Apple took the wraps off its Watch Series 2 at its annual mobile hardware event. The smartwatch was launched alongside company's latest flagship, the iPhone 7.
The Apple Watch Series 2 pretty similar to its predecessor in terms of design. The features where the new variant improves is a new water-resistant shell, which makes the watch swimproof up to 50 meters, and the addition of a GPS chip.
The GPS will allow the watch to perform mapping on its own without being connected to the device. However the device doesn't include cellular connectivity.
Apple pioneered the custom designed System in Package (SiP) for Apple Watch, and continues to develop this technology with the second generation S2 chip. With a dual-core processor, the Apple Watch runs up to 50 percent faster.
Apple Watch Series 2 also features a brighter display — at 1,000 nits, which is two times brighter— making this the brightest display Apple has ever shipped.
The watchOS 3 features significantly improved performance that makes it even simpler to launch favorite apps instantly, either from the watch face or with the new Dock, which displays the latest information already updated in the background.
New fitness and health capabilities include the Breathe app, designed to encourage users to do deep breathing exercises for relaxation and stress reduction. The Activity app now includes the ability to share, compare and compete, to keep users motivated. There is also a customized experience for wheelchair users to close their Activity rings, in addition to dedicated workouts.
Apple also unveiled a special Nike+ version of the Watch. It resembles a fusion of an Apple product with Nike's discontinued FuelBand fitness tracker, and it's designed for runners and workout freaks. The aluminum sport version of the Apple Watch Series 2 will start at $369, as will the Nike+ edition.
Apple Watch Edition now comes in ceramic, one of the hardest materials in the world — more than four times harder than stainless steel — with a white, pearl-like finish, making Apple Watch Edition extremely scratch-resistant. The new ceramic Apple Watch Edition starts at $1,249.
