Apple Watch has been one of the great technological innovations that Apple has released in the past few years.
While using the Apple Watch, you can actually make and receive calls and to some extent, you can send messages.
There have several generations of Apple Watches and in this article, we will be taking a look at these generations so if you intend to get an Apple Watch, it will help you to make an informed decision.
About Apple Watches
Apple Watch is a series of smartwatches manufactured by Apple Inc. It integrates with iOS and other Apple products and services and includes fitness tracking, health-related capabilities, and wireless communication.
The Apple Watch was released in April 2015 and quickly became the best-selling wearable device, with 4.2 million sold in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. By December 2020, it was estimated that more than 100 million people would be using an Apple Watch.
With a few exceptions, Apple has introduced a new generation of the Apple Watch with improved internal components each September, each labeled as a ‘Series’ by Apple.
Apple Watch Generations
The following are the available Apple Watch generations;
First-generation Apple Watch
The single-core S1 system-on-chip is used in the first-generation Apple Watch. It lacks an in-built GPS chip and must rely on a paired iPhone for location services.
It includes Apple’s new Taptic Engine linear actuator hardware, which provides realistic haptic feedback when an alert or notification is received and is used for other purposes by certain apps.
The watch has a built-in heart rate sensor that employs both infrared and visible-light LEDs and photodiodes.
Second-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 are the two models of the second-generation Apple Watch.
The Series 1 features the Apple S1P, a variant of the dual-core Apple S2 processor that lacks GPS. It starts at a lower price than the first generation.
The Series 2 features a dual-core Apple S2 processor, 50-meter water resistance, a 1000-nit display, and a GPS receiver.
The Series 2 was available in anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramic casings. The new White ceramic case color option is available for the first time on the Apple Watch Edition Series 2.
Third-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 3 has a faster processor, the dual-core S3, Bluetooth 4.2, a built-in altimeter for measuring the number of flights of stairs climbed, increased RAM size, and an LTE cellular connectivity variant.
Because of the Watch’s increased processing speed, Siri can now speak through the onboard speaker on the Apple Watch Series 3.
For the first time in an Apple Watch, Series 3 includes LTE cellular connectivity, allowing users to make phone calls, send iMessages, and stream Apple Music and Podcasts directly from the watch without the need for an iPhone. The LTE model has an eSIM and the same phone number as the user’s iPhone.
Fourth-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 4 is the first major redesign of the Apple Watch, with larger displays, thinner bezels, and rounded corners, as well as a slight rounder, thinner chassis with a redesigned ceramic back.
Internally, there is a new S4 64-bit dual-core processor that can perform up to twice as well as the S3, upgraded 16 GB storage, and a new electrical heart sensor.
To improve call quality, the microphone was moved to the opposite side between the side button and the digital crown.
The digital crown now includes haptic feedback via the Apple Haptic Engine, as well as the new Apple-designed W3 wireless chip.
Fifth-generation Apple Watch
On September 10, 2019, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 5. The addition of a compass and an always-on display with a low-power display driver capable of refresh rates as low as once per second was its main improvement over its predecessor.
Other new features include International Emergency Calling, which allows for emergency calls to be made in over 150 countries, a more energy-efficient S5 processor, an improved ambient light sensor, and storage that has been doubled to 32 GB.
The Series 5 also saw the return of the Edition model, as well as a ceramic model that had been missing from the previous generation. A new titanium model in two colors, natural and Space Black, was also added.
Sixth-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 6 was announced during an Apple Special Event on September 15, 2020, and began shipping on September 18. The addition of a sensor to monitor blood oxygen saturation is its main improvement over its predecessor.
A new S6 processor that is up to 20% faster than the S4 and S5, a 2.5 brighter always-on display, and an always-on altimeter are among the additional features. The S6 has a third-generation optical heart rate sensor that has been updated.
Seventh-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 7 was announced during an Apple Special Event on September 14, 2021. Pre-orders began on October 8, with the first shipments beginning on October 15.
Improvements over the previous-generation Series 6 watch include a more rounded design with a 1 mm larger case; a display that is 70% brighter indoors and approximately 20% larger; and improved durability via a crack-resistant front crystal.
Eighth-generation Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 8, the second-generation Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra were announced during an Apple Special Event on September 7, 2022. Pre-orders began the same day, with the Series 8 and second-generation SE shipping on September 16, and the Ultra shipping on September 23.
In comparison to the Series 7 watch, the Series 8 has a new temperature sensor and more precise accelerometers and gyroscopes capable of detecting the occurrence of a car crash.