Smartwatch fans will probably find something to like with Apple Watch Series 4. But should you spend
We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use.
Apple’s Wednesday iPhone event also included the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 4. The next-gen smartwatch focuses a lot on heart health, most notably adding an electrocardiogram (ECG) app. There’s also fall detection, signaling that Apple is making a serious push into medical technology and eyeing an older crowd who may want something more stylish than typical medical alert systems.
But smartwatch fans of all ages will probably find something to like with Apple Watch Series 4. Should you spend $399+? Check out some of the device’s notable upgrades to help you make up your mind.
This article originally appeared on PCMag.com .
The display on Apple Watch Series 4 is more than 30 percent bigger than Series 3, but the gadget is still slimmer. Series 4 comes in 44mm and 40mm cases, with 977 sq mm and 759 sq mm of screen, respectively, versus 740 sq mm and 563 sq mm on the Series 3. Still, Series 4 is 10.7mm thick compared to 11.4mm on the Series 3.
For the most part, low heart rates are a good sign. But if it gets too low, that could signal trouble, so Apple Watch Series 4 will send alerts if yours dips into a worrying range.
Apple Watch Series 4 adds electrodes to the back sensor, which allow its wearer to get an electrocardiogram (ECG), a process that has received FDA clearance. Just open the app and hold your finger on the watch’s digital crown. Note that this will not be available at launch; Apple expects it the ECG app to arrive “later this year” in the US only.
Also later this year, watchOS 5 will be able to intermittently analyze heart rhythms in the background and sends a notification if an irregular heart rhythm such as Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is detected.
That digital crown, meanwhile, now includes haptic feeedback for a more responsive and mechanical feel when you scroll through things like podcasts and calendar items.
If the watch thinks you’ve fallen, it’ll send an alert to ask if you need help. If you don’t respond for longer than a minute, the watch will start an emergency call. How does the watch know you’ve fallen? Apple found that most falls follow a predictable pattern: when you trip, your body pitches forward and the arms go out; if you slip, your arms go upwards. The new watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope will identify these types of spills.
The speaker on Apple Watch Series 4 is 50 percent louder than its predecessor, Apple says. That should come in handy for the new Walkie Talkie and Podcasts functions coming with watchOS 5, and for calls in noisy areas.
This is also rolling out via watchOS 5, so it’s not exclusive to the Series 4, but activity competitions will let you challenge other Apple Watch wearers to fitness competitions, something for which rival Fitbit is known. If you’re not sure if you should spend the $399+ on an Apple Watch, meanwhile, check out our comparison of the Series 4 and the Fitbit Versa.
