One Month Later… Apple Watch Series 8 vs 6 - Should you Upgrade? 🤔

By Shawn Chung - Singapore

I’ve worn an Apple Watch since the first generation came out in 2015, and I’m pretty familiar with a number of major Watch milestones that someone who is not so familiar with the Watch might miss, from the introduction of LTE connectivity in the Watch Series 3, to the redesigned slimmer chassis on the Watch Series 4, which was the first Apple Watch I could comfortably wear to sleep. 

Over the years Apple has progressively updated the Watch, adding a compass, always on Display, internal memory, LTE connectivity with eSIM, ECG monitoring, SPO2 monitoring, wellness apps and Fall Detection that works (I know because I fell off my bicycle while wearing my Watch).

With the Watch Series 8 Apple has improved a number of sensors, with dual temperature sensors to measure both body and ambient temperatures for better discernment of temperature changes, which means the Watch 8 has improved Cycle Tracking period prediction.

Crash Detection is now standard on the Apple Watch Series 8 family and the iPhone 14 family, as Apple has switch to a new sensor fusion system that is capable of measuring impacts up to 256G, and sending out an alert to a satellite (currently available in specific regions).

As Crash Detection has been tested by quite a number of media outlets, I declined this opportunity to test this feature by riding my bicycle into a fence.

Video from The Wall Street Journal

With Apple’s usual evolutionary approach to the Watch, the new Watch Series 8 will seem like an incremental upgrade from the Watch 7, but it’s still the perfect smartwatch for your everyday use.

Unboxing

Unboxing any Apple product is an experience, and the Watch is nicely packed, with the main box containing two smaller paper boxes - for the watch and a second watchband, so it always feels a little bit.. special when you unbox an Apple product.

As with all Apple Watches, the watch bands are compatible across Watch generations, so you can reuse your favorite Hermes Watch band you bought three years ago on the Watch Series 8, though I personally like how comfortable, and washable, Apple’s nylon weave Sports Loop feels when you wear one all day and night. 

First wear impressions and comparison to an Apple Watch 6

As a Watch Series 6 owner, I found that there’s really no difference in feel between wearing the 45mm Watch Series 8 in aluminum, compared to my 44mm (PRODUCT RED) aluminum Watch Series 6. There’s been minute changes to the size and weight - 1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in, 1.13 oz (5 x 38 x 10.7 mm, 38.8 g) compared to 1.73 x 1.50 x 0.41 in, 1.31 oz (44 x 38 x 10.4 mm, 36.5 g (1.31 oz).

The 1.9-inch Retina OLED display is the same that debuted on the Watch Series 7, with excellent pixel resolution and brightness for visibility on a bright sunny day, and compared to my Watch Series 6 it has 20% more screen area. 

Set up

Apple Watches are only compatible with iPhones, and set up is stunningly simple, just turn on the Watch and bring it close to your iPhone!

You can set up multiple Watches on a single iPhone by following a simple procedure, for example, a Watch SE for your kid, and if you are already a Watch user, you can select to transfer all your existing data to the new Watch, which includes all your apps and data. 

Off and running

Simply slide your preferred watchband on, and if you’re using an iPhone, pairing takes a couple of minutes, especially if you are already a Watch user, and your existing data is used for setup.

With Watch Series 8, and OS 9, Apple have brought new Watch faces and updated the essential ‘daily’ features of the Watch, including the Workout app, which adds a new Heart Rate Zone tracker. Something essential for managing workout intensity, there’s also a new Multisport mode for your swim/bike/run workouts, though the Watch 8 simply doesn’t have the battery endurance for endurance sports like Ironman, which is Watch Ultra territory.

Watch 8 includes new monitoring features for better workout discernment, so the Watch can sense if your swimming freestyle or breaststroke, and your running pace, and a new Race Route feature lets you race against yourself over your usual jogging route.

And sleeping 

Another feature of the Watch 8 that I really liked is the updates to Sleep insights, with the integrated sensors now able detect, via your heart rate and movements, if you are in REM sleep or Deep sleep, which is all integrated into the Health app, and presented to you weekly in a detailed health report.

And Recharging

Apple switched to a USB-C (from USB-A) charging cable with the Watch 7, and for the Watch 8, a full recharge from zero power takes 75 minutes, twice as fast as in the Watch 6. In fact, I found that over a single day’s use (I wore a Watch on each wrist and charged them both Watches before bedtime) the Watch 8 still had 61% charge while my Watch 6 had 11%, and better battery endurance with fast charging meant that I could easily wear the Watch 8 for 23/7, charging in the evening while I had dinner and a shower, then wearing the Watch 8 to bed for sleep tracking.

In Summary

Will I miss wearing the Watch Series 8? Honestly, apart from the excellent battery life, and the many features specific to the Watch Series 8, Apple’s Watch OS9 update means my Watch Series 6 benefits from the enhanced workout, watch faces and sleep insights. It also has Fall detection, which isn’t as comprehensive as Crash Detection, but I’m not really an outdoorsy person.

If you are considering the new Apple Watch Series 8, and willing to follow the cues and suggestions your Watch presents to you, like standing every hour and exercising 30 minutes every day, then the Apple Watch Series 8 is a real life-changer that will bring positive benefits to your health and wellness. Check the latest deals on the Watch 8 through the Amazon link below.

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