8 Things the First Apple Watch Couldn’t Do
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Apple has released quite a few Apple Watch models over the years, and unsurprisingly the aging Apple Watch Series 1 will soon lose support for the latest version of watchOS. That’s too bad for users who still rock their early generation Apple Watches, but it also means that some people are going to need to start thinking about upgrading to a new watch model.
We thought we'd help users by explaining what they can do with the latest Apple Watch Series 5, that they can't do with the original Apple Watch. The Apple Watch has come a long way, and those looking to upgrade should know the big differences, continue reading to browse 8 of them.
Always Show the Time
For the Series 5, Apple introduced the "Always-On" feature for the watch's display. That doesn't mean that the watch never turns off, it just means that notifications, the time, and more will always appear on the screen, so you'll be able to see important information at a glance (instead of having to tap your screen or do the wrist-raise).
That's really handy when keeping track of texts during a meeting, or checking your mile progression in the middle of a run, so it's no surprise this has become a very popular feature among new Apple Watch users.
Take an ECG
The first Apple Watch had an optical heart sensor to monitor heart rate. That was great for tracking workouts, and could also send alerts if it detected elevated heart rates, but was otherwise limited. The Series 5, by contrast, has an advanced optical sensor, ECG functionality, new updated software that provides a wealth of cardiovascular information, which has saved many lives.
Sense When You’ve Had a Fall
The first Apple Watches didn’t have fall detection, but Apple added this feature later on. It’s specifically marketed toward older users who are at risk for falls and may need immediate help. However, it’s also a great feature for anyone who may face severe injuries while hiking or taking part in related activities.
International Emergency Calls
Apple also added some handy emergency calling features on later Apple Watches, including both international emergency calling and an Emergency SOS feature (which works well in tandem with Fall Detection). These features will use a cellular connection with compatible watches but are otherwise available if you have a nearby iPhone that your Apple Watch can connect to. However, the international emergency calling option is accessible only on the Apple Watch Series 5.
Pinpoint Your Location
The first Apple Watch didn’t have GPS, a feature that was added later on, and could only pinpoint your location through Wi-Fi. Along the journey to the Series 5, Apple added GPS, GLONASS, an internal compass, and a barometric altimeter in later versions. These features can all work together to pinpoint your precise location, anywhere you are, with or without Wi-Fi, at all kinds of elevations. Obviously, this enables a lot more app options for tracking and sensing your surroundings, and is great to have for tracking outdoor recreation.
Go for a Swim
The first Apple Watch was splash-resistant: That's not bad, but that still meant that you had to be careful with the watch in the rain or while washing your hands. Water resistance has only increseased since then, rated for depth up to 50M. That means that newer Apple Watches can go for a swim, or handle a shower without problems, and won't be affected by splashing or brief submersion. However, you should still keep your Apple Watch away from soaps, oils, perfumes and so on.
Use the Newest Watch Faces
With every watchOS update, Apple introduces a new set of watch faces with fresh designs and new capabilities. However, there’s a growing number of watch faces that won’t work with earlier Apple Watches but will work with Series 4, Series 5, etc. That may be due to processing power or screen size – but the end result is that you'll have a lot more face options with the latest Apple Watches, which is always a plus.
We’ll also note that for some features, this has worked in reverse. For example, early watchOS versions used to support sending animated emojis, but this was eventually phased out and hasn’t been replaced with any similar capabilities.
Store a Bunch of Data
The first Apple Watch only had 8GB capacity, which was nice, but by the time you load up all of your favorite apps, it doesn’t leave room for much of anything else. If you want to save music or photos, you’ll really appreciate the full 32GB of storage that the Apple Watch Series 5 offers, which is actually more than many older iPhones.