If the release date for the Apple Watch 7 is any indication, we can expect that the Apple Watch 8 will arrive in September this year. With that being five months away, it can be a tricky situation to determine whether you should purchase the Apple Watch 7 or wait for the Apple Watch 8. So here’s some information about both products to help you decide.
What do we know so far about Apple Watch 8?
Unfortunately, Apple has not provided many details about the upcoming Apple Watch 8, not even during the company’s Peek Performance event in March that focused on the latest versions of iPhone SE, Mac Studio, and iPad Air. That doesn’t provide a lot of confidence that the next Apple smartwatch will be all that different from this year’s version, though we might learn more about it during the company’s summer event.
Apart from the speculated release date of September, we can also anticipate that Apple Watch 8 will likely be $399 for the smallest model, as Apple hasn’t changed the price points for its smartwatch for several years now. Given the various models for Apple Watch 7, it’s expected that the next iteration will include a larger model at a slightly higher price tag, as well as several versions about a hundred dollars more that can has built-in cellular connectivity. Premium cases made from stainless steel and titanium will bump the price up several hundreds more on top of that.
Most of the rumors so far for the Apple Watch 8 have been related to its wellness features, which is good news since the Apple Watch 7 didn’t improve much on that front. According to insider Mark Gurman, the upcoming iteration will include a skin-temperature sensor as well as better sleep-tracking technology.
What are the best features of the Apple Watch 7?
Putting all of that speculation aside, the current Apple Watch is no slouch. Although it doesn’t improve the CPU or the 18-hour battery life of its precursor, it has about a 20% larger display that’s much brighter when it’s in always-on mode. To take advantage of the bigger screen, a full QWERTY keyboard has been added for much easier typing. In terms of design, it also has a softer, rounder aesthetic than previous models and features improved dust resistance and crack resistance.
Better yet, at the time of this writing, the Apple Watch 7 has slashed its price from $400 to $330 at various retailers like Target and Walmart. That’s a fantastic deal for one of the best smartwatches on the market today. In fact, with the rumored features of the Apple Watch 8 being rather middling so far, it’s hard to go wrong with grabbing the current Apple smartwatch instead of waiting.
For more guides, you can see whether or not you should buy an iPhone 13 or wait for the iPhone 14, and learn how to repair a broken iPhone 13 camera glass.