The next Apple Watch Series 8 could have a feature that enables users to know if they have a fever or not, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his latest report.
Just like every year, Apple will launch new models of its smartwatches, and this year the latest edition will be the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside a new rugged version for extreme sport.
In his latest edition of the Power On newsletter on Sunday, Gurman says that Series 8 will mostly have the same design and overall hardware as the previous generation. However, one major feature that Apple is planning to add is a body temperature sensor which Gurman says will help users identify if they have a fever or not.
The report continues by noting that the sensor won’t give users specific readings such as with forehead or wrist thermometer. Instead, it will be able to tell if you have a fever and recommends talking with a doctor or using a dedicated thermometer.
Gurman adds that the feature will be available only if the internal testing for it succeeds and becomes a standard on the next watch, while the lower-end Apple Watch SE won’t support it for now.
“Assuming the capability passes muster during internal testing. I now believe the feature is a go for both the standard Apple Watch Series 8 and a new rugged edition that’s aimed at extreme sports athletes. It’s unlikely to be available in the new version of the lower-end SE, which is also coming this year.”
A similar statement by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that he expects Apple to add a body temperature sensor to the next Apple Watch but cautioned that it could happen only if the algorithm meets the requirements.
Finally, Apple planned to add an additional blood pressure sensor but backtracked from launching it for this year’s models due to difficulty with accuracy and delayed it to two years from now until 2024.
The Apple Watch Series 8 will have the same chip as the Series 6 (despite one generational gap between them), an updated display, bigger case sizes, and more.
