The Apple Watch Series 4, released in 2018, was a major redesign featuring a larger display and groundbreaking health features like ECG and fall detection. While discontinued and stuck on watchOS 8, it's still a solid budget option for fitness tracking, notifications, and heart monitoring. However, it lacks modern features like always-on display and blood oxygen sensing found in newer models.
Technical Details
Weight (g) 30.1 g | 1.06 oz (40mm GPS) / 36.7 g | 1.29 oz (44mm GPS)
Dimensions 40mm: 40 x 34 x 10.7 mm | 1.57" x 1.34" x 0.42" in 44mm: 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm | 1.73" x 1.50" x 0.42" in
Buy it Discontinued (originally $399) | Available refurbished/used @ Amazon | eBay
WTF Details
The Apple Watch Series 4 was a game-changer when it launched in 2018, introducing a major redesign with a larger display, thinner body, and health features that pushed smartwatches beyond just notifications. While it's been discontinued, it remains a solid option for those looking to enter the Apple Watch ecosystem without breaking the bank. Now, let's take a closer look at the features, performance, pros, and cons.
Features
- Larger display - over 30% more screen area than Series 3, with thinner borders and rounded corners that extend to the edges
- Digital Crown with haptic feedback provides a satisfying tactile response when scrolling through menus and apps
- S4 dual-core processor delivers up to 2x faster performance than Series 3
- Electrical heart sensor enables ECG (electrocardiogram) readings directly from your wrist
- Optical heart sensor monitors heart rate and can detect irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
- Fall detection automatically contacts emergency services if a hard fall is detected and you're unresponsive
- 50m water resistance - safe for swimming and water sports
- Built-in GPS + GLONASS tracks outdoor workouts accurately without your phone
- Cellular option (GPS + Cellular model) lets you make calls, send messages, and stream music without your iPhone nearby
- 18-hour battery life gets you through a full day of typical use
- watchOS updates - supports up to watchOS 8 (final update released in 2021)
Fun Fact
The Apple Watch Series 4 was the first consumer device to offer an ECG feature, making it a legitimate health monitoring tool that has literally saved lives by detecting heart conditions early.
Performance
The performance of the Apple Watch Series 4 still holds up surprisingly well years later. The larger, edge-to-edge display makes everything easier to read and interact with compared to earlier models. The S4 processor keeps apps and animations smooth, though it's noticeably slower than newer models when launching apps. Health tracking features like heart rate monitoring, ECG, and fall detection work reliably and have genuinely saved lives. Fitness tracking is accurate for runs, swims, and workouts. Battery life consistently delivers a full day, though heavy GPS use will drain it faster. The biggest limitation is being stuck on watchOS 8, which means you'll miss out on newer features and some app compatibility.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Significant display upgrade over Series 3 📱
- Life-saving health features (ECG and fall detection) ❤️
- 50m water resistance for swimming 🏊
- Still gets the job done for fitness tracking and notifications ⌚
- More affordable as a refurbished/used option 💰
- Classic Apple Watch design that still looks modern 😎
Cons
- No longer receives watchOS updates (stuck on watchOS 8) 🚫
- Slower performance compared to Series 6 and newer 🐌
- Shorter battery life than newer models 🔋
- Blood oxygen sensor not included (added in Series 6) 🩺
- Always-on display not available (added in Series 5) 💤
Rating 4/5⭐
Overall, the Apple Watch Series 4 was a revolutionary device in its time and still serves as a solid entry point into the Apple Watch ecosystem if you can find one in good condition. The larger display, ECG capability, and fall detection remain valuable features. However, the lack of continued software support and missing modern features like always-on display and blood oxygen monitoring make it harder to recommend in 2026. If you're on a tight budget and just want basic fitness tracking and notifications, it's worth considering. But if you can swing it, investing in a Series 7 or newer will give you better performance, longer software support, and more health features.
At the time of this writing, the Apple Watch Series 4 can be found refurbished on Amazon starting around $150-$200 depending on condition and size.