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The Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to be announced alongside the rumored iPhone 14 at the company’s launch event today, and could mark a couple of milestones for Apple’s popular smartwatch. It might be the first to come in a new “Pro” version for extreme sports and included a temperature sensor. That’s if reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal turn out to be true.
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The Series 7, which Apple unveiled alongside the iPhone 13 lineup last September, didn’t receive many significant changes apart from its enlarged screen, faster charging and improved durability. Other than the expected temperature sensor, the standard Series 8 may follow the same route. Bloomberg reports the Series 8’s hardware will be generally similar to that of the Series 7.
We’ll know for sure once Apple announces its next smartwatch. The company is expected to introduce the Series 8, a Pro version of the Series 8 and a new Apple Watch SE soon. Until then, current Apple Watch owners will get new software features when WatchOS 9 debuts this fall.
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Years before the pandemic, Apple already held long-term health ambitions for its popular wrist accessory, with CEO Tim Cook describing health as Apple’s “greatest contribution to mankind.” And according to reports by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, Apple may further those ambitions with the addition of a temperature sensor in the Apple Watch Series 8.
The temperature-sensing feature could bring new fertility planning tools to Apple’s smartwatch, according to the reports. A more recent Bloomberg report suggests the Series 8 may be able to detect fevers. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to get a specific temperature reading like you would when using a standard thermometer. Instead, Bloomberg says it will likely be able to tell whether you might have a fever and would recommend using a dedicated thermometer or consulting a doctor.
There are also a number of other health features in Apple’s pipeline, according to the reports, though such tools are said to still be in development.
