After a week with the Apple Watch Series 9, and a demonstration of some of the features unavailable at launch, it's clear that it's largely more of the same again – but with a twist. Thanks to the upgraded S9 chip, for once when discussing an Apple flagship model, it seems like there’s at least one genuinely useful, game-changing new feature here that will be used every day in the form of Double Tap. The shift towards more environmentally friendly materials is a welcome one, and the option of a brighter screen is always nice, but I’m again frustrated by the lack of any improvement in battery life.
Pros
+Brighter, more powerful screen
+Useful new double-tap gestures
+New S9 chipset
Cons
-Same 18-hour battery life
-Identical design and sizes
-watchOS 10 covers most bases on older watches
After several fairly iterative updates, the Apple Watch Series 9 finally brings a genuinely exciting, use-everyday new feature to the flagship Apple Watch in the form of Double Tap. The gesture is sure to make waves when it’s made available later this year, and I found it a delight to use in my brief time with it.
A brighter screen and on-device Siri, ensuring that health queries are processed securely, are welcome changes, too. Although not much else has changed, as usual, the Watch 9 is going to be the best Apple Watch for most people. The exceptions occur if you're looking for a real budget bargain, in which case look to the Apple Watch SE 2, or a proper premium model in the Ultra 2.
The watch’s eco-friendly aspirations are admirable, and the move to Ultra Wideband radio technology is something that will pay dividends as subsequent iPhones make use of the tech. The improved Find Devices feature, for example, offers increased accuracy as a result of the stronger connection Ultra Wideband offers, even telling you how many feet away your phone is from your watch. At present this tech is only available with Series 9 and iPhone 15 at present, although it's sure to be on all subsequent phones and watches.
Consider the Watch 9 fairly future-proof, at least for the next few years. It offers a preview of Apple’s ambitions, with a carbon-neutral approach to manufacturing (well, driven by marketing) and a growing list of devices linked by Ultra Wideband. The Series 9 will be able to make use of new features developed for Ultra Wideband-capable devices, presumably available on watchOS 11 and beyond.
However, innovation can only go so far: the new Apple Watch shares the exact same 18-hour battery life, sizes, operating system, and design as its predecessors, and so – as we tend to say every year – the update is iterative in many ways. As ever, it’s the iOS watch to get if you're looking for a new wearable, but if you already have the Apple Watch Series 8 or Series 7 you can probably be excused.
The Apple Watch Series 9 was announced at Apple's September 12 event and is available now, with prices starting from $399 / £399 / AU$649. That’s the price for the cheapest 41mm model with an aluminum case (with color options of Midnight (black), Starlight (a sort of silver/gold hybrid), Silver, Product Red or the new Pink offering) and GPS connectivity only, without cellular LTE connectivity, and it's the same price as the Series 8 was in the US, and slightly cheaper than the 8 in the UK. Score!
If you get this version you won't be able to connect to the internet without Wi-Fi or your phone handy, although you can still use GPS functions while you work out. For those who want a larger model, LTE connectivity, or a stainless steel case (which comes in a choice of attractive gold, silver and graphite finishes), you’ll pay an additional premium as usual.
For example, a 45mm aluminum watch in Pink, with GPS only, costs $429 / £429 / AU$699, while the GPS and Cellular LTE option costs $529 / £529 / AU$859. If you were to go with the stainless steel option, the price would increase again. This is nothing new in Apple Watch world, but it's worth noting if you’re thinking of picking one up for the first time.
If you want an even more premium option, there's also the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This brings a raft of outdoor-focused features, a more rugged design and a better screen - but for a higher price still. You can read more about that in our hands-on Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.
Value score: 4/5
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