Apple today introduced a new version of its Apple Watch, the anticipated Apple Watch Series 8, which replaces the prior Series 7 model. The big additions to this upgraded version include a new temperature sensor focused on women’s health, a crash detection feature, and international roaming.
The temperature sensor is a timely arrival given the overturning of Roe v. Wade. With this feature, women can track their ovulation as a retrospective estimate, Apple says. This feature takes advantage of the Series 8’s two-sensor design. The new watch includes one temperature sensor on the back crystal near your skin and another just under the display. This design is meant to minimize bias from the outside environment, the company noted.
Overnight, the Series 8 Watch will monitor body temperate every 5 seconds and can detect changes as small as one degree Celcius. These temperature recordings are saved in the Health app, where users can view their nighttime baseline shifts in body temperatures, which can help to predict ovulation. The data is also encrypted on-device for privacy and can’t be accessed without a user’s passcode, Touch ID or face ID.
Another new feature with this updated device is the Crash Detection feature, which will be able to identify when users are in a severe crash crash. Similar to a service like OnStar, the feature can automatically connect you with emergency services, provide your location, and notify your Emergency Contacts.
The company said this feature relies on two new motion sensors and an improved three-axis gyroscope as well as the high G-force accelerometer.
The Series 8 is available starting today in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Product Red. It will start at start at $399 for the GPS version and $499 for cellular.
An SE model, with the same chip at the Series 8 was also announced. It’s available in Silver, Midnight, and Starlight starting at $249 or $299 for cellular.
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