Apple has kick started the ‘Gather Around’ event with Apple Watch Series 4 announcement. The new Apple Watch Series 4 packs a stunning new display with an edge-to-edge curved display to perfectly match the shape of the watch. The company says that the screen is over 30% larger than the predecessor.
The U.I has been tweaked to take advantage of the larger screen. It lets users add contacts to watchface for one-tap access to them and has redesigned the modular face providing more information from stocks, heart rate, activity. The Breathe app is finally a watchface, so you can just raise the wrist to be guided into. It gets new fire, water, vapor dynamic new watchfaces that interact with the display.
The digital crown is being re-engineered and includes haptic feedback. The speakers are 50% louder optimized for phone calls, Siri and Walkie-Talkie and the Mic is also moved to the other side to reduce the echo. The back of the Watch is made of black ceramic and sapphire crystal. Radio waves can pass through which increases the cell reception. It is powered by the next-generation S4 chip with a custom 64-bit dual-core processor.
It brings new health capabilities, including a new accelerometer and gyroscope, which can detect hard falls, and an electrical heart rate sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) using the new ECG app. It can also classify if the heart is beating in a normal pattern or whether there are signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a heart condition that could lead to major health complications. All recordings, their associated classifications and any noted symptoms are stored in the Health app in a PDF that can be shared with physicians.
It also brings a new Fall detection which utilizes a next-generation accelerometer and gyroscope and measures up to 32 g-forces, along with custom algorithms to identify when hard falls occur. By analyzing wrist trajectory and impact acceleration, Apple Watch sends the user an alert after a fall.
The Apple Watch Series 4 GPS edition starts at $399 (Rs.28,686 approx.), the Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) starts at $499 (Rs. 35,875 approx.). Apple Watch Series 4 will be available in gold stainless steel along with silver and space black stainless steel models. Apple Watch Series 4 GPS edition will be available to order from September 14th in 26 countries and territories and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) will be available to order in 16 countries and territories. Both models will be available in stores from September 21. India is not in the list, but it is expected to be available here soon. Apple has also announced that Series 3 will be available at the new starting price of $279 (20,058 approx.).