A Comparison of Apple Watch Devices and What’s On the Horizon

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If you have never heard of an Apple Watch, then you have probably been living on another planet for the past six years! Not only has this iconic tech company released a much-loved smartwatch, but they have improved on it with regular updates and upgrades. Now, as the Series 7 looms in the near future, we thought it would be a good time to check out the Apple Watch range and find out more about what’s to come.

Series 9 and Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Series 9 and the Ultra 2 are both cutting-edge smartwatches that offer an array of features to enhance the user experience. The Apple Watch Series 9 builds upon its predecessors with a sleek design and a vibrant always-on Retina display. Its integration with the Apple ecosystem ensures seamless connectivity and access to a wide range of apps. On the other hand, the Ultra 2 boasts an impressive battery life, making it an attractive option for users who prioritize extended usage between charges. However, each device comes with its own set of pros and cons:

Apple Watch Series 9:

Pros:

Stunning always-on Retina display.
Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
Diverse app ecosystem.
Advanced health and fitness tracking features.

Cons:

Relatively shorter battery life compared to some competitors.
Premium pricing.

Ultra 2:

Pros:

Impressive battery life for extended usage.
Robust fitness and health tracking capabilities.
Compatibility with multiple smartphone platforms.
Water-resistant design.

Cons:

Less extensive app ecosystem compared to Apple Watch.
Design may feel bulkier to some users.

Apple Watch 1 – 3

The first Apple Watches are now rarely seen as most wearers have upgraded them for newer models, but it is still important to understand where the craze began. These first devices came in 38mm and 42mm options and were, until the Series 3, lacking in cellular capabilities.

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However, the look of the Apple Watch has changed very little from the early days, with a square design and a large digital crown. These devices offered apps, fitness features, and a range of functions aimed at making life easier. These days, you are able to pick up a Series 3 with relative ease, but unless you are on a tight budget, we’d suggest that getting a newer model makes more sense in the long run.

 

Apple Watch 4 & 5

The physical look of the Apple Watch changed with the introduction of the Series 4 and stayed the same with series 5. It was at this time that the case options changed to 40mm and 44mm options with a wider range of colors available. Very little else changed apart from the introduction of a titanium finish on the series 5.

 

The amount of storage doubled from 8GB to 16GB with the series 4 and then doubled again with the series 5 to 32GB. The difference between each series may not be too noticeable unless wearers use a lot of apps or like to store a lot of music. 

 

The heart rate sensors were improved in series 4 and fall detection, low heart rate notifications, and the ECG functions were introduced and kept the same within series 5.

 

The biggest change arrived with the series 5 Apple Watch introducing the always-on display, which became a very popular feature. Up to this point, the watch display stayed off until the wrist was raised or the watch was touched. With the always-on display, wearers can see the time and whatever notifications they have selected to be on their home screen at any time. 

 

Apple Watch 6

With the introduction of the Apple Watch 6 came a blood oxygen monitor for the first time and a faster processor. The screen became brighter, and the charging became faster, which is a bonus because the battery life remained the same, still offering less than a full day of usage. 

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For the first time, the Apple Watch offered in-built sleep tracking. This was a massive step as many wearers complained about having to try a range of sleep tracking apps as the previous generations did not offer this much sought-after function. 

 

The physical look of the watch didn’t change from the previous version but the series 6 saw the WatchOS 7 update. This brought a fantastic library of pre-set workouts, including dance, strength training, and core training, improving the fitness functionality of the watch.

 

What’s to Come with Apple Watch 7?

As the Apple Watch 7 is yet to be released or announced, it is only possible to understand what might be to come. For more information about Apple Watch 7 – See Superwatches.  As always, there are many rumors about what the next generation of Apple Watch should introduce or enhance and what we know Apple has been working on.

 

It has been reported that the new Apple Watch may not be compatible with the older watch bands, hinting at a new design, an increased screen size, or even both. As the design hasn’t changed since the introduction of series 4, it is very likely that we will see a different-looking watch soon.

 

An increase in battery life is something that Apple fans have been requesting for a while now, and a blood glucose monitor has been rumored but is unlikely to be released with this generation. There is little talk about other health features, and so it may be that the biggest changes will be with the physical look and not the features.