The Apple Watch Series 8 is all about saving you from mortal peril

At today's 'Far Out' event, Apple introduced the new Apple Watch Series 8, its latest smartwatch which features a body temperature sensor, crash detection, and low-power mode. And as was heavily rumored, the Series 8 is built with a thermometer that can to be used to aid with fertility tracking.

The Apple Watch Series 8 will be on sale for $399 with GPS capabilities, and $499 for cellular and GPS connectivity.

Body-temperature sensors

As previewed last spring at WWDC 2022, WatchOS 9, the software which powers the Series 8, is chock-full of fitness and health features. With the new body-temperature sensor, the Apple Watch Series 8 takes health tracking a big step further. The Series 8 measures thermometer readings, which show up in the Health app. Apple Watch users can then track fluctuations in body temperature which shows biphasic information.

Apple addressed privacy concerns of tracking women's health data — an issue which has become critically relevant post-Roe v. Wade. In line with other Apple features that track data, the data is encrypted on your device and only accessible with passcode, TouchID or FaceID. It is also end-to-end encrypted when synced in iCloud.

Apple didn't mention measuring temperature for signs of a fever, which falls in line with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman's prediction that we'll have to wait for future versions. That might come in 2024 with the Apple Watch's rumored blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring.

Crash detection

Another major update is crash detection. Using an accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, the Series 8 can detect a crash and provide emergency information. The Apple Watch Series 8 also has a low-power mode which allows certain apps to run while conserving battery — definitely useful for Apple Watch users on a hike or a long run.

This story is developing...