Apple Watch Series 4 announced with ECG, Fall Detection, starting at USD 399

Apple has launched their fourth iteration of the Watch, the Apple Watch Series 4, today, in Cupertino, USA. It was already expected that Apple would refresh its watch line-up. The Cupertino giant had also launched three new iphones, the iPhone XS, XS Max and the iPhone XR.

Apple Watch Series 4

The Series 4 Apple watches are up to 30 percent larger screens thanks to the thinner edge-to-edge bezels, available in 40 mm and 44 mm watch size. The watches offer brand new watch faces with up to 8 complications and lets users add favorite people to watch face. Users can check their Stocks, Heart Rate in Modular Watch Faces as well as Boarding Pass. The Breath App is now available as a watch face in 3 different variations. The app offers dynamic watches such as Fire face, Water face and Vapor face.

The Apple Watch Series 4 uses the 4th Gen S4 processor which has dual Apple designed 64 Bit cores which are said to be twice as faster as the previous generation. It also comes with an improved Gyro and Accelerometer with 2X dynamic Range and 32G Forces Samples. These new sensors are 8X times faster and can detect a Fall. The watch detects falls by reading the natural reflexes of a human body during the fall. Depending on the hand movements of the user, the watch can detect if the Fall was a “Slip” or “Trip.” The watch can also call for Emergency services if the person wearing the watch falls and remains immobile for more than a minute.

The Optical Heart Sensor can track your heart rate and calories burnt during workouts as well your resting heart rate as well. The new Apple Watch Series 4 comes with 3 new Heart features, which are:
1. It notifies the user when the Heart Rate is too low.
2. When the user’s Heart Rhythm changes from the usual, it notifies the user.
3. As well as a new Electrical Heart Rate Sensor which uses electrodes to let users take an ElectroCardioGram. To utilize it, users need to Press and Hold the Digital Crown for 30 seconds to measure the ECG. If the users get a Sinus Rythm, then it is said to be normal.
The Apple Watch can now detect an elevated heart rate and let you know promptly. The watch has also received clearance from the FDA. The features are available only for US residents as of now, and will soon be available globally.

All the data can be stored in the Health App allowing users to export their health data into a PDF file, to show to their doctors during their next consultation. Apple has also stressed that privacy of the user remains as their primary focus, so the company securely stores the health and other data on your iCloud account, encrypted. The Apple Watch offers up to 18 hours of battery life with 6 hours of outdoor workout time. It is also water resistant up to 50 meters as well as swimproof, allowing users to take it for a dip.

The Apple Watch 4 is made out of Black Ceramic casing and a Sapphire Crystal on the Optical Heart Rate Sensor. It also has few other hardware changes from the previous Apple Watch which includes a 50% louder speaker, and a repositioned microphone which now sits next to the Digital Crown that results in less echo and noise. The Apple watch is available in a GPS only and an LTE + GPS variant. The LTE variant can be used as a standalone device, using which, consumers can also make calls to others, listen to music, on the go, without needing to carry your iPhone along.

Pricing and Availability of Apple Watch Series 4

The Apple Watch Series 4 comes in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors with stainless steel bands. The bands are interchangeable and are compatible with previous gen apple watch bands as well. Apple is also selling a new Hermes variant with dual-tone bands for the Apple Watch. There’s also a Nike + variant of the Apple Watch, which comes with a Reflective Yarn band. As for the pricing itself, the GPS only variant is priced at USD 399, while the LTE variant comes for USD 499 and will be available for purchase starting from September 21.

Apple has also reduced the price of Series 3 Watches, which now retails for USD 279. The company has also announced their latest Apple Watch OS update which is Watch OS 5.0 that is said to be available starting September 17, 2018.