Apple Watch Series 2
SPORT SMARTS AND TOP-NOTCH FEATURES.
IF THERE WAS ever a watch that could do it all, it’s the Series 2 — especially if you’re an iPhone owner. Android users will either have to look elsewhere (perhaps to the desirable Gear S3) or consider changing phones completely to get the most out of a stylish and fully-featured device. While you need an iPhone to make the absolute most of the Series 2, it works on its own terms: you can happily run, cycle, swim or heave weights untethered and, with an update on the way, there’s much more to transform the Series 2 from being an ‘almost there’ to a championship contender.
Being able to swim with the Apple Watch is a big boon, as the Series 2 is waterproof to 50m, and works in both swimming pools and the ocean (though that 5ATM rating prevents it from any serious diving, and we’d be cautious using it for long sessions). Impressively, the watch emits a sonic ‘pulse’ when you’re on dry land, ejecting any water droplets that have made their way into the case. A simple clever touch, and the Series 2 has the chops to take on Garmin and Suunto et al. Running is its strength, with an optical heart-rate monitor on the caseback, and battery life to last a marathon or more. Like many of the HRMs, the optical sensor gets heart-rate right most of the time — nothing beats a chest strap, and you can pair a third-party bluetooth device here — while the battery needs charging on a near daily basis. If you don’t charge it while at your desk, that may pose a problem if you want to measure your sleep goals, and you’ll have to turn to the app store to find something that will track your sleep, as the Series 2 doesn’t do this out of the box.
Running for 42.2km aside, the Series 2 also caters to more achievable pursuits like step counts, calories burnt, active hours and how much time you spent getting up and moving around. Like other fitness trackers, you can compete against your friends to see who’s been doing what — motivating you if you’re in a slump.
EMITS A SONIC ‘PULSE’ WHEN YOU’RE ON DRY LAND, EJECTING ANY WATER DROPLETS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE CASE.
The upcoming watchOS 4 update should really worry the higherend, dedicated watches with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and VO2-max detection, too. HIIT will test your abilities as it’s short, sharp stuff to get your heart pumping, but it’s the type of exercises that strips fat after you’ve done busting your guts. VO2-max is a measurement of how much oxygen you suck down while exercising. Learn how to read these stats, and you start to understand your body more, and be more efficient. Having this function on a smartwatch that also handles emails, texts and phone calls is impressive.
One feature that’s unique is the ‘Breathe’ app that leads you through guided exercises to help you relax during the day. It’s also one of the few tested here with in-built memory, so you can upload music (with an Apple Music subscription) and use Bluetooth headphones. Couple in extensive third-party app support, and you have a watch that should entice newcomers and anyone looking to upgrade from a simple fitness wristband. Two version are available, the 38mm and the 42mm. Both work the same way.