Last week, Apple made lots of changes to the Apple Watch line. With different models that have different features, it is easier than ever to find an excellent Apple Watch that is right for your needs. Here are the features of the three new models that are likely to appeal to lawyers and other professional users so that you can decide which model is right for you. I will start with the least expensive new model, the second generation Apple Watch SE, and then move up in price to the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple Watch SE (second generation)
If you are looking to get your first Apple Watch, or if you are looking to upgrade from an Apple Watch Series 3 (which came out in 2017) or earlier, the Apple Watch SE is an excellent model to consider buying. It starts at only $249 (for the 40mm size for smaller wrists) or $279 (for the 44mm size for larger wrists).
The new Apple Watch SE is available with an aluminum case in the colors Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.
The new Apple Watch SE includes all of the core features that make the Apple Watch so wonderful. It is a great device for receiving notifications, which can customize on the iPhone. Thus, when an important client or colleague sends you an email or a text, your watch can discretely tap your wrist to alert you. It is also a great device for watching your activity throughout the day and monitoring your exercises. And of course it tells you the time, with lots of watch faces to choose from and customize.
The Apple Watch SE also can sense fall detection, a feature that was introduced with the Apple Watch Series 4 back in 2018 and that was also in the first generation Apple Watch SE. I know that many people purchase an Apple Watch for an older relative because of the fall detection feature, so it is nice that the entry-level SE continues to include this sensor.
The main change that Apple added to this second generation Apple Watch SE versus the original Apple Watch SE that debuted two years ago is that this year’s model uses the top-of-the line S8 chip, the fastest chip currently available for any Apple Watch. (The original SE used an S5 chip that was already a year old when the original SE was introduced.) This means that the Apple Watch will be very responsive to your touch and you shouldn’t find yourself annoyed because you are waiting for the watch to do something.
This second-generation Apple Watch SE also adds sensors that were not in the model that was released years ago which allow this new model to sense if you are in a car crash. This is a new feature that Apple also added to the iPhone 14, which was also announced last week. If the watch senses a sudden change in acceleration that is typical of a car crash, the watch will automatically call 911 or other emergency services to seek help. (You have 10 seconds to cancel if for some reason it is a false alarm.)
For all of the basic Apple Watch needs, the new Apple Watch SE has you covered. But you don’t get some advanced features available in the more expensive models, so let’s discuss those next.
Apple Watch Series 8
The new Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 (for the 41mm model for smaller wrists) and at $429 (for the 45mm model for larger wrists). Here is what you get for the additional $150 over the Apple Watch SE.
First, you get a slightly larger screen, a feature that debuted with the Apple Watch Series 7 (and which I discussed more extensively in my review of that model). The 1mm increase doesn’t sound like much, but it does make a real difference when you are using the watch. Many on-screen buttons are noticeably larger and easier to tap. And you sometimes see more information on the screen, which is nice.
Second, the larger screen can be on all the time. This is a huge difference. With the Apple Watch SE and many older models, you need to move or raise your wrist to activate the screen. With the Series 8 (like the Series 5, 6, and 7), you can just glance at your wrist without moving it to see the time or to look at a notification. When you are in a meeting or with other people, this allows you to be much more discrete, potentially avoiding the embarrassment of a client or someone else thinking that you are getting bored with what they have to say because you are fiddling with your watch just to turn on the screen to see a notification or the time.
Third, the Series 8 has many more sensors than the SE, providing you with even more useful information. One of them is new to the Series 8 this year: a sensor that tracks your temperature while you are sleeping that can help a person who is ovulating track their cycle, which can help you make decisions for family providing and which provide a more detailed view of a menstrual cycle. There are actually two temperature sensors; one on the back that is near your skin, and another just under the display to reduce bias from the outside environment. Apple doesn’t advertise this temperature tracking as being accurate enough to tell you whether you have a fever, so I get the sense that Apple sees this more of a way to track relative average temperature over time, not your specific body temperature at a point in time. For example, the Health app shows your relative temperature as compared to a baseline:
The Series 8 also has a blood oxygen sensor (first introduced with the Series 6), which you can use to monitor your breathing and blood circulation, and thus your overall cardiac health. The Series 8 also has an ECG (also called an EKG) (first introduced with the Series 4 in 2018). The Series 8 also has a more advanced heart sensor than the SE (first introduced with the Series 6). Apple is careful to say that this is not a medical device, but these sensors can give you a warning that it might be a good time to go see a doctor.
Fourth, the Series 8 is more resistant to the outside world. Both the SE and the Series 8 are water resistant, so it is OK to swim with them or get them wet. But the Series 8 is also dust resistant (IP6X) (a feature introduced with the Series 7).
Fifth, you can charge a Series 8 more quickly than an SE. This is something that Apple first introduced with the Series 7, and I like it. I usually have no trouble with my Apple Watch lasting all day long. But on days when I push it to the limit, it is nice to give the battery a little boost at some point during the day, and it is noticeably faster to do so with an Apple Watch that supports a USB-C charger with fast charging.
Sixth, the Series 8 adds a U1 chip (Ultra Wideband). You can use this with your iPhone’s Find My app to locate your Apple Watch more precisely if you forgot where you left the watch.
Finally, with the Series 8 you can choose to pay more for a stainless steel case. I prefer the shiny look of the stainless steel case, and I’ve been using this version of the Apple Watch since 2015 when the Apple Watch was first introduced. The stainless steel case is a little tougher, and when you get that model you also get an improved screen that uses sapphire crystal instead of Ion-X glass to be more resistant to scratches. You have to pay an additional $300 for the stainless steel model so it is definitely a premium purchase, but if you think of an Apple Watch as jewelry that you wear all the time, that price increase may seem more reasonable.
Even if you don’t opt for the stainless steel model, you can see that the Series 8 offers lots of useful advantages for the additional $150. I think that for many professionals, the always-on, larger screen alone is worth the $150, so if you are looking for my recommendation as to whether you should get the SE or a Series 8 as a first Apple Watch, my recommendation for most folks is to get the Series 8. But don’t get me wrong, the SE is also a very good Apple Watch if you just want the basics and you don’t mind missing out on some of the latest and greatest features.
What if you use an older Apple Watch, like a Series 4, 5, or 6? Is it worth the extra money to upgrade? From a Series 4 or 5, I would say probably yes. The new Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7 that came out last year, and I myself was very happy that I upgraded from a Series 5 to the Series 7 to get the larger, brighter screen and extra sensors. From a Series 6 or 7, I would not upgrade unless there is a specific new feature that you think is going to be very useful for you, such as the temperature tracking or (if you have a Series 6) the slightly larger screen.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available with an aluminum body in the same colors as the Apple Watch SE—Midnight, Starlight, and Silver—plus the additional PRODUCT(RED) color. With the stainless steel body, the color choices are Graphite, Silver, and Gold.
Nike and Hermès models
A quick note: Apple is no longer selling Nike models of the Apple Watch. Instead, all versions of the Apple Watch can now use the Nike watch faces, and you can continue to purchase the Nike versions of the watch bands and use them with any Apple Watch. The Nike Run Club app also works on any Apple Watch. However, Apple is continuing to sell the Hermès versions of the Apple Watch with exclusive watch faces.
Apple Watch Ultra
Some folks will not need advice on whether the Apple Watch Ultra is right for them. They already live the sort of extreme active lifestyle for which the Ultra should be perfect. Having said that, there are lots of great features in the new Apple Watch Ultra that will appeal to a wider audience. And at $799, which is only $100 more than the stainless steel Apple Watch and less expensive than many other extreme sports watches on the market, it may not take much for many folks to decide that this is the best Apple Watch for them.
First, you get the largest and brightest display ever offered with an Apple Watch in a 49mm case. Unlike the 1000 nits brightness of the Series 8 and SE, the brightness on the Ultra is 2000 nits. Thus, when you glance at this watch, it should be much easier to see the information that you need.
The larger size on the Ultra means that in the Workout app you can now see six different metrics on the screen at the same time.
Second, you get the most durable Apple Watch ever made. It features the same sapphire crystal on the front that you get with the stainless steel version of the Series 8, but on the Ultra that crystal is completely flat with protection on the edges to give it additional protection. It features a case made of Titanium, so that it is both rugged and light, and there are raised guards around the digital crown for more protection. (There are no color choices with the Apple Watch Ultra; it only comes in a single color of Titanium.) It is strong enough to be water resistant up to 100m (versus 50m on the Series 8 and SE) with EN13319 certification, so it can be used for scuba diving.
Third, speaking of scuba diving, the Ultra has a depth gauge with a temperature sensor.
It also comes with an Oceanic+ app to use as a dive computer.
Fourth, the Ultra has an 86-decibel siren that you can activate to attract attention from up to 600 feet away. If you are lost in the woods and want someone else to find you, that siren can help. I suppose this could also be useful in a city if you are trying to attract attention because you are in an unsafe situation.
Fifth, the battery lasts up to 36 hours, which is twice as long as the 18-hour battery on the Series 8 and SE. And Apple says that later this year it will add low power settings that will allow the Ultra to go 60 hours between charges. Apple says that “Apple Watch Ultra has enough battery life for most users to complete a long-course triathlon, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and full marathon at 26.2 miles.”
Sixth, the Ultra includes a new feature called Backtrack. This feature is also available on the Apple Watch Series 6 and later if running watchOS 9, but perhaps it will be most useful to the type of folks who would purchase an Ultra. Apple says: “Backtrack uses GPS data to create a path showing where the user has been, which is useful if they get lost or disoriented and need help retracing their steps. It can also turn on automatically in the background when off the grid. With a single press of the Action button, users can quickly drop a Compass Waypoint or start or view a Backtrack.” It sounds like a digital version of dropping bread crumbs.
Seventh, the Ultra features a new button on the left side of the Apple Watch called the Action button. Unlike the button on the right side of the Apple Watch, which performs system functions and thus cannot be used with apps, the new Action button on the left can be used by apps to allow for input without touching the screen. If you are underwater, this is especially useful because you cannot touch an Apple Watch screen when it is in water.
In a workout, you can use the Action button to begin the workout and to move to the next interval of a custom workout or the next leg of a multisport workout. If you are running on a track, you can also use the Action button to mark each segment.
Eighth, the Ultra features better GPS than the normal Apple Watch. (In addition to using the L1 frequency, which is the oldest and most-used version of GPS, it adds support for the new L5 frequency, which can provide less interference.)
Ninth, the Ultra has much louder speakers (Apple says 40% louder than the Series 8) and a much improved microphone. Thus, if you are in extreme weather conditions, it should be far easier to have a phone conversation using just your watch.
The Ultra also uses Bluetooth 5.3, as opposed to the Bluetooth 5.0 used by the Series 8 and SE, but Apple has not yet announced what difference this makes.
Apple also created three bands designed for the Ultra: an Ocean Band for swimming, an Alpine Loop for rough outdoor use, and a Trail Loop for long runs.
I’ve never owned an extreme sports watch, such as the models sold by companies like Garmin, nor do I participate in extreme sports, so I don’t have the first-hand experience required to judge how good a job Apple did with adding these specific features. Nevertheless, it is fascinating seeing Apple come out with a new category of Apple Watch. I’ll be curious to read the reviews.
Although Apple’s advertisements for the Ultra may give the impression that you need to be running up a mountain while it is snowing to take advantage of it, the reality is that this is also a superior watch for less extreme activities like running through the park. The larger screen, increased durability, longer battery life, and action button will surely be useful for anyone who lives an active lifestyle. On the other hand, the Ultra may be a little large on your wrist when you are just working in an office or going out at night. If I were wearing a button-down shirt, I’m not even sure that the Ultra would fit under many shirt sleeves. I’m sure that some folks will get the Ultra as a second Apple Watch to only use during sports and exercise.
Finally, for those of us unlikely to ever purchase an Apple Watch Ultra, I hope that some of these new features, like the Action button, brighter display, and longer battery life, eventually come to the mainstream version of the Apple Watch. The Action button, in particular, looks like it could be very useful.
Conclusion
The Series 8 as compared to the Series 7, and the new SE as compared to the original SE, are nice but modest improvements. But the overall state of the Apple Watch market in 2022 is the best that it has ever been. Both the Series 8 and SE look to be fantastic devices. You just need to decide if the more advanced features are worth an additional $150. And with the new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple is entering a brand new market and introducing great new features that are useful today for certain types of activities. Hopefully, some of the great new features of the Ultra will eventually come to other models so that the masses can enjoy them.
Nice write up, Jeff, especially on the Ultra. Thanks for all of the good info.