The Series 8 doesn't feel like the new hotness this year, admittedly. The Apple Watch Ultra stole a lot of its thunder and, considering how similar it is to last year's Series 7, a lot of people won't feel the need to upgrade this year.

Beautiful display, New health-tracking and safety features, Supports new low-power mode

Extremely similar to the Series 7, Not as flashy or high-end as the Ultra

Apple Watch Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE are set to launch this Friday, September 16, and ahead of time, the first reviews of the devices have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.

... don’t upgrade

watchOS 9 is excellent, Neat use of temperature sensors, Crash Detection!, Low-power mode is helpful

You still need to charge daily, It’s not much different from the past few Apple Watch models

Let’s pretend, for a minute, that you’re Apple. You didn’t create the smartwatch market, but you currently control more than one-third of it. You’re caught up in a yearly refresh cycle (of your own design). It’s not easy, but you’re used to it.

The Apple Watch Series 8 expands Apple’s reach into the sports and fitness area more than any other watch before it (save the also-announced Apple Watch Ultra, which…was technically announced about 6 minutes after the Series 8).

The Apple iPhone 14 is no match for the just-released iPhone 14 Pro, but if you ignore that, it’s one of the most effective phones around.

Great cameras, front and back, Fast performance, Good battery life, Innovative safety features

Design too familiar, Some average features

The Apple Watch 8 is one of the best smartwatches around, mostly because the Apple Watch has been getting it right since the first model. However, the Watch 8 is the smallest update we’ve ever seen to the series, with only the temperature sensor and crash detection being offered as upgrades over the...

Attractive new colors, Temperature sensor for menstrual and ovulation tracking, Car crash detection

Battery life still lacking, Identical design to last year

The Apple Watch Series 8 remains head-and-shoulders above the competition, even if this year is undeniably a minor upgrade. As a fitness, health and connected device, it offers an unrivaled experience – and it’s easily the best smartwatch for iPhone users.

A health tracking powerhouse, Excellent fitness features, The App Store bangs, Proper biometric cycle tracking

The Series 8 is the most minor update to the Apple Watch in a few years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since its predecessor was the best smartwatch available for the iPhone and that’s still true for the new model. Crash detection is a nice feature to have that you hope you’ll never use.

Pros: excellent haptic vibrations, always-on screen, ECG, temp sensor, top health tracking, great activity tracking, 50-metre water resistance, solid battery, car crash detection, long software support, recycled materials.

Cons: expensive, only works with an iPhone, blood oxygen data not that useful, no third-party watch faces, a minor upgrade.

While it's a shame that picture and sound quality haven't been upgraded, the iPhone 13 was great in these regards and the iPhone 14 is, too Excellent display Admirable headphone performance Solid build quality No upgrades to picture or sound Familiar design Notch is still present