Expert review Apple Watch Series 8

I recognize the packaging of the Apple Watch Series 8 right away from the previous models. It's an elongated box with a cardboard butterfly closure. The watch case and straps are separated, and the box includes 2 sizes of straps. My wrist has a circumference of 16.5cm, so I click the included S/M strap onto the watch case. The new Appel Watch is available in 4 colors and 2 sizes, 41 and 45mm. The straps of old Apple Watch 38 and 40mm models fit onto this 41mm model too. The straps of the old 42 and 44mm models can be used for the 45mm model.

A noteworthy new feature of the Apple Watch Series 8 is the body temperature sensor. At night, the Apple Watch measures my wrist temperature every 5 seconds and calculates my body temperature accordingly. I can see how much my temperature that night deviated from my average temperature in the graph in the Health app. A deviation can be caused by bad sleep, alcohol consumption, or a jetlag. I recognize these things for myself even without the watch. Apple can use this information to map out the menstrual cycle for women. Based on the temperature and your heart rate, your Watch will determine where in your cyclus you are and if you're fertile that moment. This is useful if you're trying to get pregnant.

Luckily, I didn't test this function myself. The sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8 recognize a heavy car accident. The Apple Watch will contact your SOS contacts and the emergency services in that case. Via an audio message, they'll hear that the Apple devices was part of a car accident and that you're not responding. They also receive your location. An Apple Watch with 4G connect directly via mobile data. With an Apple Watch without 4G, the connection goes through your iPhone.

After an evening walk through my neighborhood, I can see my route, heart rate, and lap times in the Health app. The next morning, I can check whether I slept well after this too under the sleep tab in the Health app. Thanks to the new, energy-saving mode, I can wear my Apple Watch for longer without having to charge it. This mode turns off the always-on screen and various background functions. This makes the smartwatch less smart. This function is also very useful while you're on the go or can't charge your watch for a while due to other reasons.