Apple has come a long way since the first Apple Watch launched in 2015. With each new iteration, Apple packs its smartwatches with more health sensors, safety features, and performance upgrades. But with so many models now available, deciding between them can get confusing.
Two of the most popular Apple Watch models are the Series 4 from 2018 and the recently launched Series 8. Both offer compelling features, but there are some key differences you’ll want to consider before buying.
This guide breaks down the pros, cons, similarities and differences between the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 8 to help you choose the right model.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Specs | Apple Watch Series 4 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
| Release Year | 2018 | 2022 |
| Display | 1.78″ or 2.2″ OLED, up to 1000 nits | Always-On Retina OLED, up to 1000 nits |
| Sizes | 40mm, 44mm | 41mm, 45mm |
| Water Resistance | 50 meters | 50 meters |
| Materials | Aluminum, stainless steel | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium |
| Processor | S4 chip | S8 chip |
| Storage | 16GB | 32GB |
| ECG App | Yes | Yes |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Sensor | No | Yes |
| Temperature Sensor | No | Yes |
| Crash Detection | No | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | ~18 hours | ~18 hours |
Apple Watch Series 4 Overview
The Apple Watch Series 4 launched in 2018 as a major upgrade over the previous Series 3. It sported a larger watch face, thinner body, faster processor, and a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG) for tracking heart health.
Here are some of the key features and specs of the Series 4:
- Display: 1.78″ or 2.2″ LTPO OLED display, up to 1000 nits brightness
- Sizes: 40mm and 44mm
- Water resistance: Up to 50 meters
- Materials: Aluminum or stainless steel
- Processor: S4 chip with 64-bit dual-core processor
- Storage: 16GB
- ECG app: Takes 30-second ECG readings to detect atrial fibrillation
- Fall detection: Automatically calls emergency services if a hard fall is detected
- Optical heart sensor: Tracks heart rate 24/7
- GPS: Tracks pace and distance for outdoor workouts
- Mobile payments: Apple Pay on the wrist
Apple Watch Series 8 Overview
The Apple Watch Series 8 landed in September 2022 with some incremental upgrades over the previous Series 7. The overall design stayed the same, but new features were added like a temperature sensor and improved activity tracking metrics.
Here are some of the key features and specs of the Series 8:
- Display: Always-On Retina display, up to 1000 nits brightness
- Sizes: 41mm and 45mm
- Water resistance: WR50 water resistance
- Materials: Aluminum or stainless steel
- Processor: S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
- Storage: 32GB
- Temperature sensor: Provides estimated ovulation tracking
- Crash detection: Calls emergency services after a severe car crash
- ECG app and optical heart sensor
- Blood oxygen sensor
- Sleep tracking
- GPS and GLONASS
- Fall detection and Emergency SOS
- Mobile payments
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Head-To-Head Comparison
Now let’s dive into a detailed, feature-by-feature comparison of the Apple Watch Series 4 versus Series 8.
Design and Display
The overall design and shape of the Series 4 and Series 8 are quite similar, with rounded square cases, side buttons, a digital crown, and interchangeable bands. They also both come in 40/41mm and 44/45mm size options to fit different wrist sizes.
The displays on both models are bright, sharp, and colorful. But the Series 8’s screen is always on, while the Series 4 has an on-demand display that turns off when not in use. Both watches have ample 400×400 pixel resolution though.
For materials, the Series 4 comes in aluminum or stainless steel. The Series 8 is available in aluminum or stainless steel as well, but also offers a premium titanium option.
Winner: Tie – The designs are remarkably similar, though the always-on display of the Series 8 is more convenient.
Health Sensors and Fitness Tracking
The Series 4 and 8 share a number of the same fitness tracking and health monitoring features like heart rate tracking, fall detection, mobility metrics and more.
However, the Series 8 pulls ahead with its new temperature sensor for women’s health tracking and crash detection feature.
The temperature sensor enables estimating ovulation cycles for family planning. Crash detection can automatically connect you with emergency services if you’re in a severe car accident.
Winner: Series 8 – More advanced health sensors like temperature monitoring and crash detection give it the edge.
Performance and Battery
The Series 8 is powered by the newer S8 SiP chip, giving it a slight performance boost over the S4 chip in the Series 4. But both deliver smooth and responsive performance for apps, notifications and everyday use.
Battery life is also very comparable at around 18 hours of normal usage on a charge. Typical battery performance is solid on both models for casually getting through a full day.
Winner: Series 8 – With a newer processor, it delivers a bit snappier performance.
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Smartwatch Features
You’ll enjoy the same excellent smartwatch features on both the Series 4 and Series 8 models. This includes:
- Notifications for texts, calls, emails, and apps
- Contactless Apple Pay
- Music storage and playback controls
- Activity and workout tracking
- Thousands of apps like Uber, Starcks, Shazam and more through the App Store
- Siri voice assistant access on your wrist
- Find My integration to locate your iPhone
- Customizable watch faces
You’re not losing any core smartwatch functionality opting for the older Series 4. Both provide a stellar smartwatch experience thanks to tight integration with iPhone and watchOS.
Winner: Tie – Nearly identical smartwatch feature sets.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The key differences are the Series 8 has newer health sensors (temperature and crash detection), always-on display, faster processor and 32GB storage versus 16GB on Series 4.
Otherwise, core features like ECG, fall detection, heart rate monitoring, GPS, water resistance, Apple Pay, and notifications are present on both.
The overall user experience is quite similar, but the Series 8’s added health sensors, always-on screen, faster chip, and extra storage give it some nice improvements. Unless you need the newest health features specifically though, the Series 4 remains highly capable.
For most Series 4 users, upgrading to the Series 8 is optional, not essential. The new safety features are nice additions, but the core Apple Watch experience remains excellent on Series 4. If your Series 4 is still in good condition, holding onto it is perfectly fine.
The case sizes are nearly identical, with 40mm for Series 4 and 41mm for Series 8, while the larger models are 44mm versus 45mm respectively. Both watches come in the same two size options to fit different wrist sizes. The displays have the same height and width.
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The Verdict
So which Apple Watch model is better for you – the Series 4 or Series 8? Here are some key factors to help you decide:
- The Series 8 is the better choice if you want the latest and greatest Apple Watch with the newest health sensors and safety features. The temperature tracking and crash detection could be game-changers for some users.
- The Series 4 is still a very capable smartwatch option if you don’t need the newest sensors or always-on display. It delivers strong heart health tracking and other core features at a cheaper price point.
- Go Series 8 if you want maximum future-proofing. It will receive software updates for a year longer than the Series 4.
- Existing Series 4 owners don’t necessarily need to upgrade yet if cost is a factor. The additions on the Series 8 are nice but not essential upgrades for most.
- The 40mm Series 4 and 41mm Series 8 models are nearly the same size. But the 44mm Series 4 is noticeably smaller than the new 45mm Series 8. Keep this in mind if size matters.
- You can expect to pay around $200 less for a used Series 4 versus a brand new Series 8. Cost savings may help sway some buyers towards the older model.
Hopefully this comparison has helped highlight the key pros and cons of each model.
To summarize, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the more advanced watch overall, but the Series 4 still holds up nicely for core features at a lower price. Let your budget, size needs, and desired features guide you to the right Apple Watch for your needs.