Fitness watches · Model guide · Maker specs
Apple Watch Series 8
Keep Apple Watch Series 8 if yours still works, but if you're shopping, get Series 9: same 41mm and 45mm sizes, and it still gets watchOS 27.
In short
Keep Apple Watch Series 8 if yours still works, but if you're shopping, get Series 9: same 41mm and 45mm sizes, and it still gets watchOS 27. Series 8 has Crash Detection, wrist temperature sensing, ECG and Blood Oxygen, with a 1,000-nit Always-On screen, 32GB and an 18-hour battery. Skip it if storage or brightness matter: Series 9 doubles both, to 64GB and 2,000 nits, and adds a 36-hour Low Power Mode.
Product images
Apple Watch Series 8, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
Who it is for
- Series 8 owners who rely on Crash Detection and temperature sensing. Both keep working, along with ECG and Blood Oxygen; what you miss is watchOS 27.
- Buyers offered one cheaply who want Crash Detection and temperature sensing and don't mind staying on older watchOS.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants new watchOS features. watchOS 27 starts at Series 9, which is a year newer and the same size.
- Anyone who wants double tap; it arrived with Series 9.
- Anyone without an iPhone. Series 8 needs an iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later.
- Anyone who wants a titanium case. Series 8 came in aluminum or stainless steel, while Series 7 also offered titanium.
What sets it apart
- Crash Detection, from a high-g accelerometer that reads up to 256 g-forces. Series 7's accelerometer stops at 32 g, with Fall Detection only.
- Wrist temperature sensing from two sensors, which Apple launched with Series 8 in 2022 along with retrospective ovulation estimates.
- Bluetooth 5.3 and international roaming, in the same 41mm and 45mm cases and 904 and 1,143 sq mm screens as Series 7.
Caveats
- Expect a nightly charge: Apple rates Series 8 for 18 hours and gives no Low Power Mode or fast-charge figures for it.
- Temperature sensing feeds retrospective ovulation estimates, which look back at your cycle, and Apple's only accuracy figure for it is 0.1°C.
Key specs
In the same order on every watch page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 41mm: 904 sq mm; 45mm: 1,143 sq mm | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED; ceramic and sapphire crystal back | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Display resolution | 41mm: 352 × 430 px; 45mm: 396 × 484 px | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Peak brightness | Up to 1,000 nits | Apple Series 8 tech specsSeries 9 goes to 2,000 nits. |
| Always-On display | Yes; Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Case size(s) | 41mm and 45mm | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Case material | Aluminum or stainless steel | Apple Series 8 tech specsNo titanium; Series 7 offered it. |
| Case dimensions | 41mm: 41 × 35 × 10.7mm; 45mm: 45 × 38 × 10.7mm | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Weight | 41mm: aluminum 31.9 g (GPS) or 32.2 g (GPS + Cellular); stainless steel 42.3 g (GPS + Cellular). 45mm: aluminum 38.8 g (GPS) or 39.1 g (GPS + Cellular); stainless steel 51.5 g (GPS + Cellular) | Apple Series 8 tech specsCase only, without a band. Apple gives stainless steel weights for the GPS + Cellular models only. |
| Finishes | Aluminum: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, (PRODUCT)RED. Stainless steel: Graphite (PVD), Silver, Gold (PVD). Hermès in silver or space black (DLC) stainless steel | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Chip / processor | S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor; W3 wireless chip; U1 (Ultra Wideband) | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| On-device storage | 32GB | Apple Series 8 tech specsSeries 9 has 64GB. |
| Battery, normal use | Up to 18 hours | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Charging | Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) in the box; time to 80% not published | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Water resistance | 50m (ISO 22810:2010); shallow-water swimming, not scuba, waterskiing or high-velocity water sports | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| GNSS / GPS | L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Cellular | LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models (plan required); international roaming, depending on your carrier | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Heart rate | Third-generation optical heart sensor and electrical heart sensor | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Blood Oxygen sensor and app (wellness use, not medical) | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Temperature sensing | Two-sensor wrist temperature sensing with retrospective ovulation estimates, announced 7 September 2022 | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07Apple announced it at launch but leaves it out of the Series 8 tech specs. |
| ECG | ECG app with the electrical heart sensor (ages 22 and up; region limits; not on SE) | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep stages arrived with watchOS 9 software; no Sleep app listed for Series 8 | Apple Series 8 tech specs; Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
| Workout types | watchOS 9 brought an enhanced Workout app; workout types not listed for Series 8 | Apple Series 8 tech specs; Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
| Other sensors | Compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer up to 256 g-forces with Fall Detection and Crash Detection; high-dynamic-range gyroscope; ambient light sensor | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Durability | 50m water resistance; certified IP6X dust resistance; no MIL-STD rating | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Safety alerts | Emergency SOS; international emergency calling (cellular); international roaming; Fall Detection; Crash Detection | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Operating system | Launched with watchOS 9; Series 8 doesn't get watchOS 27 | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07; Apple Newsroom, Series 12 launch (watchOS 27 devices) |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz and 5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; U1 Ultra Wideband chip | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| NFC / contactless payments | Apple Pay; GymKit | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Band fitting | Apple Watch band fitting; the box has one band or loop and the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| US price at launch | Starts at $399 (US) | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
| Price band | Older everyday watch ($400–$500 US launch) | Based on Apple's $399 launch price |
| Announced | 7 September 2022 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Orders from 7 September 2022; US stores from Friday, 16 September 2022; since replaced by Series 9, 10, 11 and 12 | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
Apple Watch Series 8 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Detection | Yes; the high-g accelerometer reads up to 256 g-forces for Fall Detection and Crash Detection | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| Titanium case | No; Series 7 still offered titanium | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
| watchOS 27 | No; watchOS 27 runs on Series 9 or later, SE 3 and Ultra 2 or later | Apple Newsroom, Series 12 launch (watchOS 27 devices) |
| Against Series 9 | Series 8: S8, 32GB, 1,000 nits, 18 hours, no watchOS 27. Series 9: S9, 64GB, 2,000 nits, 18 hours or 36 in Low Power Mode, gets watchOS 27 | Apple Series 8 and Series 9 tech specs |
| In the box | Apple Watch Series 8; band or loop; Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) | Apple Series 8 tech specs |
Series 8 or Series 9?
Series 9 came a year later in the same 41mm and 45mm cases, and it’s the better buy if you’re shopping now:
| Spec | Series 8 | Series 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip and storage | S8, 32GB | S9, 64GB |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours; 36 in Low Power Mode |
| Charge to 80% | Not published | About 45 minutes |
| watchOS 27 | No | Yes |
If you already own a Series 8, the main reason to move is software: Series 9 still gets watchOS 27, and Series 8 doesn’t.
Size, materials and what’s in the box
Both sizes are 10.7mm thick. Aluminum weighs 31.9 to 39.1 grams depending on size and model, and the GPS + Cellular stainless steel models weigh 42.3 grams (41mm) or 51.5 grams (45mm), all without a band; Apple gives no weight for a GPS-only stainless model. There’s no titanium Series 8; Series 7 was the one with that option.
The box holds the watch, one band or loop and the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m).
Software and iPhone
Series 8 launched with watchOS 9, which brought sleep stages and an enhanced Workout app, and it stops short of watchOS 27. It pairs with an iPhone 8 or later on iOS 16 or later.
Launch and price
Apple announced Series 8 on 7 September 2022 at $399 and opened orders the same day; US stores had it from 16 September 2022. Series 9, 10, 11 and 12 have since replaced it, and Apple no longer sells it. Weigh any price against a Series 9, the same size with watchOS 27 support, before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Support — Apple Watch Series 8 tech specs (111848) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — Apple reveals Apple Watch Series 8 and the new Apple Watch SE — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does Series 8 get watchOS 27?
No. watchOS 27 starts with Series 9 (plus SE 3 and Ultra 2 or later), so Series 8, which launched with watchOS 9, misses it.
What does Series 9 add over Series 8?
More storage, a brighter screen and current software: 64GB instead of 32GB, 2,000 nits instead of 1,000, a 36-hour Low Power Mode, about 80% charge in 45 minutes, double tap and watchOS 27. Both come in 41mm and 45mm and are rated for 18 hours of normal use.
Does Series 8 have a temperature sensor?
Yes. It has two, and Apple uses the readings for retrospective ovulation estimates. Temperature sensing was new with Series 8.
Does Series 8 have Crash Detection?
Yes. Its high-g accelerometer reads up to 256 g-forces and handles both Fall Detection and Crash Detection. Series 7 has Fall Detection only.
Is $399 what Series 8 costs now?
No. $399 was Apple's US launch price on 7 September 2022. Apple no longer sells Series 8, so the price depends on who's selling it.
Official product page: Apple Watch Series 8. Tech specs: Apple Watch Series 8 specs.