Apple Watch Series 8 Review – The perfect first smartwatch and for a solid upgrade

If you’re wearing an Apple Watch Series 4 or older – take note, there’s a new kid on the block and it will change what you see the watch as being. For those who’ve never owned an Apple Watch but have considered it, the Series 8 Apple Watch is the one to buy.

What I’m saying there is that for owners of Series 5, 6 and 7 look away, you’re missing a couple of key features here but you’re not missing enough to shell out for an all-new Apple Watch.

Much of what is great about the Series 8 Apple Watch comes from the latest Watch OS 9 software and while that’s not unique to the latest watch it’s certainly the best way to experience all the features.

Specific to the Series 8 are a couple of features, two temperature sensors and some advanced gyroscopic and accelerometer sensors.

The temperature sensors are used to help women track their menstrual cycle and ovulation, while the Gyro and Accelerometer are used in the new Crash Detection feature.

Cycle tracking isn’t new, it’s been on Apple Watch for years, but has been a very manual process. With advanced temperature data the Apple Health app can now make retrospective cycle estimates. Those three words have been a struggle for me since the keynote – doesn’t make sense. Retrospective? Estimates? Turns out Apple can’t and don’t want to predict the next ovulation period, but what they can do from the “retrospective” data now available is estimate what did happen during a cycle. Very cool, but of course, not something I could test. Expect some pretty amazing data and reports on this in the months ahead.

Crash Detection is another feature I’ve not tested, and don’t ever want to. But I look at it like AFib alerts, the ability for your watch to detect a strange heart rhythm to warn you of a potential heart problem. Crash Detection is programmed and tested to detect rear end, front end, side on and roll over accidents. If detected, the watch will call emergency services and contact your emergency contacts. Think about an accident, your phone will likely get thrown around in the car and be out of your reach. Your watch is right there on your wrist. Simple, Genius.

If you’re keen on a bushwalk or a hike, or you’re just in a new place or city – the updated Compass app allows you to trace back your steps simply by tapping a button. Additionally, you can set waypoints in the compass, like your campsite, those waterfalls, or just where you parked your car.

Simple concept, very well executed.

Sleep tracking is more detailed than ever with all stages of your sleep monitored – and it’s impressive, but for me, I still struggle to wear a watch to bed, and for a smartwatch that needs charging every day, it’s a struggle to find the routine that keeps it charged – other than putting it on a bedside charge at night.

When you add these new features to the advanced features of Apple Watch, like Blood Oxygen monitor, ECG and Fall Detection and the Apple Watch Series 8 stacks up as a cracking great smartwatch.

And all these things are far in advance of the basics of call, message and other notifications from your smartphone – all of which take your eyes off the phone as often as you had been – and it’s a great feeling.

The Apple Watch is the best selling Watch in the world. Not Smartwatch – Watch. For a reason, Apple has a captive audience of hundreds of millions of iPhone users, the upsell is easy – as long as you can find one in your budget.

Series 8 goes on sale tomorrow, starting at $629, and remember, the updated Apple Watch SE (lighter and without some of the key health sensors) is also out tomorrow from $399.