The Apple Watch Series 8 —Apple’s latest entry into the wearable space — is a reality. Announced on September 7 and officially launched on September 16, the Series 8 continues Apple’s dominance in the smartwatch space. It has a tried-and-true design, a big display, ample performance, and robust health tracking. If you know and love the Apple Watch formula, you’re getting more of that with the Apple Watch Series 8.
Like its predecessor, the screen on the Series 8 looks fantastic. Colors are vibrant, the expansive screen real estate feels wonderfully futuristic, and the tiny bezels let watch faces and apps shine. The always-on display introduced with the Series 5 also returns, giving you persistent information on your wrist even when you aren’t actively looking at it.
Battery life is another area where the Apple Watch Series 8 is very familiar. The Apple Watch has always been a one-day wearable, and the Series 8 is no different. I started my first full day with the smartwatch at 8:00 a.m. and finally ended the day at 1:20 a.m. with 35% battery left in the tank. That day included a constant stream of notifications, the always-on display enabled, and tracking a four-mile walk for a little over an hour.
Unfortunately, a weekend hasn’t been enough time to see the results from the temperature sensors. Apple says you need to wear the Series 8 for about five days before it can establish your baseline temperature and start showing changes to it. While I’m not someone who can use the temperature sensors for cycle tracking or family planning, I am curious to look at my nightly temperature changes when that data finally becomes available to me.
The Metropolitan watch face is a gorgeous addition, featuring a customizable analog clock with room for complications on each corner. You can also now edit the Modular face with full-color backgrounds, giving it a wonderful visual pop that it didn’t have before.