The Apple Watch is celebrating its 10th anniversary! The smartwatch range has dominated an industry that saw countless players give their best to take the throne and still find no luck for over a decade.
Back in 2015, when Apple released the first version of the Watch, the Cupertino giant had no idea about the direction it was pursuing. Its arch-rival Samsung had been around for two years in the segment with the feature-packed Galaxy Gear series of smartwatches while others lacked any interest in the segment. Some of the earliest Apple Watches were trying to be an extension of the iPhone on your wrist.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Apple Watch stands out as the beacon of a health, fitness and wellness-obsessed wearable at its finest. It may not bring innovations like Samsung but the Apple Watch stands for a quality experience that’s second to none. In the larger picture of the Apple ecosystem, it now plays a vital role in pampering its users.
With a 10th anniversary special upgrade rumoured, won’t it be nice to take a stroll down memory lane and explore all the Apple Watches in their chronological order of release? We begin with the very first Apple Watch and progress along to the latest models, including the Watch SE and Watch Ultra variants.
Hence, let’s not leave the clock ticking. Here’s our list of all the Apple Watches in order.
The full timeline of Apple Watches in their order of release
Apple Watch 1st Gen
Released in: April 2015
The first generation Apple Watch introduced the idea of a modern wearable computer with a greater focus on essentials rather than stuffing all possible features (like Samsung’s Galaxy Gear).
With a rectangular dial design, the 1st Gen Apple Watch came in two sizes (38mm and 42mm) and featured the iconic rotating crown – the latter allowed users to scroll through the UI and zoom into pictures. The 1.65-inch OLED display featured Apple’s Force Touch functionality that relied on pressure sensitivity to offer additional touch functions. The concept of interchangeable bands was also a tempting aspect for customers.
Unlike the modern Apple Watches, the 1st Gen Watch lacked LTE connectivity and relied solely on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for pairing with an iPhone. It could only show notifications from apps, music controls and allowed calls. For fitness enthusiasts, the Apple Watch only features a heart rate sensor along with a gyroscope and accelerometer for basic monitoring. The single-core Apple S1 chip, however, was slow and made the watchOS interface laggy.
While it may not seem as appealing as the modern generation, the 1st Gen Apple Watch laid the foundation for how modern smartwatches are to be benchmarked.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Apple Watch Ultra 2nd Gen: The Ultimate Showdown
OnePlus Watch 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Apple Watch Series 9: Does The New Smartwatch Have The Edge?
Apple Watch Series 1
Released in: September 2016
After a shaky start, Apple went for a dual-model strategy with the second generation. The Apple Watch Series 1 came in 2016 as the more affordable smartwatch from Apple that refines the original’s proposition.
It retained the same design as well as the size options as the 1st Gen Apple Watch but Apple gave a new Ion-X strengthened display protection glass. The Force Touch functionality stuck around for the Series 1 to provide pressure-sensitive contextual menus.
However, the bigger advancements came with a faster dual-core Apple S1P chipset that made the general performance energetic. The fitness and connectivity aspects remained unchanged from the first generation model but Apple gave it some degrees of water resistance to have a better chance at surviving sweat and water splashes. The lower price made it a suitable deal for many to get on board Apple’s smartwatch ecosystem.
Apple Watch Series 2
Released in: September 2016
With the Apple Watch Series 2, Apple introduced notable upgrades over the original 1st Gen Apple Watch and sold it at a premium. The Series 2 looked similar to the Series 1 but offered customers to choose between aluminium, stainless steel and ceramic materials for the case. Additionally, there were more strap options available for customers to customise their Apple Watch. The aluminium variants came with Ion-X strengthened glass protection whereas the other materials featured Sapphire Crystal glass protection.
On the performance front, Apple increased the display’s brightness to 1,000 nits, bumping up the general performance significantly with a newer generation Apple S2 dual-core chip and built-in GPS tracking. The addition of a 50-meter water resistance rating unlocked new health and fitness workout modes like swimming and other water activities. The GPS tracking also allowed for greater insight into outdoor workouts.
Apple Watch Series 3
Released in: September 2017
The biggest upgrade that the Series 3 brought to the table (or rather the wrist) was the inclusion of cellular connectivity. Using an eSIM chip, the Apple Watch Series 3 could replicate the data and cellular plan from your paired iPhone, thereby letting you make calls even when you don’t have your iPhone on you.
The new Apple S3 chip introduced up to 70 per cent boost in general performance and the new W2 chip allowed for faster as well as efficient Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. A new barometer sensor allowed the Series 3 to track elevation gains. The health and fitness features remained the same as its predecessor though.
Apple Watch Series 4
Released in: September 2018
The Apple Watch Series 4 was a major leap forward for the Apple Watch. It featured a fresh design that reduced the bezels to release more space for the display, thereby imparting a modern look and feel. It was made available in 40mm and 44mm variants but Apple managed to retain the compatibility with previous watch straps.
Other than the new display, the Series 4 also featured an upgraded digital crown with haptic feedback. A new ECG sensor was introduced to monitor signs of atrial fibrillation as well as notify about low and high heart rates.
The Series 4 with its Fall Detection features could also alert emergency services in case of emergency. The sensors could also detect workouts automatically and start monitoring the vital aspects. The new Apple S4 chip was slightly faster at processing all the loads the new version of watchOS threw at it.
Apple Watch Series 5
Released in: September 2019
After the major upgrade that was the Series 4, Apple took it lightly with the Series 5. It was more of an iterative update where the only notable changes, other than the new colours and watch faces, included an Always-On display functionality and a mildly faster Apple S5 chip.
The ECG monitoring as well as the 50-meter water resistance were carried over from its predecessor.
Apple Watch Series 6
Released in: September 2020
Also regarded by critics and fans as the Apple Watch ‘COVID edition’, the Series 6 was another iterative upgrade of its predecessor that added certain trendy features to maintain its lead. A new blood oxygen saturation monitoring sensor was added to keep an eye on the SpO2 levels and alert its wearer in case it dropped unexpectedly. It also offered advanced sleep tracking and handwashing detection as part of the revamped health and fitness features.
Users could customise the watch faces to make the interface more unique.
Apple Watch SE 1st Generation
Released in: September 2020
On the sidelines of the Series 6, Apple introduced a new lineup of Watch models designed primarily to cater to customers on a tighter budget, just like the Apple Watch Series 1 from years ago. The 1st Gen Apple Watch SE was essentially a repurposed iteration of the Series 5 that let go of certain advanced health and fitness tracking features to attain a lower starting price.
Based on the Apple S5 platform, it was reasonably fast for the general smart functions. It lost out on the ECG and blood oxygen saturation monitoring but retained the heart rate tracking and other generic aspects, including sleep monitoring and popular workout modes. It was made available in 40mm and 44mm versions, with optional LTE connectivity.
Apple Watch Series 7
Released in: October 2021
The Series 7 was more of a cosmetic upgrade rather than a generation upgrade. The new S7 chip offered slight performance gains over its predecessor but Apple drew attention to the display with the Series 7.
Without changing the size, Apple expanded the display to 1.9 inches by trimming down the bezels further. This made the Series 7 look more modern than its predecessors. A new crack resistance glass promised to protect the watch display from damage in case of an accidental bump. A faster wireless charging solution was implemented in the Series 7 but was available for use in select regions around the world.
Apple Watch Series 8
Released in: September 2022
The Series 8 was once again a slight improvement over its predecessor. A new S8 chip promised slight gains in performance and efficiency. The design was left unchanged from the Series 7 but Apple added a new temperature sensor that helped in predictions with one’s ovulation period. The Crash Detection feature was another star highlight of the Series 8.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen
Released in: September 2022
Alongside the Series 8, the Apple Watch SE also got an upgrade. The Watch SE 2nd Gen got the newer S8 chip from the Series 8, thereby making it fast and capable enough to handle the newer features of watchOS 9. The back case was redesigned with nylon composite material to make it more comfortable and lighter on the wrists. The more accessible price, however, denied the watch of the ECG sensor and other advanced health monitoring systems.
Apple Watch Ultra 1st Gen
Released in: September 2022
The star of Apple’s 2022 watch lineup was the Apple Watch Ultra – an entirely new take on Apple’s smartwatch that caters to adventure enthusiasts. The Watch Ultra introduced a bigger and more bulky profile made of Titanium to withstand extreme temperatures and conditions, including diving and hiking. A new 49mm flat Sapphire Crystal Glass covering the OLED display was tuned to be easily legible outdoors with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The Action Button was included to give quick access to specific functions or apps. The Watch Ultra came with a different strap mechanism along with newer designs to spruce up its appearance.
Although the Watch Ultra shared most of the health and fitness features from the Series 8, it included certain additions like a depth gauge and an advanced multi-band GPS tied to a new compass app. A bigger capacity battery promised up to 36 hours in regular mode and up to 60 hours in low-power mode.
Apple Watch Series 9
Released in: September 2023
The Apple Watch Series 9 brought a much faster and smarter S9 chip specialising in processing advanced neural tasks. This allowed the Series 9 to run Siri on-device for processing voice requests faster. The new double-tap feature was introduced for hands-free control of the watchOS 10 UI. While the display size remained unchanged, Apple bumped up the brightness to 2,000 nits for superior legibility. It also gained the Precision Finding tech from the iPhone 15. The overhauled watchOS 10 interface made the most out of its large display.
Apple Watch Ultra 2nd Gen
Released in: September 2023
The Apple Watch Ultra, in its second generation, retained most of the ‘Ultra aspects’ but gained the newer performance bits from the Series 9. This included the faster S9 chip that enabled the Double-Tap gesture, on-device Siri and the revamped UI of watchOS 10. While no changes to the design were made, Apple bumped up the display brightness to 3,000 nits and enhanced the watch’s high-altitude capabilities. The battery life remained unchanged at 36 hours on a full charge.
Apple Watch Series X
Expected release: September 2024
In 2024, Apple is expected to release an overhauled Apple Watch Series X to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its smartwatch lineup. Based on the rumours we have heard from industry insiders, the Series X is likely to feature a larger dial with a slimmer profile, brighter OLED display, superior battery life and a new-gen chipset that specialises in neural processing.
The Series X is also rumoured to get blood pressure monitoring as a new feature added to its health and wellness category.
Apple Watch Series 8 vs Series 9: Is It Worth The Upgrade?
Upcoming Smartwatches In 2024: Apple Watch SE 3, Galaxy Watch 7, Pixel Watch 3 And More
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Blocks Fletcher via Unsplash)
