Apple Watch Series 8 Announced With New Body Temperature Sensor, Car Crash Detection, and More

Apple today introduced the Apple Watch Series 8 with the same overall design as the Series 7, including a larger display that curves around the edges. One of the headline new features of the Series 8 is a new body temperature sensor designed for women's health purposes, such as knowing when ovulation has occurred.

The new sensor in the Series 8 measures the wearer's wrist temperature every five seconds overnight, and can alert the user to shifts in their baseline temperature through the Health app, which could result from exercise, jet lag, or illness. The body temperature sensor enables retrospective ovulation estimates and estimates of cycle deviation.

The new sensor joins the standard heart rate sensor and the ECG app to offer users a comprehensive suite of health features, according to Apple.

Series 8 models also have a new car crash detection feature, which can enable automatically connect you with emergency services, provide location, and notify emergency contacts in the unfortunate event of a severe car crash. To enable this, the Series 8 features a new three-axis gyroscope and high g-force accelerometer.

While the Apple Watch Series 8 still features up to 18 hours of battery life like previous models, watchOS 9 introduces a new Low Power Mode that limits some functionality, such as the always-on display and workout detection, to extend battery life. With Low Power Mode enabled, the Apple Watch Series 8 can last up to 36 hours per charge.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is available for pre-order today and will be available on Friday, September 16. The Series 8 starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular models. It's available in aluminum Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED). For stainless steel Series 8 models, finish options include Silver, Gold, and Graphite.