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iStore South Africa have given their fans a release date for the new Apple Watch Series 3. We took a look at the specs.
South Africa's iStore announced that the Apple Watch Series 3 is set to arrive on 20 October.
Prices will start at R5499.
The Series 3 is similar to the Apple Watch Series 2, with one big exception – a new cellular chip. This means that for the first time, the watch will no longer need to be tethered to an iPhone.
With LTE connectivity, you can leave your iPhone at home while you run errands, or hit the gym, but still remain reachable via phone call or a message. The display itself can be turned into a multi-frequency LTE antenna.
Apple has stated that this improvement has been its vision for the watch from the beginning. For those who don’t need cellular capability, though, an LTE-free option will be available.
The Apple Watch Features
The Apple Watch Series 3, with cellular, will allow users to make calls from their wrist (naturally) and also feature Apple Music streaming. The Series 3 includes an LTE chip that reduces its reliance on iPhone. You can get GPS directions; interact with Siri – who can now answer queries aloud for the first time – and use third-party apps, all over a cellular connection. The watch also features a faster S3 processor, a new W2 chip for 85% faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as a new barometric altimeter for keeping track of elevation gains and flights of stairs climbed. As always, the main focus of the Apple Watch is health and fitness. The aim is to get people active, with features like built-in activity reminders and personalized fitness goals. It will continue to measure health metrics like steps taken, calories burned, and heart rate. You can still go swimming, too. The watch is waterproof up to 50m. Series 3 is powered by a new dual-core processor, delivering 70% more performance than its predecessor. The watch offers all-day battery life, but LTE use will dictate how long the battery really lasts. The square face is designed for optimum display space. Necessary – considering everything this watch can do. The watch is available in casings, aluminium, stainless steel or ceramic, and each offer different colours. Sizes include 38 and 42mm varieties, and can be personalized with a huge range of wristbands. Apple has also been playing with designs for watch bands that self-adjust to fit the wearer's wrist using an integrated tensioner mechanism. These plans are still in the pipeline, though. Oh, and it also tells the time.Some Reviews
For a long time, the Series 2 has been widely regarded as the best smartwatch you could buy. It's sun-tan mark upon your arm, even, a new status symbol. With the Series 3, the greatest selling point is the new LTE connection capability. As far as looks go, the Series 2 and Series 3 are nearly identical. Early reviews of the Series 3 revealed irritating Wi-Fi bugs which prevented the device from connecting to LTE. Reviewers experienced a number of dropped calls and poor connections. They also stated that, at the extra cost, the LTE edition is a luxury most users wouldn’t ever need. Some, also, complained about limited battery life. Processor speed has been praised, though – being called lightning fast – and so has the sound quality. Apps load twice as fast, and for a device that’s based around quick, intuitive interactions, this can make a huge difference.Exclusive iStore Offers
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are set to be released on the same day. The iStore has said that if purchased in conjunction with an iPhone 8 upgrade, customers can qualify for a free extra Apple Modern Buckle or Leather Loop band for the watch. These are valued between R3299 and R5399. Adding to that, the iStore will also give a R1000 cash-back on trade-in’s or extra bands when purchased with the iPhone 8 upgrade. These offers are unique to iStore and valid only for this year, while stocks last.