Apple Watch Series 4: Everything you need to know about the new smart watch

Apple's new smartwatch has a larger screen and a much-awaited bigger battery 
Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, speaks about the Apple Watch Series 4
AP

Ready for a new smartwatch? At Apple’s annual product extravaganza, the company released its brand new update for 2018: the Apple Watch Series 4.

With minimised bezels and an increased screen size and made from ceramic and sapphire crystals, this is the ultimate smartwatch for 2018.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new watch, including specs, pricing and the all-important release date.

Apple Watch Series 4: it’s all about the screen

The Series 4 will be released in two sizes each with a 30 per cent increased screen size, Apple announced.

The digital crown now includes haptic feedback for apps like podcasts and calendar where you can flip through them.

Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, speaks about the Apple Watch Series 4 at the Steve Jobs Theater during an event to announce new Apple products
AP

The speaker is now 50 per cent louder for phone calls and Siri "comes back with volume".

The mic has been moved to the opposite side, far away from the speaker, to make phone calls clearer.

The back is made of black ceramic and crystal and will be available in three aluminium finishes: silver, gold and space grey. It will also be available in a gold stainless steel option.

The Watch has 18-hours battery life like previous models.

Apple Watch Series 4: new safety features announced

The new Watch has a focus on health but a new update means it can now work out when a fall happens.

So if you fall, trip or slip, the Watch realises, thanks to its accelerometer and gyroscope.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, introduces the new Apple watch
REUTERS

After it detects the fall, it can deliver an alert to issue an emergency call. If the Watch senses you are immobile, it will start the call automatically and send location to your emergency contact.

New heart tracking features will let you know if you have a heart problem - powered by a new electrical heart sensor exclusive to the Watch Series 4.

This means the Watch is now a portage electrocardiogram or ECG. This is the first ECG offered over the product directly to consumers, and a big healthcare move by Apple.

However, the fall detection and new ECG system will only be available in the US until they are cleared by global medical agencies.

Apple Watch Series 4: price and release date

It costs $399 for the standard version, and $499 for the cellular version.

It will be available in 26 markets at launch, including the UK. You can pre-order on Friday 14 September, and it will be available to buy on Friday 21 September, with WatchOS 5 being released on 17 September.

Apple Watch Series 4: Quick verdict

These new wearable features are pretty exciting for the Apple Watch.

It's making it more of a healthcare product than simply a watch, and could have a serious impact with that ECG feature, if Apple is licensed to offer these features in countries outside the US.

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