If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is one of the best accessories money can buy. The Apple Watch, originally released in 2015, has a lot of features that you can operate, whether you are an athlete or just interested in technology. So far, it has been said that over 100 million watches were sold. With so many models available, it can be tough to remember when each Apple Watch was released and what features it introduced. Luckily, we’ve collected all the Apple Watch releases in chronological order, so take a look and learn about the prosperous history of Apple’s most unique device.
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How many generations of Apple Watch have there been?
In total, Apple spent 14 different generations of Apple Watch. The first Apple Watch was released by Apple in 2014, and the company has released a modern model almost every year since then. For this list, we’ve included every standard Apple Watch model, in addition to the Special Edition (SE) and Ultra lines.
Each generation of the Apple Watch in release order
Apple Watch (1st generation) – April 24, 2015
It’s tough to believe that the first Apple Watch debuted almost a decade ago, but it’s true — Apple released the original Apple Watch in September 2015. This revolutionary device challenged what a watch could be, allowing users to track steps, heart rate, and other features, as well as operate the device for Apple Pay.
Apple Watch Series 1 – September 16, 2016
The Apple Watch Series 1 introduced a dual-core processor to the device for the first time, providing essentially twice the power of the first-generation Apple Watch. The original model was incredibly sluggish at times, and this modern chipset alleviated that in most cases. Other than that, the Series 1 is essentially the same device as the previous generation. This model was created as a refresh for those looking to enter the Apple Watch market at a lower price point.
Apple Watch Series 2 – September 16, 2016
The Apple Watch Series 2 launched right alongside the refreshed Series 1, offering a few minor improvements. For starters, the display is brighter than the previous two Apple Watch models, and this watch uses the same dual-core processor as the Series 1. The Series 2 also introduced GPS for the first time, which opened the door for users to jog or run without an iPhone to track them. Additionally, the Series 2 offered water resistance of up to 50 meters, the first Apple Watch to do so.
Apple Watch Series 3 – September 22, 2017
2017 brought the Apple Watch Series 3, and this model was the biggest leap forward for the Apple Watch to date. It released a model with cellular connectivity, allowing users to take calls, send text messages, and more without needing an iPhone. Additionally, the modern S3 chip provided a huge boost in performance over previous models, allowing the Series 3 to do much more than its predecessors.
Apple Watch Series 4 – September 21, 2018
The Series 4 was a major redesign of the Apple Watch, with Apple ditching the boxy style in favor of a more rounded finish. In addition to this design change, the display was significantly enlarged, now stretching closer to the edges of the device. Apple added a modern health sensor to the Series 4 that was capable of recording ECGs, a test used to determine abnormal heart rhythms.
Apple Watch Series 5 – September 20, 2019
In 2019, Apple released the feature-packed Apple Watch Series 5. This modern model offered a ton of modern features, acting as a significant upgrade over the Series 4. The immediate first major feature was the addition of an always-on display, which allowed the time to be displayed on your wrist at all times. Additionally, a modern Compass app was added, which was able to track things like altitude, direction, and more.
Apple Watch Series 6 – September 18, 2020
The Apple Watch Series 6 was a major launch in the health world. The Series 6 added a blood oxygen sensor, which allowed the Apple Watch to calculate the level of oxygen in your blood in just a few seconds. In addition to this addition, Apple also added a number of features to facilitate track your sleep. You could track how many hours you slept, which phase you were in, and more. In addition, the heart rate sensor was rebuilt, support for 5GHz Wi-Fi was added, and the display was more than twice as radiant as the Series 5.
Apple Watch SE – September 18, 2020
The Apple Watch SE (Special Edition) was released in 2020, acting as a sort of budget model compared to the standard Apple Watch Series 6. The device offered many of the same chips and technology that powered the Series 6, but it lacked key features and sensors to keep the cost down. For example, the blood oxygen sensor used in the Series 6 is absent from the SE, as is the ECG feature. Overall, the SE was a great option for those looking to save money on an Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 7 – October 15, 2021
The Apple Watch Series 7 was a pretty significant upgrade, significantly reducing the bezels and stretching the display to the edges. This allowed for a number of modern features and user interface elements, including a full-size keyboard for the first time on an Apple Watch. Durability was a key focus for this version, with IP6X dust resistance and a 50% thicker screen. The Series 7 also featured faster charging, although battery life remained at 18 hours.
Apple Watch Series 8 – September 16, 2022
The Apple Watch Series 8 offered a lot to modern users and those looking to upgrade. First up was the addition of Crash Detection, giving Apple the ability to instantly contact loved ones in the event of an accident. Additionally, a temperature sensor was added to track your temperature while you sleep. This sensor is also used to track ovulation in women, allowing it to detect changes in wrist temperature on the go.
Apple Watch Series 8 available from September 16
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Apple Watch SE 2 – September 16, 2022
The Apple Watch SE 2 refreshed the Apple Watch SE after two years. Overall, the Apple Watch SE only offers a few minor improvements, but the SE 2 is still an improvement. The main update is the switch to the newer S8 chip, which offers a significant boost in performance over the original SE model. Additionally, the SE 2 offers Crash Detection, which is powered by a modern gyroscope. While it’s not a major feature, it’s certainly nice because authorities and family members can be notified immediately if you’re involved in an accident.
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
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A budget option running on the same S8 SiP chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8, giving you swift processing at a fraction of the price.
Apple Watch Ultra – September 23, 2022
The Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate Apple Watch. It’s a device that’s at home in any environment, whether you’re on a bike, on the trail, or even underwater. Since it’s completely waterproof, you can take it diving up to 130 feet. With the largest display at 49mm, the Ultra features incredibly slim bezels and a sturdy design. The Ultra offers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is a huge leap forward compared to any previous Apple Watch. Overall, no previous Apple Watch has come close to what the Ultra has to offer.
Apple Watch Ultra
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Apple Watch Series 9 – September 22, 2023
Powered by the S9 chip, the Apple Watch Series 9 boasts 60% more transistors than the S8, which translates to more than twice the performance of some features. The Series 9 introduced gestures like Double Tap, which let you control actions on the Apple Watch by simply swiping your fingers. Additionally, the display brightness has been drastically improved, reaching a peak of 2,000 nits and a minimum of 1 nit in places like a movie theater. Finally, there’s a modern health sensor that can track your temperature while you sleep.
![Apple Watch Series 9 [GPS 45mm]](https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2024/06/03/apple-watch-series-9-gps-45mm-1717426554115.jpg?width=220&auto=webp&quality=20&dpr=0.05)
Apple Watch Series 9 [GPS 45mm]
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Apple Watch Ultra 2 – September 22, 2023
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers several key improvements over the Apple Watch Ultra, starting with twice the storage capacity. The watch also has a display that’s 50% brighter than its predecessor, which is great in low-light conditions. In addition to these features, other modern additions include built-in Siri, dual-band GPS, and improved water resistance.
Available September 22 Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular, 49mm, Titanium Case
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When will the Apple Watch Series 10 be available?
As of now, we don’t have any concrete information from Apple about the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch SE 3, or Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple is expected to release all three in delayed 2024, likely in September. These models will likely be released after the iPhone 16.
Currently, the Apple Watch Series 10, or Series X as it is reportedly called, is rumored to bring a number of features only available on the Apple Watch Ultra. This includes the Action button, which is a programmable side button that can be set to any function, such as turning on the flashlight. Additionally, a blood pressure monitor and sleep apnea feature are rumored to be coming to this year’s model.
Not much is known about the Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 models. Although in the case of the latter, it is likely that all the features from the Apple Watch Series X will be brought to the premium model.
