Apple Watch Series 4: Everything you need to know!

DESIGN & DISPLAY

The Apple Watch Series 4 comes in two sizes - 40mm and 44mm - and boasts a 30 percent larger display. There is also a revised modular watch face with more detailed and graphical information. Users can see heart rate, track sports team scores, view airline travel information, and more.

The Series 4 is available in three aluminum colors: silver, gold and space grey.

The Series 4 will also be available in gold stainless steel with a Milanese strap, in addition to the silver and space gray stainless steel options. All Bluestein Apple Watch straps fit perfectly on all Apple Watch models from Series 1 to Series 4.

The Breathe app, which many use for meditation or to lower their heart rate, will now be available as a watch face. All you have to do is raise your wrist for the Breathe app to guide you through deep breaths.

Broadly speaking, the Series 4 is similar to its predecessors, although there's a new digital crown with haptic feedback. This allows for Haitian feedback when you "scroll" through images on your watch, for example.

The speaker has also been completely redesigned, so it's now 50 percent louder. The microphone is now on the opposite side - far from the speaker. This will hopefully help reduce echo and make phone calls clearer.

The back of the Series 4 is made of black ceramic and sapphire crystal, which allows radio waves to penetrate through the front and back. According to Apple, this should improve reception.

SPECIFICATIONS AND BATTERY

Under the hood is Apple's next-generation S4 64-bit dual-core processor that's two times faster. The accelerometer and gyroscope have twice the dynamic range and can sample motion data eight times faster.

Nothing has changed when it comes to battery life - the Apple Watch Series 4 will have the same 18-hour battery life. Apple has increased outdoor workout time to six hours, with full GPS tracking for long bike rides.

SOFTWARE AND SPECIAL HEALTH FEATURES

The Apple Watch Series 4 will be delivered with Apple's new operating system WatchOS 5. It comes with a host of improvements, like improved fitness and health tracking, walkie-talkie mode, and more.

The Series 4 also has a lot of interesting additional health features. For example, the Apple Watch can detect if you're falling by analyzing wrist trajectory and impact acceleration. An alarm signal then sounds that the "fallen" person must confirm. If there is no confirmation within a minute, the watch independently calls the emergency contacts via the SOS function and transmits the location. We are sure that these functions can save the lives of many people.

While older Apple Watch models included an optical heart rate sensor to track calorie burn, resting heart rate and more, the Series 4 offers a few new features. You'll now get a notification if your heart rate seems too low - which could mean your heart isn't pumping enough blood around your body.

In addition, the Apple Watch can now display your heart rhythm in the background. A notification is sent to the watch when it detects an irregular rhythm that could indicate atrial fibrillation. A valuable tip to see a doctor.

One of the most impressive features of the Series 4 is the built-in electrical heart sensor. Built into the back of the sapphire crystal and digital crown, users can now take an electrocardiogram (ECG) - the first of its kind in a smartwatch. This can measure the electrical activity of the heartbeat to help diagnose heart disease and other conditions. You can take an EKG right on your wrist anytime, anywhere by opening the app and placing your finger on the digital crown. Because all the information is stored in the health app, you can share the EKG with a doctor, who will be able to see a more detailed picture of what's going on. Apple has also received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration.

In Germany it will probably take some time until the function is activated. We will report.

PRICES & AVAILABILITY

Prices start at $399 for the basic model and $499 with the LTE module. This variant is supported in Germany by both Telekom and Vodafone. Pre-orders can be made from this Friday, September 14th at the Apple Store and at qualified retailers, and the first orders will be delivered from September 21st. A side effect of the Apple Watch Series 4: the price of the predecessor drops to $279.

The prices in this country (including taxes, duties and corresponding imputed surcharges from Apple):

• Apple Watch GPS im Aluminiumgehäuse 429 euros (40 mm) and 459 euros (44 mm)
• Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (LTE) in aluminum housing 529 euros (40 mm) and 559 euros (44 mm)
• Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (LTE) in a stainless steel case 699 euros (40 mm) and 749 euros (44 mm)
• Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (LTE) in stainless steel case and Milanese bracelet 799 euros (40mm) and 849 euros (44mm)
• Apple Watch Nike+ prices are the same as the aluminum version
• Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (LTE) in Hermès Edition stainless steel case from €1,449 upwards.
• Apple Watch Keramik-Edition omitted.

The one preinstalled on the Apple Watch Series 4 watchOS 5 will also be available to users of older smartwatches from September 17th.

Sources: Apple