Apple Revamps Its Smartwatch for Series 2

If you had to choose between the new Apple Watch Series 2 or a lineup of existing Apple Watches, it could be rather difficult. The Apple Series 2 watch looks nearly identical to the first model launched almost two years ago.

There’s more to the Apple Watch’s first major hardware upgrade than what meets the eye. First, the display is two times brighter, allowing you to read the screen better outdoors; it’s also 50 percent faster than the previous version and finally waterproof. The Apple Watch 2 is one of the smartest fitness trackers, primarily focused on activity monitoring.

While there are plenty of new bells and whistles added to the Series 2, there’s no need to trade in the Apple Watch Series 1 for an upgrade.

The Series 2 watch comes with two main body options, aluminum for $369 or stainless steel for $549, and both can be paired with a variety of sporty, leather or nylon bands.

Sure you can obtain calendar, email and text notifications, but the Series 2 succeeds the most in the fitness tracking capabilities. The Apple Watch can now do almost everything Fitbit’s top trackers can do, and much more, with the exception of supporting a built-in sleep tracker.

The Apple Watch’s GPS integration is a bonus perk for runners. The watch uses locally stored satellite data to quickly identify locations, unlike other trackers with built-in GPS. Although you could technically wear the previous Apple Watch in the water, Apple officially called the latest version waterproof.

While the device is getting smarter, there’s room for improvement. The Apple Watch Series 2 doesn’t come with built-in internet connectivity, which means you need to keep your iPhone nearby. It is speculation Apple will push toward cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch Series 3.