Today was a big day for Apple, because in addition to announcing the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr, the Cupertino-based company introduced a new Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 4 is the first major upgrade for Apple's smartwatch since the device's inception years ago. It features a larger display that's nearly edge-to-edge and also includes rounded corners. This screen is more than 30 percent larger than the display on previous Apple Watch models, meaning you can fit more content and more complications.
The case of the new Apple Watch Series 4 is thinner than before and comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, up from the 38mm and 42mm sizes of previous Apple Watch models. Despite the size difference, Apple says that its new Apple Watch Series 4 will work with all previous Apple Watch bands.
Another notable update with the Apple Watch Series 4 is the Digital Crown, which now includes haptic feedback to give it a more mechanical, clicky feel. The back of the Apple Watch Series 4 is made up of black ceramic and sapphire crystal, which should allow radio waves to pass through the front and back, meaning the device will get better cellular service.
Inside the Apple Watch Series 4 is a new 64-bit dual-core S4 processor that offers up to 2x faster performance. Apple has upgraded the accelerometer and gyroscope, too, which enables the new Apple Watch to detect falls. There are also some new heart-related features in there, like an alert for when your heart rate falls too low and the ability to detect an irregular heart rate, which could be suggestive of atrial fibrillation. The Apple Watch Series 4 can take an electrocardiogram as well thanks to new electrodes in the Digital Crown and a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back of the device.
Even with all those upgrades, Apple says that it's new Apple Watch Series 4 gets the same 18-hour battery life as its predecessor. In fact, outdoor workouts can get better battery life than before, lasting up to six hours on a single charge.
The Apple Watch Series 4 will be available in silver, gold, and space gray color options. Pricing will start at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the GPS + Cellular variant. Apple will begin taking pre-orders for the Apple Watch Series 4 on September 14th, and the new smartwatch will launch on September 21st.
