5 of the Apple Watch Series 2's best features

Graeme Burton
@graemeburton
09 September 2016

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THE APPLE WATCH was launched to the usual fanfare in mid-2015 and was an instant hit, selling out in the weeks immediately after launch.

But sales quickly fell as people realised the limitations: that annoying pause before the screen showed the time, the proprietary link with Apple's iPhone, and the nightly charging schedule (alongside your iPhone, ageing MacBook, iPad and goodness knows what else).

Apple sold around 12 million Watches in 2015, according to box counters Canalys, and some reports suggested that, one year later, sales had fallen 90 per cent compared with the months just after launch.

WatchOS updates have addressed some of the early criticisms, but the company has demonstrated with the launch of Apple Watch Series 2 this week what the gadget could grow into - a communications device in its own right that might even have Captain Kirk queueing up outside the Apple Store with a fistful of dollars.

Here are the top five key features that make the Apple Watch Series 2 stand out.

5. Built-in GPS

apple-yosemite-hike Want to go for a run or a bike ride but don't want to take your iPhone with you? No problem, the built-in GPS means that the Apple Watch Series 2 can keep track of your distance, speed, number of paces and heart rate (conditions apply).

The Apple keynote demonstrated that it's especially handy for following tiny maps on a tiny screen when you're hiking in Yosemite National Park, alerting you should you stray from the path.

The lack of a built-in cellular service means that it can't, however, automatically call for help should you get attacked by a bear or fall down a ravine while squinting at the map to work out where the hell you are.