Apple on Wednesday introduced the Apple Watch Series 4, a brand-new version of its best-selling smartwatch.
The new watch — which Apple announced on stage at its annual iPhone event in Cupertino, California — is an update to last year's version, the Apple Watch Series 3.
The new watch has new features, like the ability to measure your heart rate with an electrocardiogram, and a hardware redesign that gives it a larger display.
The Apple Watch Series 4 will come in two versions, aluminum or stainless steel, in three colors: gold, silver, and space gray. The watch will start at $399.
Here's a rundown of the specs:
- A nearly edge-to-edge display — Apple says the screen is 30% larger than previous versions.
- Two new, larger sizes: 40 mm and 44 mm.
- New watch faces, including one with up to eight customizable complications, or special features.
- A digital crown now with haptic feedback.
- A speaker that's 50% louder, meaning it's better for making phone calls and using the Siri voice assistant.
- A back now made from ceramic and crystal, meaning radio waves can pass through the front and back for better cellular reception.
- A new S4 chip.
- A faster 64-bit processor.
- A new accelerometer and gyroscope that let the watch detect falls.
- New heart-rate tracking, including a new low-heart-rate notification and atrial-fibrillation detection.
- Built-in sensors that let you take an electrocardiogram, or ECG. Apple says it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its heart-rate-tracking features.
- Water-resistance and built-in GPS, like the Apple Watch Series 3.
- 18 hours of battery life.
- Apple's new smartwatch operating system, watchOS 5.
The Apple Watch Series 4 will go on sale on Friday and be available September 21. WatchOS 5 will be available on Monday.
