This year’s September product unveiling was expected to be impressive even by Apple’s standards.
Apple just announced a new Watch called Apple Watch Series 4.
The new Apple Watch comes with a larger, edge-to-edge screen, giving it the biggest facelift since its launch in 2014. The screen is 30 percent larger than the previous version while the device itself has become thinner.
But the bigger focus was put on the new Watch’s ability to play the role of a medical device. The new Watch comes with a new health sensor that lets you take an electrocardiogram, or „ECG,“ that measures the heart’s rhythm and notifies you if it detects the presence of atrial fibrillation. It is also now able to detect falls and automatically initiate an emergency call, as well.
„The Apple Watch has become an intelligent guardian for your health,“ Apple COO Jeff Williams said.
Apple announced that it’s received clearance from the FDA in the US to be classified as a medical device.
Fitbit stock dropped over four percent Tuesday following the Apple Watch announcement.
Former Google engineer Vic Gundotra, who now runs a heart tracking start-up called Alivecor, said, „Apple just gave every Android user a life saving reason to switch to iPhone.“
The new Apple Watch starts at $279 and will be available in 26 markets at launch. Orders start on Friday and the watches will become available September 21.
Apple is the market leader in the smartwatch industry, accounting for 17 percent of the market in the second quarter of 2018, according to IDC. It shipped a total of 4.7 million units in the quarter, up 38 percent from the year-ago period. That’s half a million more units sold than Xiaomi’s and more than double the total sold by Fitbit.
The company’s annual September event — held Wednesday at the Steve Jobs Theater on Apple’s campus — serves as the introduction to upgraded gadgets before inventory hits the shelves. This year’s unveiling was rumored to be impressive even by Apple’s standards.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
