In September, the Cupertino giant unveiled the Apple Watch Series 8. While maintaining the same look as its predecessor, this new addition to the Apple Watch lineup offers some impressive new features.
Car crash detection and the body temperature monitor are reportedly the two largest differences between the Series 7 and Series 8 devices. When it senses a crash, the former automatically summons emergency services.
However, if you are planning to buy the new Watch Series, you might want to consider first if it supports 5G networks and eSim connectivity. Here is important information you should know before you head over to an Apple store and purchase Series 8.
One of the new Apple Watch 8 series is displayed during a launch event for new products at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 7, 2022.
Does Series 8 Support 5G?
According to XDA, the new Apple Watch series does not support 5G networks, which is a bummer if you enjoy a fast internet connection. Instead, you will only get standard LTE/4G support if you consider buying the Cellular model.
Apple making this upgrade unavailable on its watch makes sense, given the considerable battery drain that 5G causes. The battery life of the Apple Watch is already somewhat limited, and using 5G networks will almost probably make it even shorter, according to XDA.
However, it must be noted that 4G is already sufficient for you to access the internet on the new Apple Watch.
Typically, they involve messaging, listening to music online, and taking FaceTime audio calls. The aforementioned functions all work flawlessly on LTE.
Does Series 8 Support eSim?
Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Series 8 does not include a physical SIM slot. Therefore, if you buy a Cellular variant, an eSIM is indeed included. When your phone isn't nearby, you can activate a suitable eSIM plan to text, call, and utilize 4G.
However, it's important to remember that regularly using the Apple Watch's cellular services drastically reduces its battery life.
Read also: Apple Watch Ultra vs. Tech Wearables: Better than Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Garmin, and MORE?
Fall Detection and Other Features
The Apple Watch Series 8 keeps all the functionality offered in earlier versions. For instance, fall detection is a feature that has been included in every Apple Watch model since the first Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4, and the Series 8 models are no exception.
With the help of its accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS, the Apple Watch Series 8 precisely detects falls and makes it easy to notify emergency services or send a message to your emergency contacts.
If you are 55 years of age or older, Fall Detection automatically activates as long as you specify your birthdate on the smartwatch. But if you are younger, you must take note of the following steps:
1. Go to your Apple Watch Series 8's Settings app.
2. Go to the SOS section and select the Fall Detection option.
3. Once you have found the option, simply click the switch on Fall Detection.
4. Choose "Always on" to enable Fall Detection at all times or "Only during workouts" to activate it only when you begin an exercise.
5. If the aforementioned steps do not work, navigate your iPhone's Emergency SOS section of the Apple Watch app to enable the Fall Detection feature.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
