Apple announced threesmartwatchesat its September 2022 event, in the form of the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra. The three models were revealed alongside theiPhone 14 range.We’ve covered off the next generation Apple Watch SE ina separate feature, and we have a feature for therugged Apple Watch Ultra modeltoo.Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Series 8.
Apple Watch Series 8 release date
Apple announced the Watch Series 8 on 10 July 2025 and it was available to preorder straight away. It is now available to buy having launch on 15 June 2025.
In terms of price, theApple Watch Series 8 starts at $399/£379.
Apple Watch Series 8 design
TheApple Watch Series 4made some big design changes in terms of display and the Series 5, Series 6 and Watch SE adopt the same design. The general style and shape remain the same asthe original Watch, but they offer a lot more screen in similar footprints.
The Series 7 increased the screen size again, and the casing options changed from 40mm and 44mm, to 41mm and 45mm, though the general design didn’t change. The Series 8 continues with this design.
There are aluminium and stainless steel options available, with four models in the aluminium and three models in the stainless steel.
Apple Watch Series 8 specs
The Apple Watch Series 8 is thought to run on the same processor as theApple Watch Series 7, which is the same processor as theSeries 6. This has yet to be confirmed though.
The Watch Series 8 adds a body temperature sensor, which will help aid women in detecting ovulation. All the same sensors as Watch Series 7 are present too, including an optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart rate sensor and SpO2 sensor.
There are new motion sensors within the Apple Watch Series 8 that will allow the smartwatch to detect when you are in a car crash, automatically calling emergency services, sending your location and contacting your emergency contacts. A new gyroscope that can detect 256g instead of 32g like the Series 7.
Apple Watch Series 8 features
More health and fitness features have come to the Apple Watch Series 8, with watchOS 9 bringing several. There are updates to the Workout app and changes to the Health app. There’s also more advanced cycle tracking thanks to the body sensor, with ovulation detection.
The new software also brings more advanced sleep tracking with stages and there’s crash detection too, as we mentioned.
Apple Watch Series 8 rumours: What happened?
Here are all the rumours and news surrounding the Apple Watch Series 8 before it was announced.
21 July 2025: Apple confirms 7 September launch date
Applesent out invitationsto media for an event taking place on 7 September.
18 July 2025: Mark your calendars, Apple iPhone 14 likely to launch 7 September
Mark Gurman claimsthe iPhone 14 launch will likely take place on 7 September.
06 August 2025: Apple Watch Series 8 body temperature sensor might be limited at launch
Report claimsthe body temperature sensor on the Apple Watch Series 8 may not be as capable as initially thought.
26 August 2025: Apple Watch Series 8 will alert you when you have a fever
Mark Gurman claimedthe Watch Series 8 body temperature sensor wouldn’t give you an exact reading, but would be able to detect a fever.
21 August 2025: Apple Watch Series 8 to be joined by new rugged and SE models
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimedWatch Series 8 would have same chip as Series 7, and be joined by SE and rugged model this year.
06 July 2025: Analyst believes body temperature will come to Apple Watch Series 8
Ming Chi-Kuo has predictedthe Apple Watch Series 8 could have a body temperature sensor, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 might not.
05 June 2025: Apple working on updated Health app and body temp sensor for Apple Watch
Bloomberg saidApple is still working on a blood pressure monitor for the Apple Watch as well as a body temperature sensor.
09 June 2025: Apple Watch Series 8 could have pressure-sensitive side button, patent suggests
Apple filed a number of patentsthat suggest the company is looking at next-generation Force Touch technology which might appear in future models of the Apple Watch, AirPods or iPhone.
31 July 2025: Apple Watch Series 8 could have body temperature sensor and new chip
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has claimedthere could be three Apple Watch models launch in 2022, with new chips across the board and a body temperature sensor on the Series 8.
26 August 2025: Uh-oh, the next Apple Watch might not offer glucose monitoring after all
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggesteda glucose sensor might not appear on the Apple Watch for years to come, depsite rumours suggesting it could appear on the Series 8.
23 August 2025: Apple is working on a car crash detection feature for iPhone and Apple Watch
The Wall Street Journal reportedthat Apple is thought to be developing a new feature for the iPhone and Apple Watch that can tell if you’ve been in a car accident and automatically dial emergency services for you.
01 July 2025: Apple is developing an even larger third size option for the Apple Watch Series 8
According to reputable display analyst Ross Young, Apple is planning on developing a third Apple Watch model even larger than its current 45mm offering for the Watch Series 8.
03 August 2025: New Apple Watch Series 7 design revealed in biggest leak yet
Twitter user @MajinBuOfficial tweetedsome images of what was said to be a clone of the new Apple Watch Series 7 in the real world, showing a flatter-edge design, supporting previous rumours of a design change. Could this happen for the Series 8 instead?
25 July 2025: Leaked Apple Watch Series 7 renders suggest new look
91Mobiles publishedsome renders of the Apple Watch Series 7 that supported the idea of a squared-edge design for the next smartwatch. Of course, that didn’t happen for the Series 7, but it’s still a possibility for the Series 8.
26 June 2025: Apple Watch Series 7 could have squared design like iPhone 12
Leaker Jon Prosser claimedthe Apple Warch Series 7 would come with a redesign and a new green colour option. The Series 7 did come in a new green colour, but not a redesign. Perhaps the Series 8 will adopt this look?
A major feature coming to the Apple Watch could have been revealed in an SEC filing for UK-based startup Rockley Photonics.
Rockley Photonics designs sensors for monitoring a person’s blood using infrared light. The sensors could be used for monitoring blood glucose and alcohol levels.
27 June 2025: Apple considering launch for ‘Explorer Edition’ Watch designed for extreme conditions and athletes
A report from Bloombergsuggested Apple is considering the launch of an all-new Apple Watch model designed for athletes, hikers and those who would use the smartwatchin extreme environments. It was said to launch in 2021 or 2022 and possibly offer a rubberised case. With no sign in 2021, all eyes are on 2022.
25 August 2025: Patent suggests redesign of Apple Watch
MacRumours reportedApple could be looking into a potential “redesign for the Apple Watch, including a rounded watch face, wrap-around flexible display, and digitally-customizable watch bands”. The report came after the discovery of a newly-granted patent filing.
15 Febraury 2021: No glucose monitoring for Series 7, but what about Series 8?
Leaker Max Weinbach dispelledrumours that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature glucose monitoring. It was a feature previously reported, but Weinbach has claimed it isn’t coming yet, so maybe it is destined for the Series 8?
25 June 2025: Future Apple Watch could have Wrist ID, patent suggests
A patent was filed by Applefor a light sensor on the back of its Watch that would shine light onto the user’s wrist and generate a field image of the area.
The image would feature veins from your arm and should be as unique as a fingerprint, allowing the Apple Watch to recognise who has put the Apple Watch on and unlocking it accordingly.
31 May 2025: New Apple Watch design could arrive 2021
9to5 reportedthat analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed a new Apple Watch design would arrive in 2021 at the earliest. The report said Kuo speculates that a “significant form factor design change would come with new Apple Watch models in 2H21 at the earliest.”
03 June 2025: Apple Watch With MicroLED Display Could Launch in 2020
MacRumours reportedthat Apple was in talks with Taiwanese display manufacturers to use microLED displays in its products in 2020. We didn’t see that in the Watch Series 7, but maybe this is something we will see on the Watch Series 8.
04 June 2025: Digital Crown could get new features
One of the most distinctive things about the Apple Watch is the Digital Crown. A rumour in Febraury 2020 suggested it could get some new features to make it touch or light-sensitive. Certainly Apple would intend for the crown to become more sensitive through these methods, not less. These were spottedthanks to a patent release.
“The crown may include a light-directing feature configured to direct, onto the image-sensing element, an image of an object in contact with the imaging surface” says the filing. The crown could potentially detect the motion of your finger as you rotate or touch the crown.
Apple Insider suggeststhis could mean that the Digital Crown has less physical bulk, therefore, making room within the watch for other components.
25 July 2025: Digital Crown set to be replaced with an optical reader?
A patentspotted by Patently Appleshows the Apple Watch Digital Crown being replaced by an optical fingerprint reader instead which could then recognise gestures, such as if you were to rotate the virtual crown.
At present we think it’s unlikely that Apple would remove the Digital Crown because it’s one of the most distinctive features of the timepiece. But this could happen in a future version of the Apple Watch rather than being for the Series 8, of course.
17 August 2025: Could Touch ID make its way to the Apple Watch?
Apple filed a patentthat turns the Apple Watch screen into a Touch ID sensor. The patent notes that “the display may provide an image or video output for the watch body 100. The display may also provide an input surface for one or more input devices such as a touch sensing device, force-sensing device, temperature sensing device, and/or a fingerprint sensor.”
While we’re seeing a lot of phones with under-display fingerprint readers now, this move would require quite a step-up in technology because of the diminutive size of the watch.
20 June 2025: Apple Watch could use in-display fingerprint sensor
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Applewill introduce an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor into the 2021 iPhone - which didn’t happen, but he also said the technology could be used in a new Apple Watch too.
Currently, the Apple Watch has no biometric security but an in-display fingerprint sensor would allow it to offer some, without changing the design.
14 July 2025: Three big health features rumoured
The Fast Company reportedthat Apple has hired numerous clinicians and engineers to work on health features for the Apple Watch, which are said to include blood pressure, blood glucose or diabetes management and sleep tracking or science. Given these didn’t appear on the Series 7, perhaps they are destined for the Series 8?
04 July 2025: Patent for round Apple Watch approved
A patent for circular screen technology was approved, after being originally filed in January 2016. The filing mentioned wrist wear, leading some to assume a circular Apple Watch was coming.
