While retaining the original iconic design, the fourth-generation Apple Watch has a display that is over 30% larger and a thinner, smaller case. Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5 brings advanced activity and communications features, along with a new accelerometer and gyroscope which are able to detect hard falls, and an electrical heart rate sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) using the new ECG app1.
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| Source: Apple. The redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 has a larger display with thinner borders and curved corners. |
Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO said, “The completely redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 continues to be an indispensable communication and fitness companion, and now with the addition of groundbreaking features, like fall detection and the first-ever ECG app offered directly to consumers, it also becomes an intelligent guardian for your health.”
From September 14, Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) will be available to order in 26 countries and territories while the Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) will be available to order in 16 countries and territories. Both models will be available in stores beginning September 21.
Apple Watch Series 4 comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm. The back of Apple Watch Series 4 is composed of black ceramic and sapphire crystal, allowing radio waves to easily pass through the front and back for better cellular service. The digital crown now includes haptic feedback, offering a more responsive feel through the sensation of incremental clicks.
The speaker is 50% louder, optimised for phone calls, Siri and Walkie-Talkie, and the microphone has been relocated, to reduce echo for better sound quality. The device includes the S4 chip with a custom 64-bit dual-core processor, delivering twice the speed while maintaining the same all-day battery life.2
The user interface has been optimised for the larger display, allowing for app icons and fonts that are bigger as well as easier to read and tap, while complications - functions in a watch that do not tell time, but add functionality - have been enhanced to be more precise and informative. New watch faces take full advantage of the Series 4 display, from the customisable Infograph face, to the Breathe face, where the animation is timed around a deep breath. Additionally, a suite of motion faces, including Vapor, Liquid Metal, Fire and Water react uniquely with the curved edges of the case.
Health capabilities have been enriched. Apple Watch Series 4 enables users to take an ECG reading right from the wrist using the new ECG app via electrodes built into the digital crown and a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back crystal. With the app, users touch the digital crown and after 30 seconds, receive a heart rhythm classification. It can identify if the heart is beating in a normal pattern or whether there are signs of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that could lead to major health complications. All recordings, their associated classifications and any noted symptoms are stored in the Health app in a PDF that can be shared with physicians.
With watchOS 5, Apple Watch intermittently analyses heart rhythms in the background and sends a notification if an irregular heart rhythm is detected3. It can also alert the user if the heart rate exceeds or falls below a specified threshold.
The fall detection feature utilises an advanced accelerometer and gyroscope, which measures up to 32 G-forces, along with custom algorithms to identify when hard falls occur. By analysing wrist trajectory and impact acceleration, Apple Watch can send the user an alert after a fall that can be dismissed or used to initiate a call to emergency services. If Apple Watch senses immobility for 60 seconds after the notification, it will automatically call emergency services and send a message along with location to emergency contacts.
With watchOS 5, Apple Watch becomes an even better fitness and workout companion. Battery life has increased to 6 hours. Activity competitions allow users to challenge other Apple Watch wearers, automatic workout detection provides an alert to start a workout while giving retroactive credit, and Yoga and Hiking are new dedicated workout types that accurately track the number of active calories burned and exercise minutes earned. Runners will appreciate the cadence feature for indoor and outdoor runs, and pace alerts for outdoor runs.
Customers can reach their friends with a tap of the wrist through Walkie-Talkie, a watch-to-watch connection that works over Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity4. The Siri watch face is more predictive and proactive, offering shortcuts and actionable content from third-party apps. WatchOS 5 also lets users listen to podcasts with Apple Podcasts on Apple Watch, and stream any podcast in the catalogue by using Siri. With Apple Watch Series 4, enriched complications offer a more detailed view of helpful third-party apps like Dexcom, which allows for continuous glucose monitoring, or Streaks, which shows daily progress on tasks.
Details:
Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) starts at US$399 and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) starts at US$499, both featuring the updated design and new health features. Series 3 will be available at the new starting price of US$279. Along with three aluminum finishes anodised in silver, gold and space gray, Apple Watch Series 4 now comes in gold stainless steel with a matching Milanese band, joining the silver and space black stainless steel models. A new collection of bands debut in Q3/Q4; all bands will work with any generation of Apple Watch.
A new Apple Watch Nike+ collection features redesigned Nike watch faces which match new band colours, including a Pure Platinum/Black Sport Band and a Summit White Sport Loop with reflective yarn. Apple Watch Hermès introduces an assortment of colour-blocked bands and exclusive watch faces that shift from one colour to the other with the passage of the minute hand.
In the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, customers will be able to order the Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) from September 14, with availability beginning September 21, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE, with other countries later this year. For carrier availability, visit apple.com/watch/cellular5.
Customers will be able to order Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) beginning September 14, with availability beginning September 21, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, KSA, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UAE.
Apple Watch Nike+ will be available to order on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, beginning September 14 in select countries, with limited availability beginning October 5 in Australia, Bahrain, mainland China, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, KSA, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and the UAE.
Apple Watch Hermès will be available to order on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, beginning September 14, with availability beginning September 21, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE.
Customers will be able to order Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) beginning September 14, with availability beginning September 21, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, KSA, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UAE.
Apple Watch Nike+ will be available to order on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, beginning September 14 in select countries, with limited availability beginning October 5 in Australia, Bahrain, mainland China, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, KSA, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and the UAE.
Apple Watch Hermès will be available to order on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, beginning September 14, with availability beginning September 21, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE.
Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) will be available beginning September 28, in Bahrain, Guam, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macau, Oman, and Qatar.
New Apple Watch bands will be available to order on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, beginning September 14, with availability beginning September 21 at Apple Stores, as well as select Apple Authorized Resellers and carriers in over 35 countries and regions.
Customers who buy Apple Watch from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online6, to help set up and personalise their new Apple Watch with calendars, notifications, apps and more.
1The ECG app is only available in the US and will ship later this year.
2Battery life depends on use and configuration.
3Irregular rhythm notification will be coming later this year but is only for the US.
4Walkie-Talkie is not available in China, UAE and Pakistan.
5The Apple Watch requires a compatible iPhone. The service provider must be the same for the watch and the iPhone. Not available with all service providers. Roaming is not available.
6In most countries.
