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The Apple Watch Series 8 is now on sale, a watch or smartwatch that incorporates new technologies aimed primarily at improving the health and sports section of the device.
Although perhaps the main novelty expected by the followers of the brand era the autonomy of the watch, which remains at 18 hours (36 hours in low power mode limiting the use of the screen always on or other tracking features in real time).
What's new Apple Watch Series 8
But let's go with the news that there are many of a device that as we see in other brands of cell phone manufacturers focus on health and sport. In terms of design, the Apple Watch Series 8 brings with it a new always-on Retina display and greater durability of its front glass resistant to shocks and of course water. The model runs watchOS 9, and incorporates new customizable dials, such as Lunar and Metropolitan, the "Workout" app that comes with improvements, sleep phases and a new Medication app.
One of the aspects that has boosted the sales of this device in the previous version was the incorporation of the ECG app for Iphone, which allows recording an electrocardiogram that represents the electrical pulses that make the heart beat . The ECG app checks these pulses to obtain the heart rate and verify if there is any anomaly. The watch also incorporates fall detection (which we already saw in the Apple Watch series 7) to which we must add temperature sensors or accident detection.
Temperature measurement
The Apple Series 8 has the ability to measure the temperature of the wrist during the night every five seconds. The record of temperature changes help to understand if you have rested properly, if there is jet lag, or even give clues of some kind of disease. All of this is displayed in the Health app.
Accident detection
One of the new features that most caught our attention is the detection of serious accidents. Apple has developed an algorithm that, thanks to the different sensors built into the watch, is able to identify unique patterns that may indicate that a serious accident has occurred.When the device interprets that an accident has occurred, it measures the user's vital signs and if no response is received within 10 seconds, it will call the emergency services . Emergency teams will receive the location of the user's device, which will also be shared with their emergency contacts. This will require an iPhone cell phone.
Train with the Apple Watch Series 8
The new watchOS 9 Workout app allows you to incorporate new views within a workout session:
-Segments
-Series
-Level
It also allows the creation of Heart Rate Zones, personalized workouts, step counter and, it is announced that from 2023, Time Trial Routes.
For triathlon enthusiasts, good news . The watch incorporates a new type of training "Multisport" that switches from one activity to another automatically and also records the times of the transitions .
Run more efficiently
The WatchOS 9 operating system introduces more information for runners to try to improve their running efficiency. Running technique measurements such as Stride Length, Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation can be measured with this device.
For trail runners there are also new features
The Compass app also brings new features that will be very useful for lovers of trekking and trail running in the mountains. We will be able to see the elevation and inclination and the current coordinates, as well as an orientation view showing Compass Reference Points and Return .
Return will rely on the data it receives from the GPS to set the route that the user has taken, which will be of great help if someone gets lost or disoriented and recover the previous path. This functionality is also available when there is no internet connection.
The Compass Waypoints functionality is very useful for marking points of interest directly in the app. Simply tap the landmarks icon to create one. And when you select it, a view of the location's direction and an estimate of the distance until you reach your position appears.
Improved sleep measurement
The sleep monitoring in watchOS 9 also gets an update incorporating more information for the user. The Apple Watch uses signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor to determine when users enter light, REM or deep sleep phases . Users will see sleep phase data in the Apple Watch's Sleep app. And more detailed information, such as time spent sleeping, and other metrics, such as heart rate and respiration rate, can be viewed in the comparative graphs in the iPhone Health app.
Medication management
The new Medication feature will allow users to create a medication list, set schedules and reminders, and view medication information in the Health app to help them track and manage the medication, vitamins and supplements they take.
Review of Apple Watch Series 8
Gorka Cabañas
TesterPros
- Spectacular design
- Very lightweight
- Health features
Cons
- Battery life
- Price
Apple Watch Series 8: Perfect not only for the most popular runners
Have you ever thought that the Apple Watch Series 8 could be your ideal heart rate monitor for running? If we think of a sports watch for running, it is likely that brands like Garmin, Suunto, Polar or Coros come to mind. And without detracting from all these brands, there is a very firm commitment by some of the largest electronics companies to conquer the sports segment. Samsung, Huawei and of course Apple already have devices that compete very closely and in some cases exceed the performance of brands specializing in heart rate monitors & sports watches.
During the last 3 months we are testing in RUNNEA two Apple Watches with the focus on using it as a device for our training and competitions: Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple Watch Series 8 for runners
If what you are looking for is a review of the Apple Watch Series 8 in terms of technology, technical features or software used, you will find on the internet reviews much more focused on those aspects than this one you are reading. Here we are going to put the focus on the sports and health functions of this Apple device. And we are going to do it as we did with the Apple Watch Ultra, answering the questions you have asked us about the device.
How long does the Apple Watch Series 8 battery last?
According to the official information of the brand in intensive use the duration is 18 hours. Including bluetooth connection with your iPhone, one hour of sport with GPS on. We have tested it focusing on the training part.
The Apple Watch Series 8 was able to run on battery for 10 hours and 43 minutes with the gym training mode active: During that time we were able to look at the screen and therefore turn on the device's display more than 30 times. The device was connected to an Iphone 13 mobile phone through its bluetooth connection. We also received 3 calls and made one more call. In total 9 minutes of calls.
In the test with the GPS on, it managed to last more than 6 hours with the GPS and 4G LTE, having the heart rate sensor active.
In short, if you are not going to perform ultra-distance or Ironman distance tests where it is likely that you can be more than 6 hours competing, the Apple Watch Series 8 battery will respond without problems for your daily workouts or competitions even for marathon.
What specific features does the Apple Watch Series 8 have for runners?
Undoubtedly one of the great attractions of this Apple Watch Series 8 are the advanced functions and data that the device will provide us with in order to analyze and improve our running training.
We will be able to have data such as Stride Length, Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation that will help us to be more efficient in running.
Depending on the type of training you are going to do, you will be able to visualize on the screen:
- Heart Rate
- Power
- Segments
- Partial
- Elevation
- Pace
- Cadence
- Distance
- Duration
- Vertical oscillation
- Running stride length
- Ground contact time
For triathlon enthusiasts, good news. The watch incorporates a new type of "Multisport" training that switches from one activity to another automatically and also records transition times.
Is it possible to analyze running power?
The answer is yes. You can see an estimate in watts of the work you do in your running workouts. With this metric you will be able to analyze running intensity. Very useful for watt-based training to analyze the effort you put in when changing speed or going uphill.
Can I race against myself?
Yes, this is one of the features we liked the most. If you're like me, who almost always runs the same route, you can select it and compete against your last or best time on that route.
- Open the Workout app on your watch
- go to Run.
- Tap the More button...
- Select the route you want to compete against and then select "Last or Personal Best".
When you start running the Apple Watch 8 will compare your current pace against the workout you have selected. You will be able to compete against yourself and you will also receive a notification if you deviate from the route.
Also, if you are near a route that you have already measured with the watch, the Apple Watch 8 will show it as a suggested workout. To see all routes, just tap "Suggested" and then "Route".
Can I listen to music or podcasts while training without my iPhone?
Yes, you will be able to sync both your music and podcasts and audiobooks beforehand on your watch to listen to them later without carrying your iPhone with you.
How to sync music with the Apple Watch
It's very simple. Here are the steps to follow:
- Place your Series 8 watch on the charger and place your iPhone nearby.
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Bluetooth. The Bluetooth option must be enabled.
- Then on the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and then tap the My Watch tab.
- Find the Music option and enter it.
- Tap on Add music and search for the song or album you want to sync.
- Tap the Add + button next to the music you want to sync. If you can't add a particular album or playlist, try downloading it to your iPhone before syncing with your watch.
Do the Apple Watch 7 bands fit the Apple Watch 8?
Yes, this is one of the good news of this device. There are no aesthetic changes compared to the 7 model so the straps are compatible.
Are the metrics offered by the Apple Watch series 8 accurate?
They are accurate as long as you keep your personal data updated. This is very important and one of the main mistakes we make when we train based on the data provided by the device. The Apple Watch uses the personal information we manually enter to help us calculate different activity metrics. If for example when you first entered your data your weight era 85kg and 6 months later you weigh 78kg your data will take that 85kg as your weight metric.
Updating your personal data is very simple:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab, then Health > Health Profile.
- Tap Edit and the data you want to change.
What did we like most about the Apple Watch 8?
If we have to keep something, in my case it would definitely be the optimization of the watch in the field of health. The incorporation of the ECG app that allows you to record an electrocardiogram that represents the electrical pulses that make the heart beat. The ECG app checks these pulses to obtain the heart rate and verify if you may have a heart problem.
As for the workouts part, I loved the suggested workouts option: being able to plan a workout by time, by distance, by goals (30 minutes at 5 m/km), by calories per repetitions or compete against a previously done route.
Also the incorporation of a fall detection system (which we also saw in the Apple Watch series 7) to which we must add temperature sensors or accident detection.
And as usual, we love its design, its lightness and the ease of use of its applications.
What are the points of improvement of the Apple Watch 8?
Undoubtedly the battery. Apple has to achieve in future editions a device that is able to increase battery life to several days.
What are the rivals of Apple Watch Series 8?
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