Device hub · Fitness watches · Desk research
Apple Watch Series 4
Series 4 is the 2018 40/44mm Watch: S4, 16GB, 1,000-nit LTPO (not Always-On), 18-hour table, and the first electrical heart sensor.
In short
Series 4 is the 2018 40/44mm Watch: S4, 16GB, 1,000-nit LTPO (not Always-On), 18-hour table, and the first electrical heart sensor. It is off watchOS 27. Buy leftover Series 4 only as a documented early-gen node. Skip it if you need Always-On, SpO2, or a current OS.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedApple Watch Series 4
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Apple product images are copyrighted. Typical Newsroom “editorial use only” language does not grant a commercial comparison site a redistribution license.
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the Apple product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedApple Watch Series 4
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the Apple product page for the real product photo.
Who it is for
- Owners documenting a 40/44mm S4 leftover against Apple’s still-live Support 111984.
- Researchers who want the first larger LTPO panel (759 / 977 sq mm) without inventing later Always-On or SpO2 rows.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who needs watchOS 27. Apple’s current list is Series 9 or later, SE 3, and Ultra 2 or later.
- Anyone who wants Always-On, Blood Oxygen, hypertension notifications, or a 24-hour Series table.
- Buyers without a vintage-compatible iPhone. Support 111984: GPS needs iPhone 5s or later with iOS 12; cellular needs iPhone 6 or later with iOS 12. A leftover watch may still need a current iOS floor — re-check Apple.
- Anyone who wants Ultra hardware. No Action Button, no 100m dive path, no satellite.
Key differentiators
- First 40/44mm Series case and the first electrical heart sensor on leftover Support 111984. Newsroom 2018 launched ECG as a Series 4 story — cite Apple’s footnotes, not clinical outcomes.
- S4 “up to 2x faster” (Apple claim vs prior) + 16GB. Series 5 doubled storage to 32GB and added Always-On.
- OEM battery on this leftover sheet is a single 18-hour row. No Low Power Mode hour and no 80% minute.
- Off watchOS 27. Do not write an end-of-life scare — quote Apple’s current list.
Caveats
- Every numeric battery and brightness line is an Apple claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested Series 4.
- apple.com/apple-watch-series-4/ 301s to apple.com/watch/. Cite Support 111984.
- ECG / irregular-rhythm language is medical. Quote Apple. Do not write that an old watch is “unsafe.”
- Do not copy Series 5 Always-On, 32GB, compass, titanium/ceramic, or later SpO2 onto this hub.
Watch-category specs
Same manufacturer rows on every watch page.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 40mm: 759 sq mm; 44mm: 977 sq mm | Apple Support 111984 |
| Display type | LTPO OLED Retina display with Force Touch; ceramic and sapphire crystal back | Apple Support 111984Not Always-On. Series 5 added Always-On on the same pixel grid. |
| Display resolution | 40mm: 324 × 394 px; 44mm: 368 × 448 px | Apple Support 111984 |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | 1,000 nits | Apple Support 111984Manufacturer nits claim. Minimum-nit figure is not on leftover 111984. |
| Always-On display | No — leftover Support 111984 lists LTPO OLED with Force Touch, not Always-On | Apple Support 111984 |
| Case size(s) | 40mm and 44mm | Apple Support 111984 |
| Case material | Aluminum or stainless steel | Apple Support 111984 |
| Case dimensions | 40mm: 40 × 34 × 10.7mm; 44mm: 44 × 38 × 10.7mm | Apple Support 111984 |
| Weight | 40mm aluminum 30.1 g / stainless 39.8 g; 44mm aluminum 36.7 g / stainless 47.9 g | Apple Support 111984Case-only figures from Apple; band not included. |
| Finishes | Aluminum: Silver, Space Gray, Gold. Stainless (GPS + Cellular): Silver, Space Black (DLC), Gold (PVD). Nike+ silver / space gray aluminum; Hermès polished stainless | Apple Support 111984 |
| Chip / processor | S4 with 64-bit dual-core processor; W3 wireless chip. Apple: “up to 2x. | Apple Support 111984 |
| On-device storage | 16GB | Apple Support 111984 |
| Battery — normal use (OEM) | Up to 18 hours | Apple Support 111984 |
| Battery — low-power / saver (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111984 |
| Battery — GPS / outdoor workout (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111984 |
| Charging (OEM) | Magnetic charging cable and USB power adapter listed. 80% minute not on leftover 111984 | Apple Support 111984 |
| Water resistance | 50m (ISO 22810:2010) — shallow-water swim; not scuba, waterski, or high-velocity water | Apple Support 111984 footnote 1 |
| GNSS / GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS | Apple Support 111984Single-frequency. BeiDou is not named on this leftover sheet. |
| Cellular | LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models (same-carrier plan; roaming not available as worded in 2018 footnote) | Apple Support 111984 |
| Heart rate | Optical heart sensor + electrical heart sensor | Apple Support 111984Not Health Sensing System. Not a second-generation optical sensor (Series 5 wording). |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | No Blood Oxygen sensor/app on leftover Support 111984. SpO2 arrives on later Series sheets | Apple Support 111984 |
| Temperature sensing | Not published | Apple Support 111984 |
| ECG | Electrical heart sensor on Support 111984. Newsroom 12 September 2018 launched ECG as a Series 4 feature — region / age limits; not a diagnosis | Apple Support 111984; Apple Newsroom, 2018-09-12 |
| Sleep tracking | Not published | Apple Support 111984 |
| Sport / workout profiles (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111984; Apple Newsroom, 2018-09-12 |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter; accelerometer up to 32 g-forces; gyroscope; ambient light. No compass row | Apple Support 111984 |
| Durability / ingress | 50m water resistance. No IP6X / MIL-STD row on Support 111984 | Apple Support 111984 |
| Safety / incident alerts | Not published | Apple Support 111984 |
| Operating system | watchOS (Support 111984). Newsroom launch OS was watchOS 5. Series 4 is off Apple’s watchOS 27 device list | Apple Support 111984; Series 12 / watchOS 27 Newsroom list |
| Phone compatibility | GPS: iPhone 5s or later with iOS 12 or later. GPS + Cellular: iPhone 6 or later with iOS 12 or later. Re-check current pairing floors | Apple Support 111984 |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.0. No 5GHz Wi-Fi and no UWB row | Apple Support 111984 |
| NFC / contactless payments | Apple Pay; GymKit | Apple Support 111984 |
| Band / strap system | Apple Watch band interface (any-generation bands as worded in 2018 Newsroom) | Apple Newsroom, 2018-09-12 |
| US MSRP (launch) | $399 GPS / $499 GPS + Cellular (US) | Apple Newsroom, 2018-09-12 |
| Price band | Legacy everyday ($400–$500 US launch) | Derived from $399 start |
| Announced | 12 September 2018 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Order from 14 September 2018; US stores from Friday, 21 September 2018; discontinued leftover after later Series | Apple Newsroom, 2018-09-12 |
Apple Watch Series 4 extras
Unique to this line or SKU.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Force Touch | Yes — listed on the leftover display row. Later Series dropped Force Touch | Apple Support 111984 |
| Always-On (absent) | No. Series 5 is the Always-On debut on this pixel grid | Apple Support 111984 vs Support 118453 |
| watchOS 27 | Not on Apple’s watchOS 27 device list (Series 9 or later, SE 3, Ultra 2 or later) | Apple Series 12 / watchOS 27 Newsroom list |
| In the box | Magnetic charging cable and USB power adapter listed on the leftover sheet (band/case selection not itemized) | Apple Support 111984 |
Overview
Apple Watch Series 4 is the September 2018 everyday redesign. Leftover Support 111984 is the live OEM source after product URLs 301ed to apple.com/watch/. The physical product is a 40mm or 44mm aluminum or stainless steel watch, 10.7mm thick, with Digital Crown, side button, optical HR, and an electrical heart sensor. There is no Always-On panel and no Action Button.
First table: watches-v1. We have not worn this watch.
Battery (OEM table only)
| Mode (Apple’s words on 111984) | Series 4 claim |
|---|---|
| Normal use | Up to 18 hours |
| Low Power Mode | Not on leftover 111984 |
| Outdoor-workout hour | Not on leftover 111984 |
How this page compares on a desk
| Desk fact (OEM) | Series 4 | Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Always-On | No | Yes |
| Storage | 16GB | 32GB |
| Compass | No | Yes |
| Chip | S4 | S5 |
| Normal battery | 18 h | 18 h |
| US launch GPS | $399 (2018) | $399 (2019) |
| watchOS 27 | No | No |
Sources
- Apple Support — Apple Watch Series 4 Technical Specifications (111984) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — Redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 revolutionizes communication, fitness, and health — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does Series 4 have Always-On or Blood Oxygen?
No. Support 111984 is LTPO OLED with Force Touch and no SpO2 row. Always-On is Series 5. Blood Oxygen is a later Series sheet.
Does Series 4 get watchOS 27?
No. Apple’s watchOS 27 list is Series 9 or later, SE 3, and Ultra 2 or later. Quote Apple; do not write an “unsafe” end-of-support scare.
Did Series 4 launch ECG?
Newsroom 12 September 2018 launched ECG on Series 4. Leftover Support 111984 lists the electrical heart sensor. Features were region- and age-limited. Not a diagnosis.
Is $399 a street price?
$399 GPS / $499 cellular is Apple’s published US launch start on 12 September 2018. Leftover street tickets change.
Official product page: Apple Watch Series 4. Tech specs: Apple Watch Series 4 specs.