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Apple Watch

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Apple Watch is Apple's wearable is designed to help you stay active, motivated, and connected. It runs watchOS, and it comes in 40mm and 44mm size options.

How to see all Apple Watch apps

History

The original Apple Watch (later called Series 0) was released on April 24, 2015, after years of rumors. While there was a lot of initial hype around it, the third-party watchOS apps were slow to launch due to API limitations. Native apps were available in watchOS 2. The original watch came in 38mm and 42mm sizes.

The Series 2 Watch was released on September 16th, 2016 along with a Series 1 Watch. The Series 2 included the S2 chip, built-in GPS, and water-proof construction. The Series 1 included the S2, but lacked GPS and waterproofing.

The Series 3 Watch was released on September 22, 2017, and it included an LTE option and the S3 chip. The Series 4 Watch was released on September 21, 2018. New hardware included the S4 Chip, Electrical heart sensor w/ ECG app, and larger display (40mm and 44mm sizes).

Apple Watch Series 5 was announced during Apple’s fall event on September 10, 2019. Customers were able to purchase the device later that day, and it was released on September 20. The headline feature for this model was the wearable’s always-on display. The new display always shows the time and complications and is also the first from the company to include a built-in compass.

Apple launched international emergency services to every cellular model. Series 5 also brought back ceramic white, and new natural brush and space black titanium models.

Apple Watch Series 6 was unveiled on September 15, 2020 at the “Time Flies” event alongside the more affordable SE and new iPad Air. New features of the Series 6 include blood oxygen monitoring, new watch colors, faster S6 chip, new watch faces, and more.

Apple Watch features

Apple Watch is designed to help you stay active, motivated, and connected. The newest versions are Series 6 and SE while Apple still sells Series 3 as the most affordable option.

Features include:

  • Heart rate monitoring (all models)
    • Including high, low, and irregular heart rate notifications
  • ECG readings (Series 4 and later)
  • Blood oxygen monitoring (Series 6)
  • Workout tracking, Activity Rings, competitions, and awards
  • Works with Apple Fitness+
  • Sleep tracking (with watchOS 7)
  • GPS and GPS + Cellular models
  • Always-on display (Series 5 & 6)
  • Water-resistant to 50 meters
  • Emergency SOS and fall detection
  • Phone calls and Messages
  • Music, Podcasts, and more
  • Third-party apps available through App Store built into watchOS

watchOS

watchOS is the dedicated software that runs on Apple Watch. The current version is watchOS 7 that was released in fall 2020 and is compatible with Series 3 and later.

watchOS 7 brought new features like native sleep tracking, Family Setup, watch face sharing, new workout tracking types, cycling directions in maps, and automatic handwashing reminders.

Apple Fitness+ support and new cardio fitness notifications came with watchOS 7.2 And watchOS 7.4 is coming with the exciting new Apple Watch unlock for iPhone feature.

Current Apple Watch lineup

For all the latest deals on Apple Watch, bands, and accessories, check out 9to5Toys.com.

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Tested: OneAdaptr OneGo and InfinaCore M3 Mini wireless battery packs for iPhone

OneAdaptr OneGo and InfinaCore M3 Mini

The iPhone 16 line-up offers an impressive boost to battery life, but there are still occasions when our iPhone needs some help to make it through a long day.

If you can’t rely on being in one place long enough to top-up by cable, a portable battery pack can save the day. I tested out two very different battery-powered wireless chargers …

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iFixit teardown shows what’s inside the Apple Watch Series 10

iFixit teardown shows what's inside the Apple Watch Series 10

Apple Watch Series 10 comes with a new design. Although it doesn’t look as radical as some people might have expected, the Series 10 design is significantly thinner and features larger displays. And for those curious to see what’s inside the Apple Watch Series 10, iFixit has now shared its traditional teardown video of the new watch.

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How Insta360 X4 integrates with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods

The Insta360 X4, the latest 360-degree action camera from Insta360, is a especially designed to work with Apple products. X4 seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem, enhancing content creation, editing, and control. The Insta360 X4 leverages the capabilities of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods to deliver a powerful and streamlined experience for creators.

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Here’s how the Apple Watch blood oxygen feature could return after Masimo shakeup

Here's how Apple Watch blood oxygen feature could return | Low-key shot of the Watch

One of the biggest barriers to upgrading to a new Apple Watch this year is that, if you’re in the US and currently own a model with blood oxygen measurement, you wouldn’t get that feature in your new model.

That’s due to the patent dispute between Apple and Masimo, but now that the health tech company’s CEO has resigned, there could be a potential way to resolve the matter …

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The Apple Watch blood oxygen battle hurts the company and its customers

The Apple Watch blood oxygen lawsuit | Series 6 with the O2 app open

It’s not often that upgrading to the latest model of an Apple product means sacrificing a key feature, but that is the case for anyone in the USA upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 10 from the S6 or later.

The reason is that, if you bought a Series 6, 7, 8, or 9 (before January 18), then it includes a blood oxygen measurement feature; if you buy the Series 10 or Ultra 2, you’ll lose that …

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Apple Watch Series 10 review roundup: Iterative update, but slim design with big display is like an Ultra Lite

Apple Watch Series 10 reviews | Close-up of watch on colorful background

The first Apple Watch Series 10 reviews are out, and those who got early access to the device seem generally impressed, despite seeing it as an iterative update.

Highlighted features include the slimmer design making a bigger difference than you might expect, new gloss black finish, large display, faster charging, new speaker capabilities, and a microphone with voice isolation …

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Apple Watch Series 10 review: Ultra inspired, mainstream desired, equilibrium acquired

For the last week, I’ve been testing the new Apple Watch — mostly by sleeping. That’s because Apple Watch Series 10 is capable of detecting signs of sleep apnea.

I’ll need a few more weeks of sleep before possible sleep apnea can be flagged. In the meantime, there’s plenty to admire in the waking hours of the day.

Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger screen and a thinner design. It also gains new tricks like always displaying seconds and speaker media playback.

Of course, the new hardware includes all the Apple Watch features introduced in recent years. These include Crash Detection, the double tap gesture, and better performance just to name a few.

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Apple details how Apple Watch accelerometer-based sleep apnea feature works

Apple Watch sleep apnea

Apple has published a new clinical validation summary document that explains how its new sleep apnea detection feature works on Apple Watch. Sleep apnea monitoring is part of Apple Watch Series 10 and comes to Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 with watchOS 11. The new watch hardware launches on Friday, and watchOS 11 is available now.

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Three Apple Watches get FDA approval for sleep apnea detection, from today

Apple Watch sleep apnea

Three Apple Watches have received approval for detecting sleep apnea, just in time for today’s launch of the feature in watchOS 11.

The Federal Drug Administration approval was able to be granted swiftly on the basis that the way Apple is doing it is “substantially equivalent” to methods already approved by the FDA …

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Apple Watch SE might go plastic next year, but is that worth the tradeoff?

Apple Watch

Earlier this summer, reports started to emerge that Apple is testing a new “rigid plastic” body for the next generation Apple Watch SE. It was initially expected at last week’s Apple event, but unexpectedly got delayed. While a plastic casing would undoubtedly reduce costs, it begs the question – will this tradeoff be worth it for customers?

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Apple Watch Series 10 vs Ultra 2: No-brainer or tough call?

Apple Watch 10 vs Ultra 2

The all-new Apple Watch Series 10 is here and comes with the largest screen ever paired with the thinnest design, a new chip, faster charging, and new health/fitness features. Meanwhile, Apple is offering the high-end Ultra 2 with the same specs as last year but in a new Black titanium finish option. Here’s an in-depth look at how Apple Watch 10 vs Ultra 2 compare.

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