read more: The best smartwatches of 2022
Health: Apple Watch Series 8 may debut with a temperature sensor
Years before the pandemic, Apple already had long-term health ambitions for its popular wrist accessory, with CEO Tim Cook describing health as “Apple’s greatest contribution to humanity.” And according to reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, Apple may expand on those ambitions with the addition of a temperature sensor in the Apple Watch Series 8.
A temperature reading feature could bring new fertility planning tools to Apple’s smartwatch, according to reports. A more recent report by Bloomberg suggests that the Series 8 may be able to detect cracks. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to get an accurate temperature reading like using a standard thermometer. Instead, Bloomberg says it will probably be able to tell if you might have a fever and recommends using a special thermometer or consulting a doctor.
There are also a number of other health features in Apple’s pipeline, according to reports, although such tools are said to still be in development. These include glucose monitoring, a tool that alerts users if their blood oxygen levels drop, sleep apnea detection and blood pressure monitoring, according to the Journal and Bloomberg. But those features are expected to be a long way off and likely won’t appear on the Apple Watch for years. Bloomberg reported that the blood pressure tool won’t be ready until 2024 at the earliest.
The blood pressure technology would likely work by using sensors to measure the speed of the wave that a heartbeat sends through a person’s arteries, the Journal reports. Unlike traditional blood pressure cuffs, which typically fasten around the upper arm, it would not provide baseline measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Instead, it will tell you how your blood pressure is trending, the report said. Samsung previously included a similar blood pressure feature in the Galaxy Watch 4, which is available in some countries and regions such as South Korea and Europe, where it received regulatory approval.
Read more: New Apple Watch SE sounds more exciting than Series 8
New model: the rugged Apple Watch Pro
According to Bloomberg, Apple will launch its biggest smartwatch yet this fall. This new model, which is called the Apple Watch Pro or Apple Watch Explorer Edition, will reportedly have a larger nearly 2-inch screen, a bigger battery and a more durable exterior than the standard flagship model. This watch will be aimed at those involved in extreme sports and other outdoor adventure activities.
The increase in display means that the Apple Watch Pro will have 7% more screen real estate than the current largest Apple Watch, which is the Series 7, according to the report. This could pair nicely with the new watch face fitness stats that Apple just announced in WatchOS 9. Bloomberg has been reporting on this new rugged Apple Watch since last year, but recently published more recent details on the screen size and more the big battery.
Design: Apple Watch Series 8 may get a new size
Overall, the overall aesthetic of the Apple Watch has remained largely unchanged since the original made waves in 2015. But rumors suggest that Apple may add another new size to the Apple Watch after increasing the display on the Series 7. According to Twitter posts from display analyst Ross Young, the third size of the Apple Watch could appear this year. Bloomberg also says there has been internal discussion that the Series 8 will get an updated display, but it’s unclear if that means its size will change.
However, there is a chance that this new display size is exclusive to the so-called Apple Watch Pro. A July 6 report from Bloomberg says the new rugged Apple Watch will have a screen measuring nearly two inches diagonally, while the Series 8’s regular display will be the same size as the Series 7’s.
Performance: Similar to Series 7
Apple doesn’t plan to make major changes to the Series 8’s performance, according to Bloomberg. The Series 8 processor reportedly has the same specs as the Series 7 chip, which already shares many similarities with the Series 6 chip. Apple is saving a more significant processor update for the Apple Watch next year, Bloomberg reports.
The decision to keep essentially the same processor for three generations of Apple Watch is significant. This suggests that the Apple Watch has matured to the point where performance changes from year to year are not very dramatic. Instead, the biggest areas where the Apple Watch is showing signs of growth include health tracking and new software features, as Apple showed with WatchOS 9.
Battery life: New low power mode
Since the Series 8 is expected to have a processor similar to the Series 7, I would expect the battery life to remain the same as well. But the Series 8 may be getting a different update aimed at extending battery life: a new low-power mode. Bloomberg previously reported that WatchOS 9 will include a new low-power mode that will allow the watch to run certain apps and functions while conserving battery life. This feature isn’t included in Apple’s latest software update, but a recent Bloomberg report suggests that it could be exclusive to Apple’s next-generation smartwatch. The Apple Watch Pro is also rumored to have a larger battery, according to Bloomberg.
Looking for more Apple updates? Here are the best features of the Apple Watch 7 and what we hope to see in the next Apple Watch.
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