Apple Watch Series 4 40mm Review | 126 Data compared

The Apple Watch Series 4 introduces a significant redesign featuring a 30% larger, nearly frameless screen in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while maintaining compatibility with existing watch bands. The display incorporates rounded corners for a sleeker look, housed in a thinner, lighter casing that improves daily comfort. Performance is driven by the 64-bit S4 processor, offering up to twice the speed of its predecessor, alongside a haptic-enabled Digital Crown for improved tactile feedback. Key health capabilities include an FDA-cleared ECG app, fall detection, and low heart-rate monitoring, complemented by a 50% louder speaker and improved microphone for clearer calls. Despite these advancements, the device is limited by an 18-hour battery life requiring daily charging, and it lacks an always-on display. While representing a substantial upgrade, the higher starting price and limited functional leap for existing users may make it less essential for owners of the Series 3.

The Apple Watch Series 4 represents a significant, 'life-saving' upgrade featuring a 30% larger, rounded display, a thinner 10.7mm chassis, and a faster S4 processor. Key pros include the revolutionary FDA-cleared ECG monitor, advanced fall detection, and a significantly louder speaker for improved Siri and call quality. Despite these advancements, the device retains a mediocre 18-hour battery life, trailing behind competitors from Fitbit and Samsung. This limited longevity also results in a lack of native sleep tracking, while the increased price point and inconsistent performance of Siri and maps in noisy environments are noted drawbacks. Wareable concludes the Series 4 successfully transitions from a luxury accessory to an essential, superior health device, leaving rivals 'in the dust' in fitness, despite lacking an always-on display. It is recommended as a major upgrade for previous Apple Watch owners looking for advanced, fast-performing medical capabilities.

The Huffington Post UK describes the Apple Watch Series 4 as a significant evolution, highlighting a thinner design with a 30% larger, brighter OLED Retina display. Pros include the fast S4 processor, improved speaker, and refined haptic crown, though it requires an iPhone and lacks an always-on display. Key innovations include FDA-cleared ECG functionality and advanced fall detection, which are positioned as major safety advancements. The device also features improved, automatic workout tracking, allowing for intuitive activity logging. Despite a high price point and the need for frequent charging, the review concludes the Series 4 sets the benchmark for smartwatches. It represents a substantial upgrade in both health-monitoring capabilities and design, offering roughly two days of battery life.

The Apple Watch Series 4 features a 30% larger, edge-to-edge display, a thinner chassis, and a faster S4 chipset, providing a significantly improved, highly responsive user experience. Key pros include enhanced health tools like ECG and fall detection, alongside a louder speaker and haptic feedback on the digital crown. Despite these advancements, the review notes several cons, specifically highlighting the higher price point and the continued limitation of daily charging, which prevents native sleep tracking. Furthermore, the square design remains a preference factor, and customization is limited by the lack of third-party watch faces. Overall, the review deems the Series 4 a necessary redesign that makes the device feel essential, marking a shift from basic fitness tracking to comprehensive health monitoring.

The Apple Watch Series 4 represents the first major redesign of the product line, introducing 40mm and 44mm sizes that feature screens over 30% larger with rounded corners, making information significantly easier to read. Despite the larger, more data-rich display, the device is thinner and less bulbous than the Series 3, maintaining a lightweight feel and full compatibility with all existing watch bands. Performance is a standout, as the new S4 64-bit dual-core processor makes the interface feel twice as fast, while major health innovations include a built-in electrical heart sensor for ECG readings and improved fall detection. Other notable hardware upgrades include a 50% louder speaker for clearer calls and a redesigned Digital Crown that provides satisfying haptic feedback. Primary cons center on battery life, which still requires daily charging, and the lack of an always-on display, meaning the screen remains dark until the wrist is raised. While it is considered the best smartwatch for iPhone users, its high price tag and lack of Android support remain significant barriers.

The Apple Watch Series 4 offers a refined, 30% larger display with slimmer bezels, enhancing usability and information display, while introducing life-saving, user-activated, or automatic fall detection and SOS alerts [1.3647424]. Key improvements include a faster processor, improved heart rate sensors, a louder speaker, and better microphone positioning for improved voice calls and Siri interactions [1.3647424]. Despite the advancements, the 18-hour battery life remains a limitation compared to multi-day, competitor devices, forcing users to choose between daytime activity tracking and sleep monitoring [1.3647424]. Additionally, the highly anticipated ECG feature was not available in Ireland at launch, and the device still relies on a proprietary charger rather than Qi wireless standards [1.3647424]. Positioned as a significant upgrade, the Series 4 successfully transitions the wearable from a novelty to a serious health tool, maintaining compatibility with older watch bands [1.3647424]. While it may not be essential for all, the combination of improved safety features, faster performance, and a superior display makes it a compelling, albeit premium, investment [1.3647424].

The Sweet Setup characterizes the Apple Watch Series 4 as a major, stylish improvement with a redesigned, thinner chassis, more rounded corners, and a superior display. The larger screen real estate, particularly on the 44mm model, is highly praised for improved interaction and readability. Performance is a key highlight, with the S4 processor delivering fast app loading and a re-engineered Digital Crown providing satisfying haptic feedback. Additionally, audio quality is significantly better, featuring a louder speaker and a repositioned microphone to improve phone calls and Siri interaction. Cons identified include the cluttered, often overwhelming nature of the new Infograph watch face, which requires curation to avoid looking messy. Furthermore, the review notes inconsistency with the 'Raise to Speak' feature and the Walkie-Talkie app, while the advanced medical features were not immediately available or fully testable at launch.

The Apple Watch Series 4 features a redesigned, slimmer chassis with a 30% larger, edge-to-edge OLED display available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while maintaining compatibility with older bands. The display is highly praised for its brightness, sharpness, and ease of interaction. Key performance upgrades include a fast S4 processor for snappy operation, a louder speaker, and critical health features, including an FDA-cleared ECG sensor and automatic fall detection. The device was recognized for its comprehensive feature set, earning accolades as a top-tier wearable. Notable drawbacks include the lack of an always-on display and a battery life that requires nightly charging, limiting native sleep tracking capabilities. Despite a higher price point, the device is considered a essential, feature-rich upgrade.

The Cyclist review highlights the Apple Watch Series 4 as a capable device for cyclists, featuring a 30% larger, high-resolution screen, a faster processor, and improved ergonomics for all-day wearability. Standout features include advanced health monitoring with ECG and fall detection, as well as an improved infrared heart rate sensor. While effective for tracking rides via the Workout or Strava apps, the device has notable drawbacks for serious cyclists, including an inability to pair with power meters and issues with syncing data, particularly with Strava. Further cons include a touchscreen that struggles in heavy rain and occasional, erroneous heart rate readings. Battery life allows for roughly six hours of continuous GPS recording, which is adequate for most, but not all, cyclists. Ultimately, the review concludes that the lack of power meter support prevents it from replacing dedicated cycling computers, despite being a top-tier smartwatch.

The TechRadar review of the Apple Watch Series 4 highlights a significant leap in design and health technology, featuring a 30% larger OLED display with reduced bezels and enhanced performance from the S4 chip. Key pro features include proactive health tools like built-in ECG, fall detection, and a faster interface, while the primary con remains a limited 18-hour battery life. Despite being a premier smartwatch, it faces criticism for lacking deep, specialized fitness metrics found in dedicated trackers, and it lacks an always-on display. For the full, in-depth review, visit TechRadar.

The Apple Watch Series 4, reviewed by T3, marks a major hardware shift featuring a 30% larger display, a thinner casing, and a faster S4 processor that improves responsiveness. Key pros include the enhanced screen visibility, a 50% louder speaker for calls, and significant,, life-saving health upgrades like FDA-cleared ECG capabilities and automatic fall detection. Despite these advancements, the device faces cons such as the lack of an always-on display, a required nightly charge that limits sleep tracking, and a high cost, say T3.

The Choose.co.uk review of the Apple Watch Series 4 highlights a significant redesign featuring 30% larger 40mm and 44mm displays, which improve readability while keeping the device thinner and lighter for comfortable all-day wear. Key functionalities praised include the advanced ECG app, Fall Detection for emergency alerts, and a 50% louder speaker with improved microphone placement for clearer calls. However, the review notes drawbacks, including a high launch price starting at £399, lack of a native sleep tracker or always-on display, and a battery that still requires daily charging.

The Apple Watch Series 4 features a redesigned, thinner chassis with a 30% larger, edge-to-edge display and a new 'Infograph' watch face. Performance is significantly enhanced by the faster S4 processor, allowing for instant app loading, while a 50% louder speaker improves phone call quality. Health capabilities are a major focus, including an FDA-cleared ECG app for detecting atrial fibrillation and a new fall-detection feature that utilizes improved accelerometer sensors. The device also offers automatic workout detection and, for the first time, supports offline podcast syncing. Despite these upgrades, the device has a high starting price and maintains a standard 18-to-24-hour battery life. The lack of native sleep tracking and an always-on display are noted as significant omissions, making the upgrade less critical for Series 3 owners.

TechGearLab highlights the Apple Watch Series 4 as a top-tier smartwatch for iPhone users, praising its 30% larger LTPO OLED Retina display and the responsive, fast S4 processor that ensures a lag-free experience. Key strengths include superior ecosystem integration and a user-friendly interface. The review notes advanced health, fitness, and safety features, such as FDA-cleared ECG capabilities, fall detection, and robust activity tracking, including swimming. However, it specifically mentions inconsistencies in tracking flights of stairs and the absence of an always-on display. Battery life is identified as a major drawback, typically lasting only two days, paired with slow charging times of nearly three hours. While highly recommended for its design and functionality, the high price and inferior battery compared to competitors are noted as considerations.

The Apple Watch Series 4 represents a significant, redesigned 'coming of age' for the wearable, featuring a 30% larger, edge-to-edge display, a thinner chassis, and a faster S4 chip with a haptic-enabled Digital Crown. Pros include improved screen real estate, faster performance, and a louder speaker, while the display allows for more complex, eight-complication 'Infograph' watch faces. Health-centric innovations are a key focus, specifically the FDA-cleared electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and an enhanced accelerometer for fall detection. While promising for safety, the review notes cons regarding the delayed availability of ECG tools and potential overdiagnosis for some users. Battery life remains a limitation, offering roughly 18 hours, which necessitates daily charging and prevents native sleep tracking. The $399 starting price is higher than previous models, making it a premium upgrade, though it remains a 'must-buy' for users of the Series 1 or 2.