The Apple Watch Series 9 is the company’s recently released consumer smartwatch, with an all-new S9 SiP, a new UWB chip, a brighter display, and other advancements. It’s Apple’s flagship Apple Watch, positioned above the budget-friendly SE and the durable Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Series 9 is the greatest Apple Watch for monitoring your health, tracking workouts, staying secure, and connecting with your iPhone. In September 2023, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9, set to be a prominent fixture in its wearable collection throughout the upcoming year. Here’s a comprehensive guide covering all the essential details you need to be aware of.
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Apple Watch Series 9: Price and Release Date
On September 12, 2023, Apple released the Series 9 alongside the iPhone 15 series and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Prospective Series 9 buyers, as always, have an option of two body sizes, two body materials, Wi-Fi-only and LTE models, and multiple colors.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 4 | September 12, 2018 | September 21, 2018 |
| Apple Watch Series 5 | September 10, 2019 | September 20, 2019 |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | September 15, 2020 | September 18, 2020 |
| Apple Watch Series 7 | September 14, 2021 | October 15, 2021 |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | September 7, 2022 | September 16, 2022 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | September 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
Apple maintains its tradition of unwavering pricing with the Series 9, showcasing consistency amidst changing trends. Unlike other devices this year, the wearable retains the same price as its predecessor, commencing at $399 for the basic aluminum Wi-Fi-only model and $499 for the LTE variant. For those opting for the stainless steel options, prices begin at $699.
| Apple Watch model | 41mm GPS only | 45mm GPS only | 41mm GPS + Cellular | 45mm GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 7 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
Apple Watch Series 9: Style, colors, straps, and size
The new watch and the Series 8 have a similar physical shape. A new pink colorway has been added to the available Watch Series 9 color options, which now include silver, midnight, starlight, and product red for the aluminum variants. There are more muted colors of gold, silver, and graphite available for the steel choice.
More recyclable materials are being used by Apple in the manufacture of the Series 9, including the watch bands. Additionally, Apple has introduced a new option called FineWoven, which has a magnetic buckle and is a more environmentally responsible option than suede-feel leather. Current band designs, such as the Apple Sport Loop and Nike Sport Band, now use more fluoroelastomer and recycled cloth. If you’re not fond of the official options, there are still lots of third-party Apple Watch Series 9 bands available. Getting two bands, one for daily use and the other for activity, is undoubtedly one of our best advices for the Apple Watch Series 9.
The display has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits up front, but in low light conditions, it can only reach 1 nit. Under the right conditions, this should result in significant power savings.
| Display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display Edge-to-edge display Ion-X front glass (Aluminum cases) Sapphire front crystal (Stainless steel cases) Up to 2000 nits maximum brightness 1 nit minimum brightness |
| Design | 45mm or 41mm case size Aluminum or stainless steel Speaker Microphone |
Apple Watch Series 9: Features and specs
The Series 9 features a number of new internal parts. The Series 9 is now controlled by Apple’s new S9 silicon, which also has a four-core neural engine that interprets Siri requests on-device. This implies that using the voice assistant to operate your device doesn’t require a data connection.
This chip also powers capabilities that go beyond Siri. There is now a handy gesture command included with the Series 9. To use apps on your wearable, double touch your thumb and index finger twice with your watch hand. The motion can be used to navigate through the available widgets as well as interact with the app’s main command button. Once more, the watch’s new neural intelligence powers this.
Additionally, you can ask Siri to provide specific health information, such as the time you took the medication, or use your voice to instantly obtain general health data.
The U2, an updated ultra-wideband processor, has also joined the fray. This should improve the Find My Device functionality of the Series 9. You may ping your iPhone 15 from your watch, which will direct you to the location of your smartphone within 20 feet. Precision Finding is the name given by Apple to this feature. When you’re near four feet of a HomePod, the Series 9 will launch the now-playing screen or recommend material to play on the smart speaker.
WatchOS 10 will be released alongside the Series 9’s upgraded hardware. This is likely the most noticeable update to the Apple Watch Series 9. We’ve gotten a chance to test this software in beta, and it looks right at home on the new watch. The most noticeable change in watchOS 10 is the return of widgets. Apple calls these contextual information cards Smart Stack, and they can be rotated by twisting the digital crown.
Apple is also improving the watch’s navigation tools, including offline map compatibility for Apple Maps. Along with iOS 17, Apple Watch users can use mapping tools even when they are not in range of a cell tower or Wi-Fi. The Apple Watch Series 9’s GPS performance is comparable to that of its predecessor, as we noticed throughout our evaluation.
| Specs | Apple Watch Series 9 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions and weight | 45mm: 45 x 38 x 10.7mm Aluminum: 38.8g Stainless steel: 51.5g41mm: 41 x 35 x 10.7mm Aluminum: 32g Stainless steel: 42.3g |
| Durability | WR50 IP6X-certified |
| SoC | Apple S9 with 64-bit dual-core processor Apple W3 Apple U2 chip (Ultra-wideband) 4-core Neural Engine |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery | 18 hours 45 min to 80% chargeUSB-C magnetic fast charging cable |
| Software | WatchOS 10 |
| Case materials and colors | GPS-only, GPS + Cellular Aluminum: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink, and (Product) RedGPS + Cellular Stainless steel: Graphite, Silver, Gold |
| Connectivity | GPS/GNSS GLONASS Galileo QZSS BeiDou Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz Bluetooth 5.0Model A2475 (41mm) Model A2477 (45mm) LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Sensors | Always-on altimeter Blood oxygen sensor ECG Third-generation optical heart sensor Temperature sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor |
| Compatibility | iOS 16 or later |
| Splash, Water and Dust | Water resistance 50m (swim proof)7 Dust resistance IP6X10 |
| In the Box | Apple Watch Series 9 Band/Loop Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1 m) |
Apple Watch Series 9: Battery life
The Apple Watch has never been known for its exceptional battery life, and the Series 9 is unlikely to change that. While the new chipset and improved display will almost certainly result in longer battery life than its predecessors, Apple promises the watch will last 18 hours on a single charge. In summary, the Apple Watch Series 9 will not have a longer battery life than the Series 8 it replaces, at least on paper.
In our experience, Apple typically undersells the battery life of its smartwatches, so you may exceed that figure depending on how you use the device. It’s also worth noting that low-power mode will give you an extra 18 hours of battery life, even if it does disable non-essential systems.
| Power and Battery Life | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery Up to 18 hours normal use9 Up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode9 USB-C magnetic fast charging cable |
| Ultra 2 | Ultra | Series 9 | Series 8 | Series 4, 5, 6, 7 | |
| Standard battery life | Up to 36 hours | Up to 36 hours | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Extended/Low Power battery life | Up to 72 hours | Up to 60 hours | Up to 36 hours | Up to 36 hours | Up to 36 hours |
Q: Can I return my Apple Watch?
Yes. If you change your mind and no longer want to keep your Apple Watch, you can return it to us. The returned Apple Watch must be in good condition and in its original packing, including all accessories, manuals, and instructions. Returns are subject to Apple’s Sales and Refunds Policy.
Q: Will the Apple Watch 9 get better?
There’s plenty to explain it as ‘better’: a brighter screen, a longer battery, a new ‘pink’ color, and a useful Double Tap feature.
Q: When will the Apple Watch Series 9 come out?
On September 22, 2023, the Apple Watch Series 9 came out.
Q: Is the Apple Watch Series 9 water resistant?
The Apple Watch Series 9 is waterproof. The device has a water resistance rating of WR50. This means it can withstand water pressure at depths of up to 50 meters.
Q: Will the Apple Watch Series 9 support 5G?
No, the cellular models of the Apple Watch can only connect to LTE networks.
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