Device hub · Fitness watches · Desk research
Apple Watch Series 8
Series 8 is the 2022 41/45mm Watch: S8, 32GB, Always-On 1,000 nits, Crash Detection, and Bluetooth 5.3.
In short
Series 8 is the 2022 41/45mm Watch: S8, 32GB, Always-On 1,000 nits, Crash Detection, and Bluetooth 5.3. It is off watchOS 27. Series 9 added 64GB, 2,000 nits, 36-hour Low Power Mode, and stays on watchOS 27. Buy leftover Series 8 only if the discount is real. Skip it if you need a current OS.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedApple Watch Series 8
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 8
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
- Series 7 owners documenting Crash Detection, Bluetooth 5.3, and international roaming on the same 41/45mm grid.
- Researchers who want S8 / 32GB without inventing Series 9’s 64GB, 2,000 nits, or 36-hour Low Power Mode.
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 — Series 8 is off that list.
- Anyone who wants 64GB, 2,000-nit Always-On, double tap, or a 36-hour Low Power Mode row.
- Buyers without a compatible iPhone. Support 111848: iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later. Re-check current pairing floors.
- Anyone who wants Ultra hardware or a leftover titanium Series case (Series 7 leftover still listed titanium; Series 8 does not).
Key differentiators
- Crash Detection + high-g accelerometer up to 256 g-forces on leftover 111848. Series 7 leftover stops at 32 g / Fall Detection.
- Bluetooth 5.3 and international roaming on the leftover sheet. Same 41/45mm 904 / 1,143 sq mm Always-On grid as Series 7.
- Newsroom 7 September 2022 launched two-sensor wrist temperature. Leftover 111848 feature list does not reprint that row — cite Newsroom, do not invent a leftover-sheet number.
- Last 41/45mm flagship Series that is off watchOS 27. Series 9 is the same size class and stays on the list.
Caveats
- Every numeric battery and brightness line is an Apple claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested Series 8.
- apple.com/apple-watch-series-8/ 301s to apple.com/watch/. Cite Support 111848 — not 111829/111830/111831 (those are iPhone 15 pages).
- Do not copy Series 9’s 64GB, 2,000 nits, 45-minute 80% charge, or 36-hour Low Power Mode onto this hub.
- Stainless GPS-only grams are not printed on leftover 111848 (only GPS + Cellular stainless). Do not invent them.
Watch-category specs
Same manufacturer rows on every watch page.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 41mm: 904 sq mm; 45mm: 1,143 sq mm | Apple Support 111848 |
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED; ceramic and sapphire crystal back | Apple Support 111848 |
| Display resolution | 41mm: 352 × 430 px; 45mm: 396 × 484 px | Apple Support 111848 |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | Up to 1,000 nits | Apple Support 111848Manufacturer nits claim. Series 9 leftover prints 2,000 nits. Do not copy that here. |
| Always-On display | Yes — Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | Apple Support 111848 |
| Case size(s) | 41mm and 45mm | Apple Support 111848 |
| Case material | Aluminum or stainless steel | Apple Support 111848Titanium is not on leftover 111848. Series 7 leftover still listed titanium. |
| Case dimensions | 41mm: 41 × 35 × 10.7mm; 45mm: 45 × 38 × 10.7mm | Apple Support 111848 |
| Weight | 41mm aluminum GPS 31.9 g / GPS + Cellular 32.2 g; 41mm stainless GPS + Cellular 42.3 g. 45mm aluminum GPS 38.8 g / GPS + Cellular 39.1 g; 45mm stainless GPS + Cellular 51.5 g | Apple Support 111848Case-only figures from Apple. Stainless GPS-only grams are not printed on leftover 111848. |
| Finishes | Aluminum: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, (PRODUCT)RED. Stainless: Graphite (PVD), Silver, Gold (PVD). Hermès stainless silver / space black (DLC) | Apple Support 111848 |
| Chip / processor | S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor; W3 wireless chip; U1 (Ultra Wideband) | Apple Support 111848 |
| On-device storage | 32GB | Apple Support 111848Series 9 leftover is 64GB. Do not write that Series 8 matches it. |
| Battery — normal use (OEM) | Up to 18 hours | Apple Support 111848 |
| Battery — low-power / saver (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111848 |
| Battery — GPS / outdoor workout (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111848 footnote 9 |
| Charging (OEM) | Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) listed. 80% minute is not on leftover 111848 | Apple Support 111848 |
| Water resistance | 50m (ISO 22810:2010) — shallow-water swim; not scuba, waterski, or high-velocity water | Apple Support 111848 footnote 3 |
| GNSS / GPS | L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou | Apple Support 111848 |
| Cellular | LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models (plan required). International roaming listed (carrier-determined) | Apple Support 111848 |
| Heart rate | Third-generation optical heart sensor + electrical heart sensor | Apple Support 111848 |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Blood Oxygen sensor and app (wellness only; not medical use) | Apple Support 111848 footnote 4 |
| Temperature sensing | Newsroom 7 September 2022 launched two-sensor wrist temperature and retrospective ovulation estimates. Leftover Support 111848 feature list does not reprint a dedicated temperature row | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07Cite Newsroom. Do not invent a leftover-sheet accuracy number beyond Apple’s 0.1°C Newsroom wording. |
| ECG | Electrical heart sensor / ECG app (22+; region limits; not SE) | Apple Support 111848 footnote 5 |
| Sleep tracking | Not published | Apple Support 111848; Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
| Sport / workout profiles (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111848; 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 | Apple Support 111848 |
| Durability / ingress | 50m water resistance; certified IP6X dust resistance. No MIL-STD row | Apple Support 111848 |
| Safety / incident alerts | Emergency SOS; international emergency calling (cellular); international roaming; Fall Detection; Crash Detection | Apple Support 111848 |
| Operating system | watchOS (Support 111848). Newsroom launch OS was watchOS 9. Series 8 is off Apple’s watchOS 27 device list | Apple Support 111848; Series 12 / watchOS 27 Newsroom list |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later (Support 111848, shared leftover sentence with Ultra and SE). Re-check current pairing floors | Apple Support 111848 |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; U1 Ultra Wideband | Apple Support 111848 |
| NFC / contactless payments | Apple Pay; GymKit | Apple Support 111848 |
| Band / strap system | Apple Watch band interface. Box includes one band/loop and Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) | Apple Support 111848 |
| US MSRP (launch) | Starts at $399 (US) | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
| Price band | Legacy everyday ($400–$500 US launch) | Derived from $399 start |
| Announced | 7 September 2022 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Order from 7 September 2022; US stores from Friday, 16 September 2022; discontinued leftover after Series 9/10/11/12 | Apple Newsroom, 2022-09-07 |
Apple Watch Series 8 extras
Unique to this line or SKU.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Detection | Yes — leftover 111848 high-g accelerometer up to 256 g-forces with Fall Detection and Crash Detection | Apple Support 111848 |
| Titanium case | Not on leftover 111848 finishes. Series 7 leftover still listed titanium | Apple Support 111848 |
| 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 |
| Versus Series 9 (desk) | This hub: S8, 32GB, 1,000 nits, 18-hour single row, off watchOS 27. Series 9 leftover: S9, 64GB, 2,000 nits, 18 / 36-hour table, still on watchOS 27 | Support 111848 vs Support 111833 |
| In the box | Apple Watch Series 8; band/loop; Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) | Apple Support 111848 |
Overview
Apple Watch Series 8 is the September 2022 41/45mm flagship Series. Leftover Support 111848 is the live OEM source — not Support 111829/111830/111831 (iPhone 15 pages). The physical product is a 41mm or 45mm aluminum or stainless steel watch, 10.7mm thick, with Digital Crown, side button, third-generation optical HR, electrical heart sensor, Blood Oxygen sensor, compass, U1, IP6X, and Crash Detection.
First table: watches-v1. We have not worn this watch.
Battery (OEM table only)
| Mode (Apple’s words on 111848) | Series 8 claim |
|---|---|
| Normal use | Up to 18 hours |
| Low Power Mode | Not on leftover 111848 |
| Outdoor-workout hour | Not on leftover 111848 |
| 80% minute | Not on leftover 111848 |
How this page compares on a desk
| Desk fact (OEM) | Series 8 | Series 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip / storage | S8 / 32GB | S9 / 64GB |
| Peak nits | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Battery table | 18 h | 18 / 36 h LPM |
| 80% charge | Unpublished | ~45 min |
| watchOS 27 | No | Yes |
Sources
- Apple Support — Apple Watch Series 8 Technical Specifications (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. Apple’s watchOS 27 list is Series 9 or later, SE 3, and Ultra 2 or later. Series 8 is off that list. Quote Apple; do not write an “unsafe” scare.
Does leftover Support 111848 list temperature sensing?
The leftover feature list does not reprint a dedicated temperature row. Newsroom 7 September 2022 launched two-sensor wrist temperature. Cite Newsroom for that story.
How is Series 8 different from Series 9?
Same 41/45mm class. Leftover Series 8 is S8 / 32GB / 1,000 nits / 18-hour single row / off watchOS 27. Leftover Series 9 is S9 / 64GB / 2,000 nits / 18 / 36-hour table / still on watchOS 27.
Is $399 a street price?
$399 is Apple’s published US launch start on 7 September 2022. Leftover street tickets change.
Official product page: Apple Watch Series 8. Tech specs: Apple Watch Series 8 specs.