Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Series 4: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Series 8 offers significant upgrades in health tracking, display technology, and charging speed. However, the Series 4 remains a solid option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize core smartwatch functionality. For most, the Series 8's advancements justify the price, but the Series 4 is a surprisingly good value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Series 8 | Apple Watch Series 4 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International, China, HK | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 / 800 - Europe, Australia |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International, China, HK | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | 1, 3, 39, 40, 41 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 07 | 2018, September. Released 2018, September |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 16 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 42.3 g (41mm), 51.5 g (45mm) (1.48 oz) | 48 g (1.69 oz) |
| IP6X certified 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.9 inches | 1.78 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | 3D Touch display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S8 | Apple S4 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 | watchOS 5.0, upgradable to watchOS 10.6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer |
| Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 308 mAh | Li-Ion 292 mAh (1.12 Wh), non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Gold | Space Black, Silver, Gold |
| Models | A2773, A2775, A2772, A2774, A2857, A2858, watch6,16, watch6,17 | A1975, A1976, A2007, A2008 |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 700 EUR |
| SAR | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Series 8
- Advanced health tracking (ECG, temperature sensing)
- Brighter Always-On display
- Faster charging
- Improved performance with S8 chip
- Crash Detection
- Higher price
- Battery life not dramatically improved over Series 4
Apple Watch Series 4
- More affordable
- Still offers core smartwatch functionality
- Compact and lightweight design
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Less bright display
- Slower charging
- Older processor
- Lacks advanced health features
Display Comparison
The Series 8 boasts a brighter Always-On Retina display with thinner borders, offering improved visibility even in direct sunlight. The Series 4's display is still sharp and vibrant, but noticeably less bright and lacks the Always-On functionality, requiring a wrist raise to activate.
Camera Comparison
Neither the Series 8 nor the Series 4 have a dedicated camera. This feature has never been included in Apple Watch models.
Performance
While both watches use dual-core processors, the S8 chip in the Series 8 provides a noticeable performance boost, resulting in smoother animations and faster app loading times. The Series 4's performance is adequate for everyday tasks, but can feel sluggish at times.
Battery Life
The Series 8 offers slightly improved battery life compared to the Series 4, but both typically last around 18 hours with moderate use. The Series 8's faster charging (0-80% in 45 minutes) is a significant advantage.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Series 8 is ideal for fitness enthusiasts, those prioritizing advanced health features (like temperature sensing and ECG), and users who want the latest technology. The Series 4 is a great choice for first-time smartwatch buyers, those on a tighter budget, or users who primarily need notifications and basic fitness tracking.