Apple Watch
Overview
Apple Watch is a smartwatch released by Apple in April 2015. It pairs with iPhone to provide notifications, messages, payments, health measurement features, and more, and since launch it has maintained an overwhelming share of the global smartwatch market. Going beyond a simple wearable device, it has expanded into medical and health areas such as electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen measurement, sleep tracking, and fall detection, establishing itself as a representative product line of wearable devices.
Main Content
Development Background and Launch
Apple had been considering wearable device development since the early 2010s, and in September 2014, at the iPhone 6 announcement event, it unveiled Apple Watch for the first time as "One more thing." The first-generation model was released on April 24, 2015, and was offered in material lines such as Sport, Stainless Steel, and Edition, and in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm. Initially, it was criticized for being highly dependent on iPhone and having short battery life, but over generations it evolved into an independent device.
Hardware Lineup
Apple Watch has developed along three main axes.
- Series: The standard lineup, updated every year. The cellular model was introduced with Series 3, making calls and data use possible without an iPhone, and with Series 4 the screen became larger and ECG was added. Starting with Series 9, the "Double Tap" gesture of bringing two fingers together was introduced.
- SE: A budget lineup introduced in 2020, lowering the price by including only core features.
- Ultra: An outdoor/extreme sports-focused lineup unveiled in 2022, equipped with a titanium case, a larger battery, and features for diving and mountaineering.
The display evolved from early OLED to LTPO OLED, enabling always-on display (AOD), and the chipset improved in performance every generation in the form of an S-series SiP (System in Package).
watchOS and Software
watchOS is the operating system exclusive to Apple Watch, and major updates have been made every year starting with version 1.0 in 2015. Initially, it had a strong concept as an extension of iPhone apps, but app launch speed improved greatly in watchOS 3, and from watchOS 5 an independent app ecosystem began in earnest. In watchOS 9, sleep stage tracking and atrial fibrillation history features were introduced, and in watchOS 10, a shift to a widget-centered interface took place. Integration with HealthKit and the Fitness app is a core axis of the Apple Watch experience.
Health and Fitness Features
Apple Watch's differentiator lies in health monitoring.
- Heart rate measurement: Continuous heart rate tracking via optical sensor
- ECG: Electrocardiogram measurement supported since Series 4, capable of detecting atrial fibrillation
- Blood oxygen: SpO2 measurement feature introduced with Series 6
- Sleep tracking: Analysis of sleep stages and respiratory rate
- Fall and crash detection: Automatically contacts emergency services in the event of an accident
- Temperature sensor: Introduced with Series 8, tracking body temperature changes during sleep
These features show the potential to go beyond a simple fitness tracker to become a medical assistance device, and in fact, cases of early detection of cardiovascular disease using Apple Watch have been reported in several studies.
Market Impact and Ecosystem
Since launch, Apple Watch has led the market, accounting for a significant portion of global smartwatch shipments. Its strong integration with the iPhone user base, a third-party app ecosystem through the App Store, and expansion of the accessories (band) market are key to its competitive advantage. Samsung Galaxy Watch, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, and others are considered major competing products.
Latest Trends
In 2024, Apple unveiled watchOS 11, greatly strengthening health features such as the Vitals app, Training Load metrics, and temperature tracking during pregnancy. In addition, sleep apnea detection received U.S. FDA approval, continuing the expansion of medical features. In September 2024, Series 10 was announced, featuring the thinnest profile ever, a larger display, and sleep apnea detection.
Meanwhile, after 2023, due to a patent dispute at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), blood oxygen measurement was temporarily disabled on some models, remaining a representative case of the wearable patent war. In 2025, additional health features such as hypertension detection are being discussed, and Apple continues its strategy to expand wearables into a "health platform." In addition, AI-based personal health coach features and satellite communication support are mentioned as key keywords for next-generation models.
Related Topics
- [[Apple]]
- [[Smartwatch]]
- [[Wearable technology]]
- [[watchOS]]
- [[HealthKit]]
- [[iPhone]]