Tom's Guide Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 8 gets a skin temperature reader, low power mode and crash detection to make the best smartwatch around a tick better. But the design and watchOS 9 are what really make Series 8 shine.

Not that much is new for the Apple Watch Series 8, and that's OK. I mean, it might seem less exciting compared to the Apple Watch Ultra, but don't get me wrong — after using it for several months, I've found that useful upgrades to health tracking, safety and connectivity make the best smartwatch even better.

The biggest Apple Watch Series 8 upgrades compared to the Apple Watch Series 7 are all on the inside. The watch has the long-rumored skin temperature sensor and long-awaited low power mode, which can extend the latest Apple Watch's battery life to 36 hours. The Apple Watch 8 also has a new crash detection feature, leveraging improved motion sensors for instant help when you might need it most.

Maintaining the $399 starting price while offering an affordable alternative in the Apple Watch SE (2022) rounds out Apple's smartwatch lineup quite nicely, too. But is the latest flagship Apple Watch right for you? Let's go over what you need to know in this Apple Watch Series 8 review.

Apple Watch Series 8 price and availability
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available as of September 16, 2022 with a starting price of $399 (AU$629) for the 41-millimeter, GPS-only model. The price is $499 (AU$789) for the GPS + cellular version. The 45-millimeter size, meanwhile, will start at $429 (AU$679), and go up to $529 (AU$839) for cellular support.

There are two additional Apple Watch models to choose from this year: the $799 (AU$1,299) Apple Watch Ultra and $249 (AU$399) Apple Watch SE (2022). You might recall the original Apple Watch SE started at $279, so that model received a $30 discount — a move that makes sense with the Apple Watch Series 3 being discontinued... finally.