A smartwatch was a basic smartphone accessory years ago. Initial models shipped with e-ink displays and simple features like displaying texts and controlling music playback. This space was also populated by a few smart bands with limited functionalities. However, things changed drastically with the launch of the first-generation Apple Watch. This tiny device had iPhone’s fluid and smooth Retina OLED display and smart features. Besides checking notifications, users were able to control the camera, find their phone, even make calls from their wrist. The Watch also came with tons of health tracking features which other smartwatches of the time didn’t.
Since then, Apple has kept updating its Watch lineup setting up a benchmark for the smartwatch industry. This year is no different. Along with the new iPhone 14 Series, Apple has also introduced the Watch Series 8. There is also an Ultra model that creates a league of its own. Both watches have distinctive characters and here is all you need to know about them.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is a mainstream offering, void of major design updates sporting the same rounded edges with a slim chassis. The back uses sapphire crystal, and the Digital Crown is also similar. The Series 8 is offered in two sizes – 41 mm for smaller hands, but if you prefer a large screen watch, 44 mm can be the one to go with. The Watch Series 8 features crack-resistant glass for durability. It also comes with an IP6X dust-resistant and WR50 water-resistant rating.
The Apple Watch Ultra is aimed at adventure enthusiasts. While it has the same rounded edges as the Series 8, subtle differences make the Ultra model truly unique. The first and the biggest noticeable one is its size. With a 49mm display, the Apple Watch Ultra is the biggest Apple Watch ever made. The watch also comes with a redesigned Digital Crown. It is now larger, with deeper grooves, so you can comfortably use it even while wearing gloves. There is also a new Orange Action button for launching apps and workouts. Users can also customise its functionalities using the Watch app.
Despite its large size, the Apple Watch Ultra has a compact and lightweight profile. Apple says this is possible due to its aerospace-grade titanium chassis, an extremely durable material which is also corrosion resistant. This means the Watch should easily withstand rains, humidity, sand, dust and snow. The Apple Watch Ultra also comes with MIL-STD-810H certification. It’s the first Apple Watch to boast of this feature, making it resistant to extreme temperatures, low pressure and vibrations.
The Watch Ultra supports activities like scuba diving up to 40 m. It is water-resistant up to 100m, way higher than any other Apple Watches. The Watch Ultra also comes with a new Depth app that shows the depth in real-time along with water temperature and the duration spent under water. This watch also has an emergency siren feature to draw attention to a location.
Both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra support heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels and ECG readings. The watch now equips two temperature sensors for more accurate temperature readings. Both models also support a new Crash Detection feature that uses new motion sensors to detect car crashes and send emergency alerts.
The Apple Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra use OLED displays with support for the Always-on feature. This feature conserves power and lets you see the time and notifications at a glance. The Ultra model’s bigger display offers a better resolution and up to 2,000 nits of brightness. Apple says it is the brightest Apple Watch display ever made, so reading notifications even under broad daylight shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Apple Watch Series 8 is available in GPS and GPS + Cellular models. The Cellular models support LTE connectivity, so you can make calls and send texts even when your iPhone isn’t around. The Ultra model comes with only the GPS + Cellular option. It has three microphones supporting the beamforming features for better outdoor calls. It sports a dual speaker setup for improved volume.
The Watch Series 8 and Ultra support Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 for longer range. They both equip the new Apple S8 chip and run Apple’s new watchOS 9. Apple says the Watch 8 and Ultra offer up to 18 hours of battery life which can be increased to 36 hours with the new Low Power feature of watchOS 9. Both watches support the fast charging feature with Apple’s 18W and higher rated adaptors.
Both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra are Apple’s flagship watches. They have all the latest health tracking, workout and smart features anyone could ask for. Along with these Watches, Apple has also updated the Apple Watch SE which loses out on some features but comes at a much more accessible price. The new Apple Watches are now available for pre-order at www.reliancedigital.in. For more information, you can also visit your nearest Reliance Digital store.
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