Today, Apple introduced Apple Watch Series 2, the next generation of the world’s most popular smartwatch. Apple Watch Series 2 is packed with incredible fitness and health capabilities including a water resistance 50 meter rating for swimming,* and built-in GPS so users can now run without an iPhone. Apple Watch Series 2 also features a dramatically brighter display and a powerful dual-core processor. Combined with the performance enhancements of watchOS 3, Apple Watch Series 2 makes it even easier to access third-party apps, receive and respond to notifications and conveniently use Apple Pay. Apple Watch Series 2 will be available in more than 25 countries beginning Friday, September 16.
“We’re thrilled with the response to Apple Watch and how it’s changed people’s lives. We are committed to fitness and health and think our customers will love the new capabilities of Apple Watch Series 2,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement. “With a powerful new dual-core processor, water resistance 50 meters and built-in GPS, Apple Watch Series 2 is packed with features to help our customers live a healthy life.”
Fitness & Health
Apple Watch Series 2 is rated water resistant 50 meters for swimming, surfing or just playing in the pool. For swimmers, Apple developed all-new algorithms after hundreds of hours of research for two new workout options, pool and open water. Apple Watch Series 2 can count laps, track average lap pace and auto-detect stroke type to accurately measure active calorie burn.
With built-in GPS, Apple Watch Series 2 records precise distance, pace and speed for outdoor workouts such as walking, running or cycling, without needing to take an iPhone. Users can begin an outdoor workout immediately as Apple Watch Series 2 uses Wi-Fi, GPS and locally stored satellite data to quickly identify their location. On completion of an outdoor workout, view a route map that shows variations in speed in the Activity app on iPhone. Whether running, going for a swim or walking between meetings, the Activity app on Apple Watch Series 2 counts all daily activity towards the Stand, Move and Exercise rings.
Advanced Technology
Apple pioneered the custom designed System in Package (SiP) for Apple Watch, and continues to develop this breakthrough technology with the second generation S2 chip. With a dual-core processor, the S2 chip takes performance to a new level, making Apple Watch up to 50 percent faster. In addition, a new GPU has been added, which delivers up to two-times-greater graphics performance. Apple Watch Series 2 also features a dramatically brighter display — at 1,000 nits, it’s more than two times brighter— making this the brightest display Apple has ever shipped, so it’s even easier to see important information at a glance when outside on a sunny day.
watchOS 3
watchOS 3 features significantly improved performance that makes it even simpler to launch favorite apps instantly, either from the watch face or with the new Dock, which displays the latest information already updated in the background. New fitness and health capabilities include the breakthrough Breathe app, designed to encourage users to take a moment in their day to do deep breathing exercises for relaxation and stress reduction. The Activity app now includes the ability to share, compare and compete, keeping friends and family motivated. There is also a customized experience for wheelchair users to close their Activity rings, in addition to dedicated workouts.
Apple Watch is even more personal with new watch faces including Minnie Mouse, Activity and Numerals. Simply swipe edge-to-edge to swap out a new watch face and with the new Face Gallery in the Apple Watch app on iPhone, it’s even easier to customize watch faces and discover third-party apps.
Apple Watch Lineup
Apple Watch Series 2 is available with all the new fitness and health capabilities in lightweight aluminum or stainless steel cases, paired with a wide variety of gorgeous new band colors.
Apple Watch Series 1 is available in lightweight aluminum and combines the new powerful dual-core processor and GPU with all the incredible features of the original Apple Watch, making it up to 50 percent faster and available to even more customers, starting at just $269 (US).
Apple Watch Edition now comes in a beautiful ceramic, that embodies craftsmanship with a lustrous white case and all the incredible features of Apple Watch Series 2. Ceramic is one of the hardest materials in the world — more than four times harder than stainless steel — with a beautiful, white, pearl-like finish, making Apple Watch Edition extremely scratch-resistant.
Pricing & Availability
• Apple Watch is available in two different case sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm. Apple Watch Series 1 will be available in gold, rose gold, silver or space gray aluminum cases paired with a Sport Band and starts at just $269 (US); Apple Watch Series 2 will be available in gold, rose gold, silver or space gray aluminum, or silver or space black stainless steel cases paired with a wide variety of bands starting at $369 (US); and the new ceramic Apple Watch Edition starts at $1249 (US) from Apple.com, Apple Stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers and carriers. For local availability, visit locate.apple.com. Apple Watch Nike+ starts at $369 (US) and Apple Watch Hermès starts at $1149 (US).
• All-new Apple Watch Band Kits in gorgeous new colors are available, beginning today.
• Customers will be able to order Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Edition beginning Friday, September 9, with availability beginning Friday, September 16, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK and the US.
• Apple Watch Nike+ will be available to order on Apple.com beginning Friday, September 9, with availability in late October, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK and the US.
• Apple Watch Hermès will be available beginning Friday, September 23 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK and the US.
• Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Edition will be available beginning Friday, September 23 in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Greece, Guam, Hungary, Jersey, Kuwait, Macau, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and the US Virgin Islands.
• Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Edition will be available beginning Friday, October 7 in India and Mexico.
• Apple Watch Series 2 requires iPhone 5 or later running iOS 10 or later. watchOS 3 and iOS 10 will be available beginning Tuesday, September 13 as a free software update. Some features are not available in all regions or all languages.
• Every customer who buys Apple Watch from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online,** to help set up and personalize their new Apple Watch with calendars, notifications, apps and more.
• Anyone who wants to learn more about Apple Watch or watchOS 3 can register for the free workshops offered at every Apple Store.
*Apple Watch Series 2 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. Stainless steel and leather bands are not water resistant.
**In most countries.
Source: Apple Inc.
Who else wants one ?
Lol.
Look at all the comments. You and MDN/Steve Jack can pontificate about what YOU think people want. But what you think and what other people want may not be the same.
I’m pretty sure this Keynote has wiped the smug look off of Steve Jack’s face for today anyway.
The Apple Watch is a boring, redundant product that hardly has a reason to live. And generation 2 is underwhelming with crap battery life.
It will not reach any kind of mass adoption.
Bla, bla, bla.
Please point me to another watch with better specs?
http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-s3/
I don’t compare Apple’s product to vaporware. Get back to me when people are actually buying it and “real world” use starts being reported.
Samsung is notorious for lying about specs and battery life.
Apple Watch 2 is not on sale yet either.
What the hell are you talking about? Did you bother yourself to watch the keynote? In just 8 months on the market (remember, there are 12 months in a year) the Apple Watch has already surpassed every watch maker in the worl besides Rolex. That’s 8 months to pass what other watchmakers have been working on for centuries! I’d call that mass adoption already and with the customer satisfaction numbers off the charts, they are only going to sell more and more as they improve the product.
If Apple told you Santa Claus is real, you would believe them. There is no qualification or data revealed to support the position they placed themselves in in the Keynote.
Paid Samsung troll?
LOL…Never!
Confirmed feather is a 3 year old
The Apple Watch is right up there with the Pet Rock in terms of importance for Apple consumers.
You would have to be brain dead to ever consider buying one.
Did you see that 3.5mm adapter? Good, because that’s exactly what greedy Cook wants to sell billions of dollars of.
And how are they going to do that? The only phones that need the adaptor come with one. Gawd your stupid.
So how do you Apple Watch first generation owners feel? Ha ha!
Same way I felt when I sold my last seven iPhones and bought a new one each year. Like I haven’t missed out on amazing technology as have some people.
(Brought to you by Carl’s Jr.)
Lol , what an answer, Salute Brando 🙂 … As for you Feather , Ive had the Apple watch since launch day , love it , no i wont be upgrading to the Watch2 , doesn’t mean to say it still isn’t an incredible piece of tech .
I feel great since I have been enjoying the Apple Watch since Christmas. It has helped me improve my hydration, steps per day and motivating me to exercise more. Also links up to my sleep analysis product and software so I can see at a glance how well I slept and look at trends over the past week.
The constant heart monitoring has brought to my attention that my resting heart rate is higher than it should be. Keeping an eye on that now. Had no idea before.
The notifications is still my favorite. My iPhone is either in my pocket or sitting at my desk at work or anywhere at home. I get texts, email, phone calls. I can deal with all on my watch without scrambling to get my phone. I can chose to reply or not.
Having the temp and the next 12 hours of weather right there is great also.
The best part? It still works after today. Just because technology marches on and new versions come out does not mean the previous one stops working. Matter of fact, OS 3 will improve my existing Apple Watch for FREE.
Go buy your Android watch and pray it doesn’t explode.
I’m still waiting for Apple to reinvent the 8 track cassette drive. Or still even a reimagined high tech ink well and quill set powered by Bluetooth.
As an Apple Watch owner since launch last year, this is a tough call for me. I typically always buy the latest of my Apple products. But without any new health monitoring hardware added, I am afraid I will have to wait for version 3.0.
Agreed. I was holding out for a thinner design.
1.1cm is just too much for me.
As others are saying here, I’ll also wait for the real version 2.
This is Watch 1s.
Im in the same Boat , not enough “WOW” For me to trade up , hope the Next gen3 will be
Still not at the point where it’s a must have product for me, but it’s starting to get there. Might be another one where I finally buy at 3rd gen.
I think there are just honing in on what Apple Watch is going to be. Whilst many people think of it as a connected watch that replaces a phone, I think it’s headed more towards a comprehensive health monitor. Hence the lack of cellular connectivity. They’ve also killed off the gold versions. If they can get it to where it doesn’t need to be charged during the night and could monitor sleep, that would be a big plus. Still an evolution, but the built-in GPS finally makes it a useable watch for runners (at least those who don’t bring their phone to listen to music to). We’ll see where it heads, but I don’t think it’s meant to compete with the Samsung Gear or other smart watch.
Rolex is still number one. Wow, who da thunk? Once they make this thing truly independent (sans iPhone completely), expect an explosion in sales. Until then, meh…