History of Apple Watch

Apple Watch is a smartwatch that is available on the market since 2015 and until now has seven generations and one special edition. This wearable device series has been announced in April 2014 but has been presented alongside iPhone 6. The final release of the Apple Watch has happened in April 2015

The original Apple Watch was released in two sizes and three editions, on top of that Apple has prepared a set of bands, and straps with different designs and purposes.

Apple Watch has been developed to help track fitness activities. The Watch is offering a Fitness app to track and record fitness activities by selecting a dedicated Workout. Together with the Fitness app, a Heart Rate app has been built-in to track a heartbeat by an internal heart rate sensor that uses both infrared and visible-light LEDs and photodiodes. Later on, Apple introduced ECG and Blood Oxygen sensors as well.

All models of the Apple Watch Series

Original Apple Watch

Apple Watch
Source: 9to5mac.com – Apple Watch

The first Apple Watch has been introduced on March 9, 2015, and discontinued one year and six months later on September 7, 2016. Today this device is 9 years old.

This Apple Watch features an Apple original system-on-chip Apple S1, 512 MB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, a Taptic Engine to provide natural feedback, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, NFC technology for Apple Pay, heart rate sensor, a gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, wireless charging system, water resistance with IPX7 certificate, and more. The battery in the Apple Watch lasts for up to 18 hours of use.

Apple Watch has been equipped with a gorgeous OLED Retina display with Force Touch technology. The 38 mm version features a 1.5-inch display, and the 42 mm version features a 1.65-inch display on a diagonal.

Apple Watch was released in three versions: Apple Watch Sport, which was made of Silver, Space Gray, Gold or Rose Gold Aluminum, and Ion-X glass. 

The second version called Apple Watch is made of Silver or Black Stainless Steel and Sapphire crystal glass. 

The third version called Apple Watch Edition comprises 18-Karat Yellow or Rose Gold and Sapphire crystal glass. Each of these versions has been prepared in two sizes, a smaller 38 mm case and a bigger 42 mm case, and paired with one of the 6 straps options.

This Apple Watch has been replaced by Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2. Because of that, this model (1st Generation) is commonly called Series 0. Software support for the first Apple Watch ended with watchOS 4.3.2.

The original price of the Apple Watch started from $349 for the 38 mm model and $399 for the 42 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch

Apple Watch Series 1

Apple Watch Series 1 Black and White
Source: macworld.com – Apple Watch Series 1 Black and White

The Apple Watch Series 1 has been introduced on September 17, 2016, and discontinued two years later on September 12, 2018. Today this device is 7 years old.

Apple Watch Series 1 has been introduced alongside Apple Watch Series 2. At the September Event company announced that the original Apple Watch is getting a Dual-Core processor and now is called Series 1. 

The Series 1 except for the new processor, is the same as its predecessor and comes with all features at a new lower price. Apple decided to introduce this version of the Apple Watch for at least two reasons. Firstly, to introduce new naming of generations as “Series”, secondly to keep the existing product in a portfolio as an affordable option for customers.

When it comes to specifications, Apple Watch Series 1 has been equipped with a gorgeous OLED Retina display with Force Touch technology. The 38 mm version features a 1.5-inch display, and the 42 mm version features a 1.65-inch display on a diagonal. This Watch is powered by an Apple original system-on-chip Apple S1P to provide the best performance. 

The device features as well a 512 MB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, a Taptic Engine to provide natural feedback, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, NFC technology for Apple Pay, a heart rate sensor, a gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, wireless charging system, water resistance with IPX7 certificate, and more. The battery in the Apple Watch lasts for up to 18 hours of use. 

After two years, Apple has released a new generation of Apple Watch. On September 12, 2018, this model has been discontinued and has been made unavailable to order in Apple Store anymore. Of course, you can still buy Apple Watch Series 1 from other sellers. This Apple Watch has been replaced by Apple Watch Series 4. Software support for this Apple Watch ended with watchOS 6.2.8.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 1 started from $269 for the 38 mm model and $299 for the 42 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 1

Apple Watch Series 2

Apple Watch Series 2 Features
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Series 2 Features

The Apple Watch Series 2 has been introduced on September 17, 2016, and discontinued one year later on September 12, 2017. Today this device is 7 years old.

Apple Watch Series 2 comes in three versions: Apple Watch Sport, which was made of Silver, Space Gray, Gold or Rose Gold Aluminum, and Ion-X glass. The second version called Apple Watch is made of Silver or Black Stainless Steel and Sapphire crystal glass. The third version called Apple Watch Edition is made of White Ceramic and Sapphire crystal glass. 

In Addition, Apple in collaboration with Nike introduces for the first time Apple Watch Nike+ edition. Apple Watch Nike+ is exactly the same as the Apple Watch Sport version but is bundled with a special color matching perforated band. Each of these versions has been prepared in two sizes, a smaller 38 mm case and a bigger 42 mm case, and paired with one of the 6 straps options.

When it comes to specifications, Apple Watch Series 2 has been equipped with a gorgeous OLED Retina display with Force Touch technology. The 38 mm version features a 1.5-inch display, and the 42 mm version features a 1.65-inch display on a diagonal. This Watch is powered by an Apple original system-on-chip Apple S2 to provide the best performance. 

The device features as well a 512 MB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, a Taptic Engine to provide natural feedback, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, NFC technology for Apple Pay, heart rate sensor, a gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, wireless charging system, water-resistance up to 50 meters, and more. The battery in the Apple Watch lasts for up to 18 hours of use. 

Apple Watch Series 2 introduces water resistance at a rating of 50 meters. It can keep track of the number of laps and distance during Swimming workouts. During swimming, the touch function can be manually disabled with ‘Underwater mode‘. Once this is turned off, by rotating the Digital Crown continuously, it uses the speaker to expel residual water through a series of 10 vibrations. The Apple Watch Series 2 has a built-in GPS system.

After a year since its release, Apple has released a new generation of Apple Watch. On September 12, 2017, this model has been discontinued and has been made unavailable to order in Apple Store anymore. Of course, you can still buy Apple Watch Series 2 from other sellers. This Apple Watch has been replaced by Apple Watch Series 3. Software support for this Apple Watch ended with watchOS 6.2.8.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 2 started from $369 for the 38 mm model and $399 for the 42 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 2

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 3 GPS
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Series 3 GPS

The Apple Watch Series 3 has been introduced on September 12, 2017, and partially discontinued one year and three years later on September 12, 2018, and September 15, 2020. Today this device is 6 years old and is still available in Apple Store.

The Watch Series 3 comes again in two sizes 38 mm and 42 mm and has been made in 7 different finishes including Aluminum (Silver, Space Gray, Gold), Stainless Steel, Space Black Stainless Steel, a White Ceramic, and Gray Ceramic. 

The device features a 1.5-inch or 1.65-inch OLED Retina Display with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core Apple S3 processor, 768 MB of RAM, Apple W2 chip, 8 or 16 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 4.2, ambient light sensor, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The main new feature in Series 3 is built-in LTE cellular connectivity and offers both voice and data communication, including out-of-the-box Apple Music streaming. Antenna functionality (receiving and transmitting elements for LTE and UMTS) is part of the display. This watch features an Apple SIM (eSIM) which is 1% of the size of a standard SIM card and shares the same mobile number as the user’s iPhone. 

Apple claims 18 hours of battery life. It has a dual-core Apple S3 processor, which Apple claims are 70% faster than the S2. The cellular-capable watch has a red digital crown but the Series 3 device is also available in a non-LTE version. Siri is able to speak on Apple Watch Series 3 due to the increased processing speed of the Watch.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 3 started from $329 for the 38 mm model and $359 for the 42 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 4
Source: pinterest.com – Apple Watch Series 4

The Apple Watch Series 4 has been introduced on September 12, 2018, and discontinued one year later on September 10, 2019. Today this device is 5 years old.

All-New Watch Series 4 comes in two new sizes 40 mm and 44 mm and has been made in 6 different finishes including Aluminum (Silver, Space Gray, Gold), and Stainless Steel (Silver, Space Black, and Gold).

The device features a larger 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch LTPO OLED Retina Displays with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core Apple S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, Apple W3 chip, 16 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model. 

The Apple Watch Series 4 features the Apple S4 dual-core processor, which Apple claims can deliver double the S3’s performance. It also features 16GB of storage, a larger display compared to the Series 3, and a new electrical heart sensor that measures the potential difference between the wrist and a finger from the opposing hand into the S4 Module over 30 seconds. 

The ECG system has received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration, a first-ever for consumer device, and is supported by the American Heart Association. 

This device can also detect falls and will automatically contact emergency services unless the user cancels the outgoing call. The microphone was moved to the opposite side between the side button and the digital crown to improve call quality. 

Other changes include the digital crown incorporating haptic feedback with the Apple Haptic Engine and includes the new Apple-designed W3 wireless chip.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 4 started from $399 for the 40 mm model and $429 for the 44 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 5

Apple Watch Series 5
Source: pinterest.com – Apple Watch Series 5

The Apple Watch Series 5 has been introduced on September 10, 2019, and discontinued one year later on September 15, 2020. Today this device is 4 years old.

The Watch Series 5 comes in two sizes 40 mm and 44 mm and has been made in 9 different finishes including Aluminum (Silver, Space Gray, Gold), Stainless Steel (Silver, Space Black, Gold), a Natural Titanium, or Space Black Titanium, and White Ceramic.

The device features a 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch LTPO OLED Retina always-on Displays with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S5 processor, 1GB of RAM, Apple W3 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model. 

The Apple Watch Series 5 includes an always-on display with an energy-saving LTPO OLED screen and a low-power screen driver capable of refresh rates as low as once per second. The always-on display was not included in the Apple Watch Series 4

Additional new features include International Emergency Calling which enables emergency calls in over 150 countries, a more power-efficient S5 processor, an improved ambient light sensor, a doubling of storage capacity to 32 GB, and the addition of a magnetometer, which enables a compass function. 

Series 5 also brought back the “Edition” tier, with a ceramic model absent from the previous generation, and a new titanium model which comes in two colors: Natural and Space Black.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 5 started from $399 for the 40 mm model and $429 for the 44 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 5

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch Series 6
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Series 6

The Apple Watch Series 6 has been introduced on September 15, 2020, and discontinued one year later on October 8, 2021. Today this device is 3 years old.

The Watch Series 6 comes in two sizes 40 mm and 44 mm and has been made in 10 different finishes including Aluminum (Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Blue, and (PRODUCT) RED), Stainless Steel (Silver, Graphite, Gold), Natural Titanium, and Space Black Titanium. Every Watch was shipped with a paired band. 

The device features a 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch LTPO OLED Retina always-on Displays with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S6 processor, 1 GB of RAM, Apple W3 chip, new Ultra-Wideband Apple U1 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, heart rate sensor, new blood oxygen sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The Apple Watch Series 6 includes a new Apple S6 processor (that is up to 20% faster than the S4 and S5), a brighter always-on display, a Blood Oxygen app that works with a new in-watch sensor, an Electrocardiogram app, a Sleep Monitoring app, and an Always-on altimeter. 

The Series 6 has received as well updated 3rd generation Optical Heart Rate Sensor, faster charging in under 1.5 hours, improved battery life, and new (PRODUCT) RED and Blue color options.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 6 started from $399 for the 40 mm model and $429 for the 44 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE Colors
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch SE Colors

The Apple Watch SE (1st Generation) has been introduced on September 15, 2020, and discontinued two years later on September 7, 2022. Today this device is 3 years old.

The new Watch comes in two sizes 40 mm and 44 mm and has been made in 3 colors: Silver, Space Gray, and Gold. The device features a 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch LTPO OLED Retina Displays with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S5 processor, 1 GB of RAM, Apple W3 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, optical heart sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The Apple Watch SE includes a new Apple S5 processor (the same as in Apple Watch Series 5), a Sleep Monitoring app, and an Always-on altimeter. The Watch SE has received as well 2nd generation Optical Heart Rate Sensor. This SmartWatch doesn’t have the Always-on Display or ECG app and Blood Oxygen Sensor.

The original price of the Apple Watch SE started from $279 for the 40 mm model and $309 for the 44 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple Watch Series 7
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Series 7

The Apple Watch Series 7 has been introduced on September 14, 2021, and is still available in Apple Store. Today this device is 30 months old.

The Watch Series 7 comes in two new sizes 41 mm and 45 mm and has been made in 10 different finishes including Aluminum (Starlight, Midnight, Green, Blue, and (PRODUCT) RED), Stainless Steel (Silver, Graphite, Gold), Natural Titanium, and Space Black Titanium. Every watch is shipped with a paired band. 

The all-new Apple Watch features a 1.78-inch or 1.9-inch LTPO OLED Retina always-on Display with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S7 processor, Apple W3 chip, Ultra-Wideband Apple U1 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, accelerometer, a gyroscope, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The Apple Watch Series 7 features a 20% bigger always-on display in comparison to the Series 6. The new screen is brighter as well and features up to 1000 nits of maximum brightness when the screen is active and up to 500 nits of maximum brightness when the wrist is down, a new Apple S7 processor (that is up to 20% faster than the S4 and S5). 

New Apple Watch is more durable, resistant to cracks, and has water/dust resistance (IP6X and WR50). Watch Series 7 same as its predecessor is equipped with a Blood oxygen sensor, electrical heart sensor, optical heart sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, always-on altimeter, and ambient light sensor. New Watch is featuring all-day battery life with fast charging; 45 minutes charging to 80%.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 7 started from $399 for the 41 mm model and $429 for the 45 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 7

Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation

Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation

The Apple Watch SE 2022 has been introduced on September 7, 2022, and is still available in Apple Store. Today this device is 18 months old.

The new Watch SE comes in two sizes 40 mm and 44 mm and has been made in 3 colors: Silver, Midnight, and Starlight. The device features a 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch LTPO OLED Retina Displays with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S8 processor, 1 GB of RAM, Apple W3 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, L1 GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, optical heart sensor, high-g accelerometer, high dynamic range gyroscope, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The Apple Watch SE 2 includes a new Apple S8 chip (the same as in Apple Watch Series 8), international emergency calling, international roaming, crash detection, and more precise GPS.

The original price of the Apple Watch SE 2 started from $249 for the 40 mm model and $279 for the 44 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch SE 2

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Series 8

The Apple Watch Series 8 has been introduced on September 7, 2022, and is still available in Apple Store. Today this device is 18 months old.

The new Watch Series 8 comes in two new sizes 41 mm and 45 mm and has been made in 7 different finishes including Aluminum (Starlight, Midnight, Silver, and (PRODUCT) RED), and Stainless Steel (Silver, Graphite, Gold). Every watch is shipped with a paired band. 

The all-new Apple Watch features a 1.78-inch or 1.9-inch LTPO OLED Retina always-on Display with Force Touch covered by Ion-X glass or Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S8 processor, Apple W3 chip, Ultra-Wideband Apple U1 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, L1 GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, third-generation heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, high-g accelerometer, high dynamic range gyroscope, temperature sensor, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, water-resistance up to 50 meters, wireless charging, and additional Cellular model.

The Apple Watch Series 8 features a temperature sensor that works with a cycle tracking app, low power mode, international roaming, watchOS 9, and crash detection.

The original price of the Apple Watch Series 8 started from $399 for the 41 mm model and $429 for the 45 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Ultra

Apple Watch Ultra
Source: apple.com – Apple Watch Ultra

The Apple Watch Ultra has been introduced on September 7, 2022, and is still available in Apple Store. Today this device is 18 months old.

The all-new Watch Ultra comes in one size 49 mm case and has been made in one color version – Natural Titanium. Every watch is shipped with a new paired band of your choice: Alpine Loop, Ocean Band, or Trail Loop. 

The all-new Apple Watch features a 1.9-inch LTPO OLED Retina always-on Display with Force Touch covered by flat Sapphire crystal, Dual-Core 64-bit Apple S8 processor, Apple W3 chip, Ultra-Wideband Apple U1 chip, 32 GB of flash memory, Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, NFC for Apple Pay, Dual L1 and L5 GPS, customizable Action button, Bluetooth 5.3, ambient light sensor, ECG based on electrical heart sensor, third-generation heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, high-g accelerometer, high dynamic range gyroscope, temperature sensor, barometric altimeter, magnetometer, built-in 86-decibel Siren to attract attention, dual speakers, three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation, water temperature sensor, depth gauge, water-resistance up to 100 meters(EN13319 certification), IP6X dust resistance, wireless charging, LTE and UMTS connectivity, and up to 36 hours of battery life.

The Apple Watch Ultra has been designed to survive in extreme environments such as desert, underwater, or in extremely low temperatures. Watch Ultra features a completely new design, inspired by explorers and athletes. The Apple watch case is made of titanium, flat sapphire crystal glass, and ceramic back. This Watch comes with one of three new bands: Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band. 

Apple Watch Ultra is completely different from Series 8. Watch Ultra features more precise GPS, customizable Action button, 86-decibel Siren, larger and brighter display, more durable case, longer battery life, special night mode, water temperature sensor, better water resistance, built-in Cellular connectivity as standard, Bluetooth 5.3, and much more.

The original price of the Apple Watch Ultra started from $799 for the 49 mm model.

Go to the full specifications of the Apple Watch Ultra

Article last updated: September 23, 2022
Article next update: September 2023