After some disappointment with the Apple Watch Series 7 due to its lack of stat upgrades (blood pressure), the Series 8 is highly anticipated. Even with the Series 7 starting to ship out quickly, consumers wonder what we can expect from the Apple Watch 8.
Let’s talk about what we would like to see that we won’t get from the Apple Watch Series 7.
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Watch OS9?
On June 6, at the WWDC 2022 keynote, watchOS 9 is expected to be introduced.
Every year, one of the most often asked topics is whether or not Apple would continue to support previous models of the Apple Watch. After last year’s release of WatchOS 8 for iOS, Apple retained watchOS 7’s ability to run on all of the devices that had previously been supported.
According to recent speculations, the Apple Watch Series 3 will no longer receive software updates after this year’s release of watchOS 9. Because of its low pricing and compatibility with Apple Fitness+, Apple has been able to keep it running for another year. The Series 3 and later should be able to run watchOS 9.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a few nuggets regarding watchOS 9 might be deduced from reports about the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8. According to his Power On email, the following features can be found in the upcoming OS system for the Apple Watch:
- Measure of how often a person is in an atrial fibrillation state, or “burden,” over a given time period
- Apps and features can run in a low-power mode
- When cellular coverage is unavailable, satellite connectivity can be used to transmit brief text messages and SOS notifications to emergency services.
- All-new workouts; new sleep tracking function; and new medication tracking for women in the Health app
- New and improved watch faces
According to Bloomberg, Apple intends to make significant improvements to the low power state feature. Other watch face upgrades are also in the works, according to the business.
Size and Design
Some of the biggest concerns among users are what the watch looks like and how big it is. Not everyone wants a big watch. But some feel that it is just too difficult to see the tiny interface that sits on their wrist. That’s why we can break down what we are getting with the 7 and what we are hoping for with the Series 8.
Size
Apple watches have not seen any serious design changes in quite some time. However, the series 7 shows a display that is 20% bigger than the previous model. You may be thinking if they just changed the screen display, why would they make another so quickly?
Consumers want options which is why it has been leaked that the next series will provide three different sizes to choose from. One of those sizes is hopefully bigger than the current two sizes of the Series 7 (40mm and 44mm), even with the increase from its previous models.
Design
The displays are thinner with the 7, and the edges are a lot curvier. They maintain the square circle combo.
A leaked rumour is that with the Series 8, we are looking at a flat edge design. This means that the corners may be curved, but the sides of the watch will be crisp and clean.
The design of the Apple Watch Series 8 is unknown at this time, although it may seem similar to the Series 7 devices because Apple has recently expanded the display size and often remains with a display size for a few years before making a significant change.
When it comes to a third size choice, Ross Young, a display expert at IHS Technology, thinks Apple should offer a third option to the 41 and 45mm sizes.
The flat edges of the iPhone 13 and iPad Pro didn’t make it into the final design of the Apple Watch Series 7, despite several reports before the device’s introduction.
Rugged version?
An Apple Watch “with a tough case” designed for sports, hikers, and others who use the watch in more harsh situations than everyday usage is being developed by Apple, according to Bloomberg’s sources.
With better impact resistance and protection, it will have all of the same features as a basic Apple Watch. The tough Apple Watch is slated to be released by Apple in 2022.
Thrills and Features
The health industry has always been a profitable one. Having said that, now more than ever, people compare their health stats with companies like WHOOP and Oura Ring.
These companies provide respiratory rates, skin temperature, and more. Even though some of these sensors are available for the Apple Watch Series 8, it’s not certain if all of them will be included in the next model.
Apple has constantly been adding these features to their line of products as well. But even with the new release this fall, some crucial stats are missing.
What We Want To See with the 8
- Skin Temperature: Now more than ever people want to know what their body temperatures are. They are taken all the time when we enter stores, restaurants, or the doctor’s office. Having a thermometer on your wrist to do this is not only convenient but adds a safety layer.
- Diabetes Tracker: Being able to monitor your blood glucose level through the Apple watch would be a game-changer for anyone diagnosed with diabetes. This has been a rumor for quite some time that Apple is trying to incorporate.
- Blood Pressure: One of the bigger letdowns with the Apple Series 7 was the belief that they would incorporate a blood pressure sensor in the watch. This is believed to be one of the likelier features coming in the Series 8. In fact, we’ll talk about this more shortly.
- Upgraded Sleep Tracking: The Apple Watch Series 7 still doesn’t tell you what stage of sleep you are in and when. Since sleep stats are among many of the more important ones with the health and fitness industry this is still behind other wearables.
- Sleep Apnea Detection: To identify sleep apnea, Apple intends to employ the current blood oxygen sensor. However, frequent readings are problematic because of the impact on battery life.
- Longer Battery Life: Will the 8 be the one offering a few days charge in one go? Apple is infamous for forcing Apple Watch users to charge every day which is a serious disadvantage compared to other smartwatches.
- Satellite connectivity: If Apple has its way, the Apple Watch 8 will have satellite connectivity in the future, allowing users to send and receive emergency texts and SOS alerts right on their wrist. The iPhone 14 will have satellite connectivity, and this will be extended to the Apple Watch in the future.
Price Model
Apple watches have generally followed a similar pricing model with their new watches starting at $399. While we suspect that the Apple Watch Series 8 will also follow this model, there is no guarantee that the price won’t go up if some serious features are added.
Past models such as the Apple Watch Series 3 are still on sale, which could mean that the next generation to follow will also go on sale. The Apple Watch SE is also currently on sale.
Check Apple Watch 7 deal prices price on Amazon, eBay, or your merchant of choice here.
Functionality Rumours
Besides the features we want to see above, we can note that now the Apple Watch Series 7 has a keyboard and charges 33% faster than the Series 6. That doesn’t mean that some functionality aspects can be improved for the Series 8.
Touch ID is undoubtedly one of them. Touch ID is integrated on nearly all of the product lines except for that Apple Watch. This would be one of the best functionality features they could offer in the next line. More on this later.
Something that also hasn’t changed from the Series 6 to the Series 7 is that 18-hour battery life. While charging certainly is faster, that doesn’t replace the need to charge more frequently. An expected and much-wanted feature of the Apple Watch Series 8 will be longer battery life.
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Improved safety features
A crash detection function for the iPhone and Apple Watch is being developed by Apple and is expected in 2022. When an automobile collision occurs, it will detect a surge in gravitational force using sensors like the accelerometer.
In the event of a car accident, the iPhone or the Apple Watch would instantly phone 911 to receive aid. This might be a feature for the iPhone 14 models and the Apple Watch Series 8, but it’s not likely to be confined to those devices because it is scheduled for 2022.
This will act as an addition to the current Apple Watch and iPhone devices’ fall detection function.
Blood pressure
Digital sensor technology from Rockley Photonics is being developed for wearable devices to monitor biomarkers including body temperature, blood pressure, hydration, and alcohol use as well as lactate and glucose concentrations and trends.
The relationship between Apple and Rockley means that this technology might someday make its way into the Apple Watch, and reports claim that blood pressure monitoring features will be included at some time.
Hypertension may be detected by using a wrist-worn BP monitor, which can detect when blood pressure is increasing. Sensors would be used to monitor a user’s blood pressure by detecting the speed of a heartbeat’s wave through their arteries. U
ser blood pressure trending information is provided, however, baseline readings of the two components of blood pressure are not.
In some reports, the Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to incorporate a blood pressure monitor, although the technology is still a few years away from being ready.
Blood glucose
According to reports, Apple is working on an optical sensor-based system for non-invasively measuring blood glucose levels, which might one day be integrated into the Apple Watch. There is no need to puncture the skin with this function, which would make diabetes control much easier.
Blood glucose monitoring, which has been said to be in the works at Apple for some time, would certainly require regulatory approval.
For the Apple Watch Series 8, a sensor capable of monitoring blood sugar levels has been reported by DigiTimes as being under development by the company. Blood glucose monitoring, according to MacRumours, is still several years away.
Temperature sensor
The Apple Watch 8 is believed to include a body temperature sensor, which would be the first new health sensor in two years for the company’s watch.
It’s worth noting that the Apple Watch 6 introduced blood oxygen (SpO2) readings, while the Apple Watch 7 didn’t.
A skin-temperature reader is possible according to recent rumours but capabilities like blood pressure and diabetes monitoring for Apple Watch are expected to be years away. a body temperature sensor to the watch as early as 2022,” stated Apple tipster Mark Gurman in April.
Surely, the Apple Watch 8 will be able to tell you how hot or cold you are? The chances are good, but they could also be bad. You might not be able to get an instant readout on your body temperature using Apple Watch 8’s body temperature sensor, as you can with the heart rate and blood oxygen sensors.
Using a temperature sensor, it is possible to monitor fertility and other aspects of female health. Recently, Apple Health has made a concerted effort to improve the health and well-being of women.
Temperature sensors may be expanded to include on-demand skin temperature data or proactive notifications in future watchOS updates or versions. An elevated temperature on the skin could suggest disease, stress, or even ailments that you are unaware of.
Curious patents
Biometric sensor
Apple has patented a biometric identification technology that authenticates identity-based on the wearer’s skin pattern, which might be utilised in future Apple Watch devices. When using the Apple Watch, a function like this would eliminate the need for a passcode.
Reactive band
In another patent, an Apple Watch band is described as self-tightening to ensure accurate heart rate measurements during strenuous activities such as jogging or working out, and self-loosening afterwards. Directions, workout reps, and more might all benefit from the tightening.
Interactive band
For example, a third patent outlines a band for the Apple Watch that has an LED indicator that shows the progress of an activity or task, such as a workout or an Activity ring being completed.
Parkinson’s detection
By tracking the tremors of Parkinson’s sufferers with sensors on the Apple Watch, a patent was published by Apple in December 2019. It is Apple’s belief that this form of data tracking will help users to better track their symptoms so that they can organise their activities in accordance with symptom patterns.
Touch ID
An under-display camera and Touch ID appear to be on Apple’s radar for the Apple Watch, according to a 2 patents filed in 2019. User authentication and device unlocking are both possible using Apple’s side button with an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor. With a passcode and when the associated iPhone is unlocked, the Apple Watch may be unlocked.
Improved hardware
In terms of an under-display camera, the patent specifies a two-stage display system that incorporates a camera that is only visible from the outside when activated. Patent filings from 2021 reveal a drastic makeover of the Apple Wrist, with a rounder face, flexible display, and customisable watch bands, among other features.
Battery, speaker, haptic feedback, kinetic power generator, and even a camera have all been included in a list of Apple Watch technology that might be included into the band.
These patented features may or may not make it into a real Apple Watch, but it’s fun to see what the company is working on and contemplating behind the scenes.
Apple Watch SE 2?
A new iteration of the SE smartwatch may be released by Apple next year, the Apple Watch SE 2. SE 2 would be a follow-up to the original Apple Watch SE in order to expand Apple’s mid-range wearable offerings.
Despite the fact that Apple Watch is the best watch of the year, it’s also a lot of money. Isn’t it possible that a less expensive model may offer many of the same benefits? Both first-time watch wearers and those on a tighter budget may appreciate the Apple Watch SE, a $279 watch from Apple.
Two years after Apple released the original SE, the second generation could be ready for sale. The chipset of the Apple Watch 5 is anticipated to be upgraded to the Apple Watch 6 or 7. A newer processor could be reserved for the Apple Watch 8’s more expensive model.
Release date
The Apple Watch 8 has yet to be given a release date. However, based on prior Apple Watch launches, we expect the next Apple Watch to be released in September 2022. This is likely going to be alongside the new iPhone 14 range.
Final Thoughts
When Apple releases news about an updated product, it is natural for aficionados to get excited. It only becomes a letdown when we see little to no improvement from the series before. While the Apple Watch Series 7 does have some notable improvements, there are some seriously lacking features fans were hoping for.
This makes those who haven’t bought the Series 7 yet wonder if they should hold out for the Series 8. Anticipated to have features like skin temperature readers and an improved design look, something is appealing about waiting. While not much has been confirmed and most is speculation, it would be reasonable to think Touch ID is one of the features that is definitely coming.
While you’re here, take a look at some great alternatives to the Apple Watch or 5 great recently released smartwatches.
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Brittany Collens is one of our top sports writers. She is also a professional tennis player which helps her authority on subjects such as health and fitness.
She has a degree in journalism and has previously written for well-established sports magazines in Massachusetts.
Brittany lives in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.
