Apple's New Watches Have Crash Detection And Low-Power Mode

Apple has just revealed the new Watch Series 8 line, and they come with a ton of new features to enhance your everyday use. From encrypting newly tracked ovulation data (a privacy factor likely to come in useful following the overturning of Roe v. Wade) to detecting if you were in a crash. Apple is also announcing the new Watch SE for a more affordable option, and the Watch Ultra designed for outdoor adventurers. All three new watches come with Watch OS 9 for the most advanced smartwatches Apple has ever produced.

One of the coolest new features, is the ability to dry itself off after a swim. Apple briefly shows this off during its Apple Event livestream, though it doesn’t go into any detail on how it works. However, it does seem like that would be a pretty useful feature to have if you swim often and wear the watch while doing it.

Apple Watch Series introduces Crash Detection feature

God forbid anyone ever needs to use a feature like crash detection. But should you end up falling off your bike or getting in a car crash, the new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE can detect those crashes and give you an immediate way to send out an alert that you need help. When the watch detects a crash, users will have a 10-second window to respond that they’re ok. If users don’t respond, emergency services and emergency contacts are alerted and the user’s locations is shared with both.

The new crash detection feature is based on a new advanced sensor-fusion algorithm, which uses the new gyroscope and accelerometer in the watch. Apple says it created the algorithm with insights from professional crash-test labs that “simulated real-world accidents, including head-on, rear-end, side-impact, and rollovers.”

This feature is also available on the new Apple Watch SE. And a new low-power mode for the Series 8 brings the watch up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge from the normal 18 when this mode is not in use. Both the Apple Watch Series 8 and the new Apple Watch SE are up for pre-order today and will be fully available starting on September 16.

Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 and the Apple Watch SE starts at $249.