If you’re looking for reasons to buy the Google Pixel 7 or the Google Pixel 7 Pro when they’re launched next week, consider this: you might get a free Google Pixel Watch or some Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds with your preorder.
That’s according to tipster Roland Quandt (opens in new tab), who is usually reliable with the information that he provides. The Pixel Watch will apparently be included with Pixel 7 Pro preorders, with the Pixel Buds Pro on offer for Pixel 7 buyers. There is a catch though – Quandt indicates that these offers will only be available in the UK.
Whether they end up appearing as deals in other international markets, or whether Google puts together different preorder packages, remains to be seen. The new phones would certainly be a more tempting proposition with a free gift thrown in.
Pixel 7 Pro pre-order gifts in some countries include the Pixel Watch.Pixel 7 pre-order gifts in some countries include the Pixel Buds Pro.(read: UK)October 1, 2022
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Price points
What we do know is that the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro will get unveiled on Thursday, October 6. As for the actual shipping and on-sale dates, Tuesday, October 18 has been mentioned as a possibility by those in the know.
The Pixel Watch is expected to make its debut on October 6 together with the Pixel 7 phones. Considering that the wearable is expected to retail for around $350 in the US and around £340 in the UK, that’s quite a freebie to be throwing in.
As for the Pixel Buds Pro, they’re already out and available to buy for $199 / £179 – not as expensive as the Pixel Watch is likely to be, but then again they’re being paired with the cheaper Pixel 7. All will be revealed next week.
Analysis: Google sweetens the deal
Google has form for putting some pretty decent preorder deals out there: you might remember that Google Pixel 6 preorders in the UK came with a free pair of Bose 700 wireless headphones, worth £300 (half as much as the phone itself).
Clearly preorder freebies sweeten the deal for potential buyers, and they’re likely to make a lot more people consider picking up a Pixel 7 smartphone – especially when it comes to the Pixel 7 Pro, if indeed a Pixel Watch will be bundled with it.
There’s going to be a hit in terms of finances for Google of course, but it might not be a bad idea to get as many people as possible wearing its new smartwatch. More users means more developer interest, which means more investment in Wear OS.
As always, pricing is going to be crucial – if the phones themselves are too expensive, then the preorder deals might not even matter. We will of course be bringing you all the news and announcements live on October 6, as they happen.
We now know what the Google Photos watch face we spotted last month looks like, with Play Store listings today also showing off more of Google Home and Personal Safety for the Pixel Watch.
Given the popularity of watch faces that show family and friends, it’s not surprising that Google has one ready for the Pixel Watch on day one.
Named “Photos” (via Mishaal Rahman on Twitter), you get a circular crop with two possible configurations for the date (displayed as day + date) and time (one or two lines). It’s rather reminiscent of the Android 12 lockscreen. There might also be the ability to have images change and automatically cycle throughout a set period.
Meanwhile, the screenshot of the on-device watch face picker reveals “Pilot” – an homage to mechanical watches with enlarged 6/9/12 – in full, while we see names like “Ink” and “Pacific.”
We then have Google Home for Wear OS again and its straightforward card list design. Smart home devices (thermostat, lights, etc) are housed in a rounded rectangle that includes an icon, background color, device name, and/or room. There’s plus and minus buttons for temperature, while you’ll presumably be able to swipe to adjust brightness, like on Android and the phone app. We also get an example of the “Person seen” notification.
Like with Google Photos, there’s nothing that suggests Google Home will be exclusive to the Pixel Watch. That said, it’s most likely launching first on Google’s wearable.
Lastly, we have the Personal Safety app, which was shown off at I/O 2022 to quickly call predefined contacts or emergency services.
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It’s only a few days until , where the company will show off the Pixel 7 lineup as well as the first flagship smartwatch it designed in-house (outside of Fitbit, anyway). Leaks and rumors have provided some hints about ‘s features and specs. The latest leak might be the biggest one to date. It seems an Amazon listing for the Pixel Watch — the Pixel Watch is set to go on sale just after Google’s October 6th event.
Images and details shared by leaker on the forum (as spotted by ) indicate there will be at least four band designs in a number of colors. They appear to include a silicon design in black, gray, eggshell white and green and silver (the images aren’t super high-res), as well as a braided one that comes in orange, green and black. It seems there are two leather designs as well.
@OnLeaks via SlashLeaks
Beyond that, the images offer a look at some of the Pixel Watch faces. These include an analog-style watch face that includes the wearer’s heart rate, ones with artistic landscape designs and another that spells out the time in words. Other images offer peeks at the Pixel Watch’s Fitbit integration, a step counter, electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, an emergency call function and .
@OnLeaks via SlashLeaks
In addition, the Amazon listing, which has since been removed, suggested that users will receive six months of free Fitbit Premium access. Fitbit typically gives buyers of its smartwatches the same perk, but it’s not yet clear whether Google will do the same with the Pixel Watch in all regions. The listing also indicated that the Pixel Watch will connect to the Google Home app, and have 5ATM water resistance and a Corning Gorilla Glass display. The device is also said to have an Exynos 9110 processor and a day-long battery life.
Screenshots of the listing indicate that a WiFi version of the Pixel Watch costs €356.79 (around $349) in Germany. Previous reports suggested the WiFi model would start at $350 in the US, while the cellular version may start at $400. In any case, we’ll get more official details about the smartwatch this Thursday. We’ll have full coverage of the Pixel event, including everything you need to know about the Pixel Watch and the lineup.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
It’s the weekend, which means it’s time for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5, the company’s speedy T7 portable SSD, solid options for TVs in a range of sizes from TCL, LG, and Samsung, and $150 off the latest-generation MacBook Airs in different configurations.
The MacBook Air deal brings the new M2-powered laptop down to its lowest price only a few months after its June release. Both the 256GB and 512GB are available for $150 off at $1049 and $1349, respectively. While storage is the main difference to consider here, you can also grab a 2021 MacBook Pro with 512GB storage for $1,049 and gain a bit better performance for sustained workloads and a nicer display.
We break down all the differences to consider in our MacBook buying guide, but the 2021 13-inch MacBook Pro falls right in between the 2022 MacBook Air (our pick for most users’ basic needs) and the 2022 14-inch MacBook Pro (our pick for developers, engineers, and researchers) in terms of performance. While we feel the Air and 14-inch Pro are best for their target demos, the value of this deal may just tip the scales a bit further for the 13-inch Pro which we feel strikes balance between the two.
Samsung’s earned a couple of spots in our featured deals list with a $50 discount on the Galaxy Watch 5 ($250), and a modest discount on the T7 rugged portable SSD ($100). The Galaxy Watch 5 currently represents the best smartwatch available for Android users, particularly those with Samsung devices. With sensors for blood oxygen, heart rate, and ECG monitoring, it’s a very capable fitness companion, although ECG monitoring does require a paired Samsung phone. After teaming up with Google to create one unified wearable OS on the Galaxy Watch 4, third-party app compatibility was greatly improved (although still nowhere near the compatibility and Apple Watch enjoys) and the OS is as smooth as ever.
Samsung’s well-rounded QN85B 85-inch 4K QLED TV (2022) is also on sale at the lowest price we’ve ever tracked ($400 off). The $2,598 TV represents a strong value at its size. It performs well for gaming with HDMI 2.1 on all ports and refresh rates to match. Competent HDR performance and glare reduction make it a great choice for movie watching, as well. If you’re looking for something smaller with comparable performance, LG’s C2 48-inch OLED TV (2022) is a respectable contender in the mid-size range. Right now, the C2 is on sale for $1,197 ($220 off) with an additional $100 gift card to sweeten the deal. TCL’s budget-conscious 5 Series 65-inch TV is also on sale for $550 (typically $700).
Heading off video game deals, we have a $20 discount that brings Super Smash Bros. Ultimate down to $40 with code SBSPMR10. There are also a handful of price cuts on some of our favorite games, like Cuphead, and a mix of computer components, smart home devices, gift cards, and deals on much more. You can check out our full curated list of deals below.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
Featured deals of the day
Sony A80K (2022) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,300 ($1,500) at Amazon (Prime members only)
LG C2 (2022) 48-inch 4K OLED TV + $100 gift card for $1,197 ($1,420) at Newegg (GC expires after six months)
Samsung QN85B (2022) 85-inch 4K QLED TV for $2,598 ($3,000) at Amazon
Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 ($1,199) at Amazon, (512GB for $1349)
Apple MacBook Pro (2021) 13.3-inch laptop (Apple M1, 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,049 ($1,500) at Best Buy
SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $120 ($150) at Amazon (2TB for $208)
WD Black SN850 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD w/ heatsink for $104 ($140) at Best Buy
WD Black P10 (5TB) portable SSD + 1-Month Xbox Game Pass for $115 ($130) at Amazon
Google Nest Hub 7-inch smart display for $55 ($85) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart
$100 DoorDash gift card + $20 Best Buy gift card (digital) for $100 ($120)
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 for $250 ($280) at Woot
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch) $40 ($60) (use code SBSPMR10 at checkout) at SuperShop
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate“>
Enlarge /Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Electronics deals
my favorite bedside device and sleep tracker.”>
Enlarge / Google’s second-generation Nest Hub is my favorite bedside device and sleep tracker.
Corey Gaskin
Enlarge / Fitbit’s Sense has all the sensors you could ask for in a fitness tracker and deeper health insights and guidance than Apple Watches in some ways, particularly with Fitbit’s Premium membership.
Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica
Laptop and desktop PC deals
Apple MacBook Air (2020) 13.3-inch laptop (Apple M1, 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $900 ($940) at Amazon (discount in cart)
Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 ($1,199) at Amazon, Best Buy (512GB for $1349)
SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $127.49 ($150) at Amazon (clip $22.50 coupon) (2TB for $208)
SK Hynix Gold P31 (1TB) PCIe 3.0 SSD for $91.80 ($106) (clip $16.20 coupon) at Amazon (2TB for $169)
Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2×16GB) 5600 MHz RAM for $158 ($200) at Newegg (use code: UPGBW2Z232, $158 at Amazon)
ViewSonic Elite XG270Q 27-inch gaming monitor (2560×1440, IPS, 165 Hz, G-Sync) for $260 ($375) at B&H, Amazon
Gigabyte M28U 28-inch gaming monitor (3840×2160, IPS, 144 Hz, VRR) for $480 ($540) at Amazon, Best Buy
Gigabyte M32UC 32-inch gaming monitor (3840×2160, VA, 160 Hz, VRR) for $530 ($600) at Amazon, B&H
Gigabyte M32QC 32-inch gaming monitor (2560×1440, VA, 165 Hz, VRR) for $230 ($300) at Amazon, Newegg
Enlarge / The 2022 MacBook Air has MagSafe and two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports.
Samuel Axon
Video game deals
Enlarge / Cuphead remains one of the most artistic, stylish, and freakin’ hard games of recent years
Gaming deals
Enlarge / Apple’s MagSafe case slips on easily and adds grip, and it works with Apple’s MagSafe leather wallet.
In what is perhaps the biggest Pixel Watch leak yet, a gallery of official-looking images show off the various bands, watch faces, and Fitbit support, among other things, of Google’s upcoming smartwatch.
Posted to SlashLeaks by @OnLeaks, this is one of the biggest leaks of Pixel Watch promotional material to date, and offers our best look yet at what Google is bringing to the table.
Starting with Pixel Watch bands, we get our first good look at four different band designs for the Pixel Watch.
The Pixel Watch band images are, unfortunately, fairly low-res, so it’s hard to tell for sure exactly what materials are being used, but these are our best guesses.
Firstly, we can see all of the silicone colors – black, grey, off-white, and a light green. There appear to be two different leather band styles from there, including one style in black and green, and another in black, grey, and orange. Finally, there appears to be a woven fabric style band for the Pixel Watch which is in vibrant orange and green colors, as well as a more subdued black.
Beyond that, we get a great look at some more Pixel Watch watch faces that we’ve not yet seen. This includes a face that expresses the time only in words, as well as one that shows an artistic landscape.
Digging further into these images, we can see the depth of Fitbit integration, with one image appearing to show ECG support, and another the Pixel Watch next to the Fitbit app. Rounding out the leak, there’s also an image showing an emergency call UI for the watch, as well as Fast Pair on a Pixel phone for setting up the watch.
Notably, it does seem that these images were obtained as least partially from an Amazon listing that briefly went live in Germany. SmartDroid also picked up on that listing, and reports that they were able to actually put in a pre-order for the Pixel Watch.
On Amazon, the Pixel Watch was also confirmed to, at least in some regions, come with six months of Fitbit Premium for free. This is a common perk Fitbit offers for smartwatches, so it’s nice to see it being offered on this Wear OS device.
Other details corroborated by the listing include 5ATM water resistance, the use of Corning Gorilla Glass, Fast Pair support for Pixel Buds, and the new Google Home app.
Unfortunately, the listing appears to have since been taken down.
Google is set to unveil the Pixel Watch in full on October 6, just a few days away, and we’ve already learned a lot about the product. We previously reported that it will cost $349 to start in the US, and will ship with an Exynos 9110 processor and battery life that’s quoted to last around one day.
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Ole Miss vs Kentucky prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 5, Saturday, October 1
Ole Miss vs Kentucky How To Watch
Date: Saturday, October 1 Game Time:12:00 ET Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS How To Watch: ESPN Record: Ole Miss (4-0), Kentucky (4-0) – Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
Roundup: Overrated, Underrated, What it all Means CFN 1-131 Rankings | Bowl Projections What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like Hot Seat Coach Rankings after Week 4 Think, Know, Believe: Football Smack Talk – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
Ole Miss vs Kentucky Game Preview
Why Kentucky Will Win
The Wildcats have their guy back.
They’ve been able to get to 4-0 with no running game, but Will Levis is playing like the big pro prospect quarterback he is, the defense has held on, and …
2.4 yards per carry for the nation’s 123rd-ranked ground game. That’s about to change with Chris Rodriguez back after missing the first month thanks to an off-the-field issue.
The 1.379-yard, nine touchdown back of last year will be fed the ball right away against an Ole Miss defense that’s been better, but got rumbled on for 262 yards in the way-too-close 35-27 battle against Tulsa.
Give Rodriguez a little time to get back to form, but if he can do anything, Levis will go off.
– NFL Expert Picks, Week 4
Why Ole Miss Will Win
The Ole Miss offense can run a little, too.
USC transfer QB Jaxson Dart has been solid, but it’s the ground game that took over over the first month with an SEC-best 281 yards per game with a great rotation.
Kentucky has been solid against the run, and it should keep Dart from taking off, but it has to deal with a passing attack for the first time all season.
The Rebels will do what they do on the ground, but as long as Dart is able to hit 60% and crank it up on third downs, it’ll take UK out of its game.
There’s little pressure coming from the Wildcat pass rush, the offensive line is getting Levis lit up, and …
– Schedules, Previews College | NFL
What’s Going To Happen
No, really, can Kentucky handle a passing game?
Nothing against Anthony Richardson, but he’s not quite there yet with his consistency – UK came up with the big pick six needed to beat Florida.
No, really, can Ole Miss handle a ground attack?
Georgia Tech doesn’t really count, and Tulsa’s day last week was a bit alarming.
Both teams will try to control the tempo, and both teams will do what they do on offense, but …
The Ole Miss defense – improved as it might be – won’t come through late.
The UK backfield will pull this out.
– CFN Expert Picks, Week 5
Ole Miss vs Kentucky Prediction, Line
Kentucky 30, Ole Miss 26 Line: Ole Miss -6.5, o/u: 54.5 ATS Confidence out of 5: 2 Ole Miss vs Kentucky Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
– Predictions of Every Game – Bowl Projections | Rankings – Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams
For the past week, Google has been running a Pixel 7 ad on YouTube that happens to reveal a lot more of the Pixel Watch than we’ve previously seen.
Starting with the phone, we possibly get our first camera samples from the Pixel 7 Pro. Google shows off somebody capturing a dive from a distance by using 4x optical zoom, like the 6 Pro does today. In the background, you see the La Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain.
There are also examples of the Pixel 7 offering “more detail, while “more focus” and “more magic” (eraser) are also touted.
App usage on the Pixel Watch app includes the Now Playing screen of YouTube Music for Wear OS, Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet/Pay, and taking a phone call. What’s notable about the last short, assuming its representative, is how you can flip the Pixel Watch so that the crown is at the right instead of the left.
Speaking of watch faces, we see a few examples, but they are likely applied in post. One that appears to be new is an analog face with two complication spots on the left (weather) and right (day/date).
We get a new shot of the Fitbit experience, specifically the exercise interface. We see rings at the edge possibly representing heart zones (Fat Burn, Cardio, and Peak), BPM (beats per minute) up top, step count, and two other stats.
On the band front, we got a glimpse of what we believe is the woven strap — note the plastic band attachment — in Coral. And a leather band with visible lugs that clearly differ from the default rubber ones.
Other things highlighted in the Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch ad include the Tensor G2 and quite a few Pixel Buds Pro shots. This 30-second video is unlisted and posted on September 22. It has over 830,000 views and presumably played as a YouTube ad.
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WASHINGTON — The Phillies needed to win two games Friday. But when the last legs of Hurricane Ian made that impossible, they did the next best thing.
They won one.
They’ll look for two on Saturday.
If Ian cooperates.
Desperate for wins to maintain their lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the final National League wild-card playoff berth, the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals, 5-1, in the first game of a vital four-game series on Friday afternoon. The two teams were supposed to play a second game on Friday night, but that game was postponed because of rain about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.
Saturday’s forecast is not promising but the teams will try to play two again. A separate-admission doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Kyle Gibson will start Game 1 for the Phillies and Noah Syndergaard will get the ball for Game 2.
If rain gets in the way again on Saturday, the teams will try to play a doubleheader on Sunday. A single game with a 1:35 p.m. start time is already scheduled for that day.
If weather prevents the Phillies and Nationals from completing the four-game series, the Phillies would return to Washington to play a game on Thursday, the day before the playoffs are set to begin, if that game impacts the playoff race.
The Phillies are scheduled to close out the regular season with games in Houston on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
After the disaster that was Chicago, the Phillies were quite happy to get one win Friday afternoon. The victory nudged their lead over Milwaukee to a full game, but stay tuned, the Brewers were set to play the Miami Marlins on Friday night so there will be more movement in the standings.
Before arriving in Washington, the Phillies were swept by the Cubs in Chicago, extending their losing skid to five at a most inopportune time. The Phillies’ offense was brutal, scoring just three runs and going homerless in the three games at Wrigley Field. That’s why Rhys Hoskins’ first-inning homer against Washington right-hander Erick Fedde was so huge Friday.
“It brings a little more energy and noise in the dugout,” Hoskins said of the timing, “but I think, really, just a first-inning run is going to go a long way for us there. I think everybody got to take a deep breath, knowing that we can still score runs.
“Again, Chicago was not good, plain and simple, but we know we’re still in it. We still have a chance as long as we continue to focus on what’s in front of us.”
The Phillies, who have not been to the postseason since 2011, do control their own destiny. With six games remaining, their magic number over the Brewers is five. That includes a tiebreaker earned by winning the season series against the Brewers.
The Brewers had a chance to pull even with the Phillies on Thursday night but blew a late 2-0 lead when Miami’s Avisail Garcia clubbed a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to give his club a 4-2 win.
Once upon a time, the Marlins were Phillies killers, dashers of Phillies’ postseason hopes. This time, they were Phillies helpers. A Brewers win would have pushed them a half-game ahead of the Phillies entering Friday’s schedule.
The Phillies were riding from the airport to the team hotel in Washington when Garcia belted the grand slam that kept the Phillies ahead of the Brewers.
“We had just landed,” Hoskins said. “We were on the bus, all huddled around a phone. It was pretty cool to watch.”
He smiled.
“I’m a big Avisail Garcia fan.”
In addition to the first-inning homer, Hoskins had an RBI single in Friday’s win. Bailey Falter, roughed up by Atlanta in his previous start, pitched six shutout innings.
“After my piss-poor performance in my last outing, it felt good to go out there and give the team a chance to win,” Falter said. “The boys earned it. I was just happy I delivered for them.”
Falter has spent the season filling in for injured starters and those who might need a rest. He’s done it quite well. The team is 7-2 in his last nine starts.
Maybe Avisail Garcia’s grand slam Thursday night and the Phillies’ win over Washington on Friday afternoon will be the booster shot that straightens this team out and pushes it to the postseason. Certainly, the Phillies need to make some hay against Washington, the majors’ worst team — the Phils are 14-2 against the Nats — because Houston looms next week and the 102-win Astros, who will have a first-round playoff bye, intend to play their big guns right till the end of the regular season. Justin Verlander, who leads the majors in ERA, will pitch one of the games next week against the Phillies.
Six games to go. The race is tight. But the Phillies remain in the driver’s seat — even after they were deep-dished in Chicago.
“Chicago stunk,” Hoskins said. “It wore on us. Look, we’re competitors, we care, we care probably too much at times. But in this game, you can’t dwell on things for too long. We had to flush it. We’re (ahead of Milwaukee). If we continue to win games, we’re going to be where we want to be.”
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed their single ‘Burning’ on the latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, lifted from their new album ‘Cool It Down’.
The band – comprising Karen O, Nick Zinner and Brian Chase – were the musical guests on the September 30 episode of the talk show, where they performed the ‘Cool It Down’ cut the same day of the album’s release.
With Karen O positioned on top of a faux and fiery rock, Yeah Yeah Yeahs delivered an electric, pulsating performance under cover of smoke and strobes.
Check out the performance below:
The release of fifth studio album ‘Cool It Down’ marked the outfit’s first album in nine years, after the release of ‘Mosquito’ back in 2013.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs marked the album’s announcement with the release of the Perfume Genius-featuring single ‘Spitting Off The Edge Of The World’.
They followed that with the release of another single, ‘Burning’, and debuted the album cut ‘Lovebomb’ at a show in Chicago earlier this month.
In a five-star review of ‘Cool It Down’, NME‘s Erica Campbell noted how the release saw Yeah Yeah Yeahs “focus on a new imaginative future”.
“With ‘Cool It Down’ the trio disregard expectations with ease, bursting through conjectures with tracks that make the apocalypse sound fun.”
Having announced headline shows back in March, Yeah Yeah Yeahs made a return to the UK live stage back in June, adding more dates to the run before it kicked off to meet demand.
In May, the group teased US shows in a novel way when they utilised sky-writing and tennis balls to spell out “YYY”. Yeah Yeah Yeahs later confirmed a US stretch, with headline shows confirmed to be taking place at NYC’s Forest Hills Stadium on October 1 and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on October 6.
This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Apple’s most popular product.
Apple’s new smartwatches have arrived, which means you’re probably wondering: Should you upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 8?
As is typically the case when deciding to upgrade, the answer will depend on which Apple Watch you currently own. The Series 8 introduces temperature sensing and car-crash detection, along with a refreshed processor. But even with those improvements, the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 still have plenty of life left in them, meaning you don’t have to upgrade just yet if you have either of these watches.
That’s especially true since Apple typically introduces many new features in software updates like WatchOS 9, which is compatible with watches that are up to 4 years old. But if you have an aging Apple Watch Series 3 or earlier, you’re definitely due for an upgrade.
Apple Watches released over the past five years have many of Apple’s core health and safety features in common, such as irregular heart rhythm notifications, high and low heart rate notifications, water resistance, workout tracking, emergency SOS and fall detection (Series 4 and later). The biggest differences come down to health tracking, considering Apple has added new sensors for temperature sensing and blood oxygen measurements in recent years.
However, it’s important to remember that Apple Watches aren’t medical devices, which can make it hard to assess how valuable these deeper health metrics truly are. My general take is that these extra features could be useful for those who want access to more cardiac and respiratory health data to share with their physician.
This guide compares the Apple Watch Series 8 to Apple Watch models released over the past five years. Prior Apple Watches aren’t included, because we recommend upgrading if you have a Series 3 or older. The Apple Watch Ultra also isn’t covered in this guide, because it’s a wholly new product with more pronounced differences than Apple’s other watches. You can learn more about the Apple Watch Ultra in our in-depth review.
Read more: Apple Watch Series 8 vs. SE: Biggest Differences After Using Both Watches
Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 7
The Apple Watch Series 7
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
If you have an Apple Watch Series 7, there’s no reason to upgrade right now. The Series 7 and 8 have a lot in common, like their larger screen, QWERTY keyboard, fast charging and nearly identical suite of health and wellness features. The major upgrades in this year’s Apple Watch include a temperature sensor, an updated processor (although performance is the same as the Series 7) and new gyroscopes and accelerometers capable of detecting car crashes. Such changes are bound to make the Apple Watch more useful in the long term, but they don’t merit an upgrade if you’re already using a Series 7.
It’s also too soon to tell what the temperature sensor brings to the overall experience, so I can’t recommend upgrading for that reason alone. Apple is positioning it as being most helpful for providing retrospective ovulation estimates and more accurate period predictions. Since it takes two menstrual cycles for ovulation estimates to become available and the watch has only been available for about two weeks, it’s still a bit early.
The company also says shifts in baseline temperature can indicate whether you’re jet-lagged or under the weather. Apple charts deviations in your baseline wrist temperature in a graph within the Health app, but right now it’s largely up to the user to interpret what this means. I’m hoping Apple finds a way to tie this data into other metrics in the future, like some type of wellness or readiness score.
The bottom line: All told, the Apple Watch Series 7 can do almost everything the Apple Watch Series 8 can. Don’t upgrade just yet.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 6
The Apple Watch Series 6
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
The Apple Watch Series 6 is 2 years old, but it’s still more than enough to meet the needs of most people. Compared to the Series 6, the Series 8 has temperature sensing, car crash detection and a new processor. (However, that processor probably offers roughly the same performance as the Series 6’s chip anyway.) The Series 8 also has the upgrades Apple introduced with the Series 7, such as a more durable design that’s dust resistant, a slightly larger screen with a QWERTY keyboard for typing text replies and faster charging.
Aside from temperature sensing and car crash detection, the Series 8’s extra features are more about refining the Apple Watch than bringing something entirely fresh to Apple’s smartwatch. The Series 6 is still new enough to have Apple’s more noteworthy upgrades from recent years, like an always-on display and blood oxygen saturation measurements. It’s also compatible with Apple’s new Compass app, which includes new features for retracing your steps and setting custom waypoints. That’s something you can’t say for the Series 5 and earlier.
The bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 6 is still new enough for most people. The upgrades in the Series 8 are refinements for the most part, rather than holistically new features, with the one exception being temperature tracking.
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Apple Watch Series 8 vs. SE (first generation)
The first-generation Apple Watch SE
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The question of whether it’s worth upgrading from the Apple Watch SE is a little less straightforward and depends on what you want in a smartwatch. If you have the SE and find yourself wanting more in terms of health tracking, there’s a case to be made for splurging on the Series 8. Both the first- and second-generation SE lack the ability to take an ECG from your wrist, blood oxygen saturation measurements, temperature sensing and an always-on display.
If you’re curious about these features and want more data on your cardiac and respiratory health to share with your doctor, the Apple Watch Series 8 has enough extra functionality to justify an upgrade. The health sensors are the biggest reason to upgrade to the Series 8, but you’ll also get other perks like a larger screen with a QWERTY keyboard, faster charging and most importantly, a display that can still show the time and other information even when it’s idle.
If you’re not interested in these extra health metrics, you might be considering upgrading from the original SE to the new one. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing so unless your current watch is feeling noticeably slow. Aside from car crash detection and a faster processor, there isn’t much that’s new between the first and second-generation SE.
The bottom line: It’s worth hanging onto your Apple Watch SE if it’s still in good condition. But if you want deeper health tracking and your SE is starting to feel slow, there’s enough that’s new in the Series 8 to make it worth considering.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 5
The Apple Watch Series 5
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The Apple Watch Series 5 may sound ancient compared to the Series 8, but I’d still recommend thinking twice before spending $400 on Apple’s newest flagship watch. Since it’s 3 years old, it doesn’t have all of Apple’s more recent health features, like blood oxygen measurements and temperature sensing. But it can still take an ECG and has an always-on display, two features that even the brand new second-generation Apple Watch SE lack. The processor is a bit old, but that shouldn’t matter as long as your watch still feels like it’s running smoothly.
Once again, the biggest reason to upgrade to the Series 8 is for its blood oxygen saturation and temperature readings. Those features might not matter for everyone, but they could be important to those specifically interested in cycle tracking and respiratory health. As mentioned previously, you’ll also get other design refinements like a more durable build, speedier charging and a larger display — elements that make the Apple Watch feel more efficient when factored together, but likely don’t warrant an upgrade on their own.
The bottom line: If you have a Series 5, you can probably afford to hold onto it for a bit longer unless you really want the ability to see blood oxygen levels and the Series 8’s new temperature sensor. With an always-on display and ECG measurements, the Series 5 still packs a surprising amount of value for a smartwatch that’s three years old.
Read more: Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 14? See How It Compares to Older Models
Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 4
The Apple Watch Series 4
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You don’t need to upgrade if you’re still happy with your Series 4, but there are plenty of reasons to do so. While the Series 4 has many of the Apple Watch’s core features, like workout tracking, irregular heart rate notifications and Apple Pay support, there’s a lot to gain from upgrading.
In addition to the Series 8’s new temperature sensor and car crash detection, you’re also getting an always-on display, faster charging, a larger screen with a QWERTY keyboard, the ability to take an ECG from your wrist, blood oxygen saturation measurements, and a compass. Not to mention, the Series 4’s 4-year-old processor is likely starting to feel a bit old. All of these changes come together to make the Series 8 feel significantly new and different compared to the Series 4. The Series 4 also only has 16GB of storage while Apple’s newer watches have 32GB, which means it could be difficult to install software updates in the future.
If you just care about having a basic Apple Watch that will feel fast and last for years to come, the $250 Apple Watch SE is also worth considering. You’ll get Apple’s newest smartwatch processor, car crash detection and a compass app, but you’ll be missing out on all the other features mentioned above by choosing the new SE over the Series 8.
The bottom line: In the four years since Apple launched the Series 4, it’s made plenty of improvements that make the Series 8 feel like a notable leap forward. If your Series 4 is starting to feel sluggish and you’re in a position to buy a new watch, it’s worth the upgrade.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 3
The Apple Watch Series 3
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If you have an Apple Watch Series 3, it’s time to upgrade. The Series 3 is now 5 years old and no longer supports software updates, which should be the biggest motivation for upgrading. Not only will you be missing out on new features, but software updates generally include important security fixes, too.
The Series 3 feels dated in almost every way compared to the Series 8 and second-generation SE. Its processor is also 5 years old, which means you’re probably dealing with some lag. The screen is smaller than Apple’s newer watches since Apple implemented a redesign starting with the Series 4. And it lacks modern features like a compass, fall detection, and the many health features Apple has added over the last five years. Not to mention the battery life is probably starting to feel short.
If you don’t want to spend $400 on the Series 8, the $250 Apple Watch SE is a great option for those upgrading from a Series 3 or older. It has all of the basics, including car crash detection, a larger screen than the Series 3, fall detection, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular heart rhythm notifications, the new compass app and Apple Pay support.
The bottom line: If you have the Series 3, it’s time to upgrade. Period.
Looking for more Apple Watch advice? Check out the settings you may want to change and our favorite features in WatchOS 9.
