Apple Watch Series 4: Revolutionizing Wearable Technology with Advanced Health and Design

In September 2018, Apple unveiled the fourth generation of its highly popular smartwatch lineup: the Apple Watch Series 4. While maintaining the instantly recognizable aesthetic and backward compatibility with existing strap designs that users have come to appreciate, the Series 4 introduced a significant array of enhancements and groundbreaking features. This iteration solidified Apple’s position at the forefront of the wearable technology market, pushing the boundaries of what a smartwatch could achieve, particularly in health monitoring.

At first glance, the Series 4 shared fundamental characteristics with its predecessor, the Series 3. Both models offered the choice between a GPS-only configuration and a more versatile GPS + Cellular option, providing users with the flexibility to stay connected even without their iPhone nearby. Moreover, Apple committed to its renowned battery performance, with both watches delivering an “all-day” 18-hour battery life and robust water resistance up to 50 meters, making them suitable companions for swimming and water sports. However, a deeper dive into the Series 4 reveals a meticulously redesigned experience, primarily centered around a larger display and unparalleled health capabilities.

Innovative Design and Enhanced Display

The Apple Watch Series 4 brought a refined design language to the beloved smartwatch. While retaining its iconic square-ish form factor, Apple subtly yet significantly expanded the display area. The Series 4 cases were introduced in slightly larger dimensions: 40mm and 44mm, replacing the previous 38mm and 42mm options of the Series 3. This seemingly minor increase translated into a dramatically larger screen-to-body ratio, offering over 30% more display surface area compared to their predecessors. Specifically, the 40mm Series 4 boasted a 759 sq mm display, a substantial upgrade from the 563 sq mm of the 38mm Series 3. Similarly, the 44mm Series 4 provided an impressive 977 sq mm display, far exceeding the 740 sq mm of the 42mm Series 3.

This expanded display wasn’t merely about size; it fundamentally transformed the user experience. More information could be displayed at a glance, allowing for richer complications on watch faces and a more immersive interface. Apple capitalized on this by introducing new, dynamic watch faces like the “Infograph” and “Breathe” faces, which leveraged the larger canvas to provide dense, customizable information displays or visually engaging animations. The edges of the display were subtly curved, flowing seamlessly into the redesigned case, giving the device a more fluid and modern appearance.

Another pivotal design improvement came with the redesigned Digital Crown. While physically smaller, it was engineered with significantly more internal components. A notable addition was haptic feedback, which provided a subtle, precise click-like sensation as you rotated the dial. This tactile response enhanced navigation, making scrolling through lists or adjusting settings feel more precise and satisfying, reminiscent of the trackpad experience on a MacBook Pro. Crucially, the Digital Crown also integrated one of the two electrodes necessary for the watch’s groundbreaking ECG function, a testament to Apple’s dedication to blending design with advanced functionality.

Furthermore, the entire back of the Apple Watch Series 4 was crafted from ceramic and sapphire crystal. In previous models, only specific premium editions like the stainless steel or ceramic watches featured a ceramic back, typically limited to the circular heart rate sensor area. Now, the full rear casing was ceramic, offering increased durability, improved cellular signal transparency, and a more uniform, premium aesthetic. This robust material choice further elevated the Series 4, setting it apart from older models that utilized a standard metal back with a central glass component for sensors.

Groundbreaking Health Monitoring: ECG and Advanced Heart Rate Detection

The most significant and celebrated innovation of the Apple Watch Series 4 was its profound advancement in health monitoring, particularly its ability to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) directly from the wrist. This feature was a game-changer, marking the first time such a capability was offered in a direct-to-consumer device and receiving clearance from regulatory bodies like the FDA in the United States.

The ECG function works by utilizing two strategically placed metal electrodes on the watch. One is integrated into the redesigned Digital Crown, and the other is located on the ceramic and sapphire crystal back of the Apple Watch. To take an ECG, users simply open the ECG app on their watch and place a finger from their opposite hand onto the Digital Crown for 30 seconds. This action completes an electrical circuit across the user’s body, allowing the watch to record electrical signals from the heart. The resulting data can detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a serious form of irregular heart rhythm, or classify the rhythm as sinus rhythm, indicating a normal heart rate. While this functionality was announced at launch, it became available shortly thereafter with the WatchOS 5.1 software update, underscoring Apple’s commitment to delivering validated, actionable health insights.

Beyond the revolutionary ECG, the Series 4 also enhanced its existing heart rate monitoring capabilities. The optical heart rate sensor, a staple since earlier models, continued to provide continuous heart rate tracking, delivering notifications for unusually high or low heart rates. These alerts could prompt users to seek medical attention if their heart rate fell outside of normal parameters without apparent activity. The combination of continuous monitoring and on-demand ECG allowed the Apple Watch Series 4 to become a powerful tool for proactive heart health management, empowering users with more data about their cardiovascular well-being than ever before.

Enhanced Performance and Safety Features

Under the hood, the Apple Watch Series 4 packed a formidable punch with its new S4 System in Package (SiP). This redesigned processor was a dual-core, 64-bit chip, engineered to deliver up to two times faster performance than the S3 chip found in the Series 3. This significant boost in processing power meant apps launched faster, Siri responded more quickly, and overall navigation felt snappier and more fluid, enhancing the user’s daily interactions with the device. Complementing the S4 was the new W3 wireless chip, which provided faster and more efficient Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Beyond speed, the Series 4 introduced a pivotal safety feature: Fall Detection. Leveraging an improved accelerometer and gyroscope, which offered twice the dynamic range and could sample motion data up to eight times faster, the watch could detect if a user took a hard fall. If a fall was detected and the user remained motionless for about a minute, the Series 4 would automatically initiate an emergency call to pre-selected contacts or emergency services. This feature, designed with the elderly and individuals with certain health conditions in mind, added an unprecedented layer of personal safety and peace of mind for users and their families.

Other hardware features carried over from Series 3 included the barometric altimeter for tracking elevation, built-in GPS for accurate location tracking during workouts, and the ambient light sensor for automatic display brightness adjustments. The speaker was also re-engineered to be 50% louder, improving call quality and Siri interactions, while the microphone was repositioned to the opposite side of the device to reduce echo and enhance clarity during phone calls.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Water Resistance

The Apple Watch Series 4 continued to offer the choice between a GPS-only model and a GPS + Cellular model. The cellular option, powered by an eSIM, allowed users to make calls, send messages, stream music, and use apps directly from their watch without needing their iPhone nearby. This independence provided unparalleled freedom, especially for fitness enthusiasts who wanted to track workouts and stay connected without carrying their phone.

Apple maintained the familiar “all-day” battery life of 18 hours for general use, consistent with previous models. This was achieved despite the larger, brighter display and more powerful processor, thanks to optimizations in hardware and software. For dedicated outdoor workouts with GPS tracking, the battery life was rated for up to 6 hours. Furthermore, the Series 4 retained its impressive water resistance rating of 50 meters, making it safe for swimming in pools or open water, and even tracking swimming workouts effectively.

Colors, Materials, and Strap Options

The Apple Watch Series 4 was available in a wider array of finishes compared to its predecessor. The aluminum models, known for their lightweight and durable construction, came in three elegant colors: silver, gold, and space gray. For those desiring a more premium look and feel, the stainless steel alternatives were offered in silver, a new gold finish, and a sophisticated space black. This expanded color palette, especially the new gold options in both aluminum and stainless steel, provided users with more personal style choices than the Series 3, which was limited to silver and space gray for its stainless steel models.

Regarding straps, Apple continued its tradition of offering a vast ecosystem of interchangeable bands. The Series 4 aluminum models typically shipped with a color-matched Sport Band, a popular and comfortable option for everyday wear and exercise. The stainless steel models, reflecting their premium positioning, were often paired with either a Sport Band or the elegant Milanese Loop bracelet. Crucially, all existing Apple Watch bands remained compatible with the Series 4, allowing users to seamlessly upgrade their watch while retaining their favorite strap collection. For the ultimate luxury experience, exclusive Hermes models were also available, featuring bespoke watch faces and exquisite leather bands.

Pricing

Upon its launch, the Apple Watch Series 4 presented various pricing tiers to cater to different preferences and budgets. The GPS-only models started at £399 for both the standard aluminum version and the Nike+ edition, offering an accessible entry point to Apple’s advanced smartwatch technology. For those desiring cellular connectivity, the GPS + Cellular models began at £499 for the standard or Nike+ options. The premium stainless steel GPS + Cellular models were priced higher, starting at £699. At the very top of the range were the luxurious Hermes models, which commenced at £1249, appealing to a clientele seeking exclusivity and high fashion alongside cutting-edge technology.

Conclusion

The Apple Watch Series 4 represented a significant leap forward in the evolution of smartwatches. By seamlessly integrating a larger, more immersive display, a haptically enhanced Digital Crown, and a durable ceramic back, Apple refined the user’s interaction with the device. More profoundly, its introduction of on-demand ECG capabilities and advanced fall detection transformed the Apple Watch from a mere convenience device into a powerful and proactive personal health and safety companion. Coupled with a faster S4 processor, improved wireless connectivity, and a wider range of aesthetic choices, the Series 4 solidified its position as a leading wearable. It not only continued to serve as an indispensable tool for fitness and communication but also redefined expectations for health monitoring on the wrist, truly revolutionizing wearable technology.