For the primary time since its introduction in 2014, the Apple Watch has a brand new design—and this time it’s a bit extra substantial than sticking a purple dot on the Digital Crown. For the watch’s fourth technology, Apple has launched a bigger display screen and a barely greater case, all whereas retaining the basic styling that made the Apple Watch a worldwide hit.
However the great thing about the brand new Apple Watch’s isn’t merely pores and skin deep. Apple has up to date almost every part concerning the watch, in and out. It’s a complete new technology: acquainted, but overhauled.
What are the specs?
A lot as with earlier Apple Watch releases, the Sequence Four is available in two sizes. However whereas Sequence Zero-Four measured 38mm for the smaller watch and 42mm for the bigger (measured vertically), the brand new ones are every 2mm bigger: 40mm and 44mm.
The corners on Sequence Four’s case are additionally barely extra rounded, giving the watch a softer look. And the show space is far bigger, with rounded corners that observe the contour of the case and smaller bezels.
The brand new Sequence Four is a contact bigger, however with extra rounded corners, and the dispaly is a lot bigger.
At 10.7mm thick, the Sequence Four is barely thinner than the Sequence 2 and three (which measured 11.4mm), but it surely’s nonetheless only a tiny bit ticker than the unique Apple Watch (10.5mm).
The Sequence Four has the next different specs:
- Processor: Apple S4 system-in-package (SIP) with 64-bit dual-core CPU
- Location: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS
- Coronary heart sensors: Second-gen optical coronary heart charge sensor, electrical coronary heart sensor
- Different sensors: Improved accelerometer and gyroscope, ambient mild sensor
- Water resistance: As much as 50 meters
- Show: LPTO OLED, 368 x 448 pixels (44mm) 324 x 394 pixels (40mm)
- Radios: Apple W3 wi-fi chip, 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.Zero, LTE and UMTS (in LTE fashions)
- Buttons and dials: New Digital Crown with haptic suggestions, facet button
What do they value?
The Sequence Four is dearer than any earlier standard-issue Apple Watch. These are the beginning costs. Some bands just like the Milanese Loop increase the value, as do particular editions just like the Hermès fashions.
- 40mm aluminum: $399
- 44mm aluminum: $429
- 40mm aluminum with GPS: $499
- 44mm aluminum with GPS: $529
- 40mm stainless-steel with GPS: $699
- 44mm stainless-steel with GPS: $749
What’s with the S4 SIP?
Apple’s new system-in-package (which mixes the CPU, GPU, storage, RAM, and virtually every part else) known as the S4. It’s a dual-core chip that Apple says is as much as twice as quick because the S3 discovered within the Sequence Three. It’s additionally, for the primary time, a 64-bit chip. That in all probability doesn’t make a lot distinction now, but it surely offers the watch much more longevity down the road.
We presently don’t understand how a lot RAM is within the Sequence Four. The Sequence Zero, 1, and a couple of Watches had 512MB of RAM, whereas the Sequence Three boosted that to 768MB. It’s a protected wager the Sequence Four has at the very least 768MB, possibly extra.
The Sequence Four watches all have 16GB of storage. With the Sequence Three, you bought 16GB within the LTE model however solely 8GB within the Wi-Fi model.
It might take an ECG/EKG?
Sure! Ultimately. Kind of.
The Apple Watch Sequence Four permits you to take your individual single-lead electrocardiogram by holding your finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds. The watch shops the ensuing EKG measurement within the Well being app, the place you can also make a PDF of the report back to share along with your physician.
AppleYou’ll be able to take an EKG with the Sequence Four. Not less than, it is possible for you to to within the U.S., after a software program replace.
This characteristic has FDA clearance, however that does not imply it has FDA approval. Mainly, the FDA says it may be bought and used for the marketed objective (by anybody older than 22), however it’s not a medical-grade system that has undergone the FDA’s rigorous testing necessities.
Briefly, it’s helpful and actual, but it surely’s not an alternative to an EKG that your physician would provide you with.
EKG help is initially restricted to america, and it’ll not be accessible proper when the Sequence Four launches on September 21. It will likely be added in a software program replace to watchOS 5 later in 2018.
What about different new well being options?
Unintentional Fall detection: The brand new accelerometer is extra delicate than earlier than, because it helps a extra dynamic vary and stories knowledge a lot quicker. All of which means Apple can now use it to detect unintentional falls. When you take a tumble, the Apple Watch Sequence Four shows a message that makes it simple to name emergency companies. When you’re unresponsive for 60 seconds, it locations the decision mechanically and in addition sends a message to your designated emergency contact. This characteristic is simply enabled by default for customers over the age of 65, however youthful customers can allow it if they want.
Irregular Coronary heart Rhythm warnings: The brand new optical coronary heart charge sensor is extra battery-efficient, so your battery gained’t drain fairly so rapidly while you’re monitoring exercises. As well as, it may well higher detect irregular coronary heart rhythms (like atrial fibrillation and an unusually low coronary heart charge) and warn you about them. Like EKG help, irregular coronary heart rhythm warnings are coming in a software program replace later this 12 months.
Will my previous bands nonetheless work?
Sure!
If in case you have Apple Watch bands for the sooner 38mm fashions, they may match the brand new 40mm Apple Watch Sequence Four. The watch bands for the 42mm fashions match the brand new 44mm Sequence Four.
How’s battery life?
Apple says general battery life is much like that of the Sequence Three, which suggests you possibly can count on round 18 hours. Nevertheless, it ought to final about an hour longer when monitoring outside actions with GPS, LTE, or music streaming.
Are there new watch faces?
Regardless of which Apple Watch you could have, you get 4 new Apple Watch faces within the watchOS 5 replace: Breathe, Hearth & Water, Vapor, and Liquid Metallic. On Sequence 1-Three Apple Watches, these faces are round with room for problems within the higher corners. On the Sequence Four, they fill the whole show.
As a result of the Sequence Four has bigger shows, there’s room for extra info, and Apple has added a few unique new watch faces which can be particularly information-dense. There’s the Infograph, which mixes an analog watch face with room for eight problems, and Infograph Modular, an improve for the present Modular face that permits the massive heart complication to point out far more information.
AppleApple has a pair of recent Sequence Four-exclusive watch faces which can be dense with info.
The Sequence Four additionally helps a brand new type of complication that’s designed to go within the nook of spherical watch faces, which features a curved line to characterize knowledge (like excessive and low each day temperatures or time remaining on a timer).
Are there any adjustments to the supplies or colours?
Like the brand new iPhone Xs, the Sequence Four is now accessible in a gold colour along with silver and area grey. Word that this isn’t the precise gold materials that made among the unique Apple Watches promote for $17,000; it’s only a gold colour for the stainless-steel or aluminum our bodies.
AppleThe gold stainless-steel colour appears to be like actually sharp.
The Sequence Three continues to be accessible, however the gold aluminum mannequin is gone—now you possibly can solely get it solely in silver or area grey in both metal or aluminum. The complete ceramic “Version” fashions have been discontinued throughout the board.
The Sequence Three and Four are each nonetheless accessible in Nike+ fashions, and the Sequence Four is offered in a Hermès version (stainless-steel solely).