The first reviews of the Apple Watch Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE are out. Before pre-orders hit buyers on Friday, these early reviews offer our first in-depth look at modest updates to the Apple Watch Series 8 and the next generation of entry-level Apple Watch models with SE 2.
At The Verge, most of the Apple Watch Series 8 updates are invisible to the naked eye, as it has the exact same design with slightly different colors. The review points out how the body temperature sensor works, as Apple didn’t provide much information about it:
The watch’s temperature detection is mostly passive. Unlike existing EKG, heart rate, and blood oxygen sensors, you can’t take readings on demand. You can only get wrist temperature readings when you have Sleep Focus on and Sleep Tracking on. Also, you have to sleep with the Apple Watch for five nights to establish a baseline. Once this is complete, you will only see deviations from this baseline. You will never look at your wrist and say, “Oh, I have a fever because my temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit.”
(…) If you track your cycles in the Health app, turning on wrist temperature readings means you can get retrospective ovulation estimates after about two cycles.
Tom’s Guides talks about the new car crash detection feature, highlighting two improved sensors on the Apple Watch Series 8:
The Apple Watch Series 8 includes two new motion sensors inside, as well as an improved gyroscope and accelerometer. Together these can show the movement 4 times faster than before, so the watch will be able to detect a crash exactly when it happens. And, in the unfortunate event of an accident, Apple Watch will automatically call emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Although it’s a grim thought, faster help could be a matter of life and death.
Engadget notes that the new S8 chip isn’t faster, but it could improve battery life overall:
Although the Series 8 uses a newer system-in-package S8 processor, it didn’t feel much faster than its predecessor. It lasted a bit longer overall, though I need more time to test to know for sure. I also suspect the larger size might have something to do with it. I used the new low-power mode in watchOS 9 one morning when the Series 8 was down to 20 percent battery and I still had to run to the gym for an 8 a.m. workout. It managed to last at least another two hours while I was able to track my performance during the HIIT class. I was impressed by how little sensation I had to sacrifice in exchange for the extra juice.
The Wall Street Journal praises the new low-power mode:
[Low Power mode] trims the always-on screen and background heart rate measurements while keeping activity tracking and drop detection, ideal for long flights or a weekend without a charger (…) In my tests, the low power mode extended the battery life of the Series 8: as well as my older watch Series 7. Even the watches had some battery left after 36 hours, but it had to be topped up up to 30% for a second night of sleep tracking. (Apple’s 36-hour estimate is based on tests that don’t include sleep tracking, though sleep tracking still works when the feature is on.)
TechCrunch, for example, highlights the importance of emergency features, especially for older users. One of the new features is the international emergency call:
International emergency calls extend the feature for people traveling abroad and cover about 120 countries or regions around the world. The system can also be activated if the watch detects a fall. These aren’t “sexy” features, by any measure, and that probably contributed to the somewhat muted response around the product’s launch. I’d hazard a guess that these kinds of additions aren’t exactly the kind of features that move the needle for too many users, but Apple is making a strong case as a device for older users with known health issues.
Apple Watch SE (2022) reviews.
The Streets summarizes what it’s like to choose the new Apple Watch SE in 2022:
The Apple Watch SE is best if you’re new to the Apple Watch, don’t need all the health features of an always-on display, or if you have an older model like the Series 1, 2, or 3.
Engadget doubles down on The Streets review by highlighting what you lose by choosing the Apple Watch:
The main features you’ll miss if you opt for an SE over an 8 Series are the Always On Display (AOD), the ECG reader, the blood oxygen app and the new temperature sensor the skin. Like the older SE, this year’s model also charges at a slower rate than the Series 7 and 8, and lacks a U1 chip for ultra-wideband. It also lacks the IP6X dust resistance rating of its more premium counterparts, so if you’re likely to take this Tough Mudding or to the beach, a more expensive model is worth considering. Those who hate thick bezels will also find the SE’s thicker edges disconcerting, but without a side-by-side comparison I didn’t notice much of a difference.
The Wall Street Journal discusses small differences between the Apple Watch SE 2 predecessor and who this smartwatch might be worth:
SE ($249 and up): If you want the basic activity tracking and security features, get the SE. There is no always-on display, temperature sensor, blood oxygen sensor or ECG app. Like the Series 8, it is water resistant to 50 meters.
Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE 2 video reviews
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