Posted inNews, Features, Lifestyle

Apple launches Apple Watch Series 8, Watch Ultra and Airpods Pro 2

Apple Watch Series 8 has a number of new features, including car crash detection, temperature sensors, and more.

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple launched the new Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch SE, and a new Apple Watch Ultra alongside the iPhone 14 series at the Far Out event that took place on Wednesday.

Further, the company also refreshed it’s premium set of TWS earbuds with the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro. 

Apple Watch Ultra

Apple Watch Ultra, comes as the high-end and rugged Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Ultra comes with a longer battery life, a bigger screen, and a much more rugged design as compared to the Apple Watch Series 8, along with a new “Action” button for added utility.

Apple Watch Series 8 - The new Apple Watch Ultra
The new Apple Watch Ultra

The Apple Watch Ultra is made of aerospace-grade titanium and comes with a case that rises up to surround all edges of the flat sapphire front crystal that protects the Retina display with 200 nits of peak brightness. Apple Watch Ultra has three built-in microphones to significantly improve sound quality in voice calls during any conditions. It also uses an adaptive beamforming algorithm uses the microphones to capture voice while reducing ambient background sounds, resulting in remarkable clarity.

Apple Watch Ultra features temperature-sensing capabilities that enable further insights into women’s health. Utilising the new capabilities, users can receive retrospective ovulation estimates, which can be helpful for family planning, the company said.

The Apple Watch Ultra offers up to 36 hours of combined battery life  on a single charge and an extended battery life of 60 hours, with Apple promising enough power for its customers to complete an ultra-triathlon which includes swimming, cycling and running.

Apple Watch Series 8 - Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra
Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra

There is a new Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra that allows for instant access to a variety of features, including Workouts, Compass Waypoints, Backtrack, and more. The Apple Watch Ultra also uses dual-frequency GPS that integrates both L1 and L5 frequencies, resulting in one of the most accurate GPS on any smartwatch, powered by Apple’s new positioning algorithms.

The Ultra will feature two speakers, Cellular, improved GPS using dual frequencies and the way finder application, a compass, and a red-lit night mode for better viewing of your watch in the darkest situations. Apple claims it’s twice as water resistant as the other Apple Watches.

The Apple Watch Ultra can be ordered from today, with availability beginning September 23rd.

Price of Apple Watch Ultra in the UAE

The price of Apple Watch Ultra, starts from $799 (Dh3,199).

You might also like: iPhone 14 series: Features and Price in the UAE

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8 delivers best-in-class health features, including an innovative temperature sensor for tracking ovulation cycle, car crash detection, and a new low-power mode option.

The new Apple Watch comes with a new health feature called Temperature Sensing, which allows the Apple Watch Series 8 to track your temperature while you sleep, so you can see the changes over time. There are two temperature sensors — one sensor on the back of the watch, nearest the skin, and another just under the display — reducing bias from the outside environment.

Apple Watch Series 8+

 The temperature data is used by Cycle Tracking, which, combined with the heart rate, gives women more information about their menstrual cycle and generates retrospective ovulation estimates. 

The Apple Watch Series 8 also comes with a Crash Detection feature. With the Crash Detection feature, Apple Watch Series 8 is able to detect if you’re in a severe car crash. When Apple Watch detects a severe car crash, the device will check in with the user and dial emergency services if they are unresponsive after a 10-second countdown. 

Crash Detection uses the combined power of an improved 3-axis gyroscope and a new g-force accelerometer that has the highest dynamic range in any smartwatch. It also uses a microphone, barometer, GPS, and an advanced sensor-fusion algorithm trained on over 1 million hours of real-world driving and crash data to detect if you’re in a severe crash.

The Apple Watch Series 8 also comes with an Always-On Retina display with a similar big-screen design like the Apple Watch Series 7, and a strong crack-resistant front crystal. 

Sleep tracking in the latest watchOS 9 operating system provides more insights with the introduction of sleep stages. The smartwatch will use signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor to estimate when users are in REM (rapid eye movements), core or deep sleep.

Colors: Apple Watch Series 8 comes in starlight, midnight, silver, and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum cases, and silver, graphite, or gold finishes in stainless steel.

Pre-orders: starts from today, with availability beginning September 16.

Price of Apple Watch Series 8 in the UAE

The price of Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 (Dh1,599).

Apple Watch SE

The new Apple Watch SE delivers advanced features at a new low price, it comes with a larger display as compared to the predecessor, and comes with all the sensors that the Apple Watch holds, in a more affordable and accessible package.

Powerful upgrades include the S8 SiP advanced dual-core processor, the same processor that is in Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, making it 20 percent faster than the previous generation.

Apple Watch Series 8 - New Apple Watch SE - Aluminum Starlight color
New Apple Watch SE – Aluminum Starlight color

The Apple Watch SE also comes with the new Crash Detection feature, where the Apple Watch calls the authorities itself if you don’t respond after a crash. The Apple Watch SE however, misses out on some features like ECG, Body Temperature Sensor, and more.

Colors: The new Apple Watch SE comes in midnight, starlight, and silver, and now features a redesigned matching back case made of a nylon composite material.

Pre-orders: starts from today, with availability beginning September 16.

Price: Apple Watch SE at $249 (Dh999).

Read more: 8 Best bowling places in Dubai

Apple AirPods Pro 2

The second generation of AirPods Pro comes with a new Apple H2 chip which allows for the “breakthrough” audio performance including upgrades to Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. The Apple H2 chip enables on-device processing, which reduces loud environmental noise — like a passing vehicle siren, construction tools, or even loud speakers at a concert.

AirPods Pro are easier to find than their predecessors. Each pair comes with a new system for finding individual lost earphones, which play a chime when dropped outside of the case.

Additionally, the case itself gets its own speaker, which will play a louder sound when prompted by the Find My app.

Apple Watch Series 8 - Apple's new second-generation AirPods Pro
Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro

With personalised Spatial Audio, the new AirPods will ensure an immersive experience. Users perceive sound individually, based on the size and shape of their head and ears. Using the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone, users can create a personal profile for spatial audio that delivers a tailored listening experience, Apple said.

Users can enjoy personalised spatial audio with music, movies and TV shows across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

Customers can use touch control for media playback and volume adjustments directly from the stem. They come with 1.5 hours of additional listening time over the first generation, for a total of up to six hours.

New convenience features on the AirPods Pro 2 include an extended battery life. Apple is claiming up to 1.5 hours of additional listening time for up to six hours with ANC, and the case enables four extra charging cycles, resulting in a 30 hours combined battery backup. There is also a new charging case, which you can also charge with the Apple Watch charger now. 

Price: The new AirPods Pro are priced at $249 (US) or AED 949.

Preorders: start on September 9 at 4PM UAE time, and shipping date is September 23.