The Series 8 is the center baby of Apple’s 2022 Watch lineup, and sadly it could be the best to miss. With its fundamental updates being crash detection and a brand new pores and skin temperature sensor that enables for ovulation monitoring, the Sequence 8 seems like a small replace to final 12 months’s Sequence 7. At $399, it additionally faces stiffer competitors from the Watch SE, which not solely noticed a worth discount this 12 months to $250, but additionally shares the identical processor because the Sequence 8, amongst many different options. And with the high-end Watch Extremely arriving quickly, it’s exhausting to think about anybody is feeling excited concerning the Sequence 8.
Nonetheless, since most individuals don’t improve their smartwatches on a yearly foundation, a generational comparability isn’t probably the most helpful to make. By itself, the Sequence 8 is an outstanding watch that makes a fantastic multipurpose wearable with wonderful well being and health instruments. I’ve spent a couple of week testing the Sequence 8 alongside the Watch SE, in addition to the Sequence 7. (Sure, that’s a number of watches on my wrists.) And, whereas I don’t really feel able to pronounce a full verdict, I can comfortably say most individuals shall be happy with the Sequence 8.
It’s exhausting for me to actually examine the Sequence 8 to the Sequence 7 as a result of I obtained a bigger dimension to check than traditional. The older mannequin in my possession is the 41mm model, whereas the Sequence 8 I’ve is the 45mm choice. It doesn’t translate to a serious useful distinction, however the dimension discrepancy did make some options tougher to check.
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For instance, I’m already extra delicate than most about sleeping with a watch on my wrist. That the 45mm Sequence 8 is larger than my Sequence 7 meant I hated testing its sleep-tracking much more than traditional – a lot in order that I’ve been laying aside this a part of the evaluation course of. As a substitute, I wore the brand new 40mm Watch SE to mattress, which made for a tolerable expertise.
I’ve up to now worn the Sequence 8 on a redeye flight to see if I’d get some temperature readings then, however regardless of my having arrange a Sleep Focus as required, the watch didn’t monitor sleep. I’ll should do extra testing, however between that and likewise testing the Watch SE in a single day, I can’t consider options like the brand new pores and skin temperature sensor for now.
Apple makes use of the information it collects when you sleep to calculate a baseline to your physique temperature, and over time it seems to be at deviations to evaluate if and while you ovulated. The Sequence 8 requires not less than 5 nights of information to find out the baseline, after which extra time is required to gauge your cycles.
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With all that’s concerned in testing this characteristic, I’ll want to attend a bit of longer earlier than I can get a greater concept of how helpful it’s. I can also’t safely take a look at crash detection, in order that’s not one thing I can vouch for both.
For now, although, residing with the Sequence 8 is lots like utilizing the Sequence 7 . The brand new beige Starlight colour choice isn’t one thing I’m enthusiastic about, but it surely does make the Watch really feel much less like a black stone on my wrist.
Although the Sequence 8 makes use of a more recent S8 system-in-package processor, it didn’t really feel dramatically quicker than its predecessor. It did final a bit of longer normally, although I want extra time testing to know for certain. I additionally suspect that the bigger dimension might need one thing to do with this. I used the new low power mode in watchOS 9 one morning when the Sequence 8 was down to twenty % battery and I nonetheless needed to run to the gymnasium for an 8am exercise. It managed to final one other two hours not less than whereas additionally having the ability to monitor my efficiency through the HIIT class. I used to be impressed by how little it felt like I needed to sacrifice in change for the additional juice.
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I additionally loved testing another watchOS 9 updates like cardio zone pages throughout exercises and the brand new watch faces. The Lunar display specifically helped me keep in mind that the Mid-Autumn Pageant was this previous weekend, since I may clearly learn the date in Mandarin on the web page. (The date for the competition in Mandarin can also be a colloquialism that refers back to the moon.) Once I switched Focus Modes on my cellphone, the corresponding image confirmed up on the prime of the Sequence 8’s display to point it additionally adopted that profile. Reminders to take the medicines I’ve saved to Apple Well being had been additionally useful, and I favored having the ability to use the watch to log tablets I took.
Most of those options shall be out there to these utilizing older Apple Watches as soon as the software program replace is put in.
Whereas it’s good which you could get ECG and blood oxygen readings on the Sequence 8, I didn’t run these very a lot throughout my time with the machine. These aren’t instruments that I’d use commonly sufficient to warrant spending an additional $150 on the higher-end mannequin. For most individuals, the Watch SE gives a lot for a pleasant worth — particularly when you can stay with out an always-on show and IP6X mud resistance.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
The Sequence 7 and eight each cost quicker than the SE, however the cheaper watch by no means took longer than 45 minutes to get sufficient juice for a day’s use. Additionally, I’ve but to misplace my Apple Watches, so the U1 chip that’s lacking from the SE hasn’t felt as vital. On the Sequence 8, that extremely wideband characteristic will allow extra exact location by way of Apple’s Discover My app.
I’ll most probably maintain utilizing the Series 8 as my main smartwatch (after buying and selling it in for a smaller mannequin), however not as a result of I actually need the pores and skin temperature sensing or crash detection; my job requires me to remain in control on the newest gadgets and options. But when I had been making the choice for myself (and never my profession), I’d most probably purchase the Watch SE. Nonetheless, the Sequence 8 is well-rounded and full-featured, and arguably the very best smartwatch round. That’s, till we get our palms on the upcoming Watch Extremely.
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