Following the release of the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch Series 9 has arrived, maintaining an identical appearance to both the previous model and the one that preceded it.
When it comes to timepieces, design plays a pivotal role. A compelling design can be the deciding factor in persuading someone to invest in an expensive watch. However, Apple’s smartwatches haven’t been performing well in the market over the past couple of years. Market reports indicate a gradual decline in Apple’s smartwatch market share over the last two years, and the reason is quite evident: Apple has maintained the same watch design for three consecutive years. The Series 8 from the previous year bore a striking resemblance to the Series 7, and the newly introduced Watch Series 9 continues this tradition.
This doesn’t imply that Apple’s strategy of making incremental changes and selling similar-looking models isn’t effective. Despite the absence of significant design alterations or groundbreaking features, consumers continue to purchase an Apple Watch every year.
So, it may seem somewhat redundant for the Apple Watch Series 9 to sport the same design as the previous year’s model. However, just as with the previous year’s Crash Detection feature, there’s something novel this time in the form of a double tap gesture, which enables you to perform various functions without physically interacting with your watch. Sounds intriguing, right? As always, there’s a catch. But before we delve into that, let’s explore what’s new.
Apple Watch Series 9 Price in India
Similar to the Series 8 (and the Series 7), the Apple Watch Series 9 is available in two case sizes (41mm and 45mm) and two versions: GPS or GPS and Cellular. Additionally, Apple offers a choice of cases in aluminum or steel, each with a distinct appearance. The starting price for the 41mm aluminum case is Rs. 41,900, while the 45mm version starts at Rs. 44,900.
The 41mm stainless steel variant begins at Rs. 70,900, and the 45mm case at Rs. 75,900. Apple allows you to select one strap option to accompany your new watch. For the aluminum case models, this includes the new Sport Band or Sport Loop, while the stainless steel models offer a choice of the Sport Band or Milanese Loop (metal).
Apple Watch Series 9 Design and Specifications
Unless you’re upgrading from an Apple Watch Series 6 or an earlier model, you won’t notice any visible changes in the cosmetic design between the Series 7, last year’s Series 8, and this year’s Series 9. The bezels surrounding the Series 9’s display remain unchanged in thickness, and, no matter how you look at it, you’re essentially getting the same old design.
The only way to distinguish two Midnight Black Apple Watches is by inspecting the fine engraving on the ceramic back case, which replaces the number ‘8’ with ‘9’. In contrast, Samsung made significant design refinements to its Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic this year, enhancing the appearance of the smartwatches.
Apple claims to have used only recycled materials in constructing its smartwatch this year, but this applies solely to the Series 9 with the aluminum case (not applicable to the stainless steel case) when paired with the Sport Loop strap, which Apple touts as a completely carbon-neutral product.
Apple provided its review unit with two watch bands. While the Midnight Sport Loop came in the box, Apple also included a Desert Stone Nike Sport Band. It was a bit too small for my wrist but was well-built and had a premium feel. The carbon-neutral Sport Loop band was exceptionally comfortable for everyday use, with a convenient velcro adjustment strap.
Both the aluminum case and ion-X strengthened cover glass remained unscratched during the review period. The case maintains its IP6X rating for dust resistance and is water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters, according to Apple. The box includes a magnetic fast-charging adapter with a braided cable, similar to the new iPhone models.
The watch retains the same 1.9-inch Retina LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 484 x 396 pixels. Apple claims that this year’s display can achieve significantly higher brightness. There’s also a new S9 SiP (System in Package) that boasts a faster neural engine, allowing for quicker responses from Siri and handling common tasks without the need to connect to the phone and the Internet.
The watch includes the same sensors as before, such as the blood oxygen sensor, electrical heart sensor, and the third-generation heart rate sensor introduced with the Series 8. It also features a second-generation ultra-wideband chip (UWB) for locating a lost iPhone. Holding your watch close to a HomePod reveals music suggestions thanks to this new chip. The sensors for temperature monitoring and crash detection features introduced with last year’s model are also present.
The watch supports standard global positioning systems, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.3. It now offers 64GB of internal storage, doubling last year’s model’s capacity, which is useful for local music storage when you prefer not to carry your phone.
Apple Watch Series 9 Performance
The new Apple S9 SiP feels slightly faster when opening and closing apps and navigating the watchOS interface casually. However, it’s not a significant leap from the Series 8, which was already quite responsive, so it may not be a compelling reason to upgrade. The same applies to the brighter display, which Apple claims can reach up to 2,000 nits, matching last year’s Watch Ultra 2. Last year’s Series 8 already performed well in terms of outdoor visibility, so upgrading from a recent model may not be necessary.
WatchOS has undergone significant changes with the latest version. It introduces four new watch faces, including a charming Snoopy-themed one with delightful animations. The Solar Analog and Palette faces offer extensive customization options, and the new Nike Globe watch face is useful for Nike Run app users.
The new OS relies less on gestures and makes effective use of physical buttons. It also adds a virtual on-screen back button when navigating native apps. Smart Stack, a collection of widgets, appears when you scroll the digital crown after waking from the default watch face. Accessing the Control Center now requires pressing the side button, making it more convenient. All native apps have received a much-needed design overhaul and incorporate the new on-screen back button. WatchOS 10 feels like a significant step forward in the right direction, presenting a fresh facade despite the unchanged physical design of the watch.
Having tested the double tap feature in its beta state (watchOS public 10.1 beta 2), it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to make a final assessment of its performance. Nonetheless, I can share its usefulness.
While it initially appeared impressive on stage as a way to control the watch, the reality is somewhat different. This feature only works for accepting or dismissing single-button functions, such as accepting calls, starting or stopping a stopwatch, and playing or pausing music. However, it cannot be considered a navigation feature because it merely toggles a single function on and off. To initiate this function, you still need to set aside your umbrella or groceries and use your fingers to access and activate the desired app or select a timer. The double tap gesture is only applicable when stopping an action. One of the most frustrating aspects is that double tap cannot be used to open a newly received notification on the watch, a feature that Apple should consider enabling.
There’s another drawback: you need to raise your wrist and glance at your watch (or flick your wrist toward yourself) to activate the double tap gesture. If you don’t do both actions, the double tap won’t work. Given the onboard processing that Apple describes for the double tap feature to work, it’s somewhat cumbersome to perform two actions for one gesture.
Furthermore, it feels awkward to raise your arm in a crowd and repeatedly tap your fingers while staring at your watch. While I understand that the feature was in beta when I tested it, I found it somewhat sluggish in terms of responsiveness and activation. Lastly, I frequently forgot about the existence of the double tap feature, as it only works with specific functions and apps.
Regarding health and fitness tracking, I found the results to be generally accurate. Sleep tracking with sleep stages, introduced last year, provided the same reliable and accurate data as with the Series 8. SpO2 readings have improved, although they are not as consistent as a dedicated pulse oximeter but are quite close to accurate. Heart rate readings are precise, and GPS tracking during walks without the iPhone was also accurate.
Apart from physical health, iOS 17 and watchOS 10 allow you to track your mood, with the ultimate goal of providing guidance on mental health. The mood tracker can be accessed on both an iPhone (Health > Browse > Mental Wellbeing > State of Mind) and the Watch Series 9 (in the Mindfulness app). It involves a simple set of questions to help you log your moods during the day or once a day. The new State of Mind section in the Health app provides a broader picture of what may be contributing to poor mental health (e.g., lack of sleep, work-related stress) or what helps improve your mood (e.g., exercise). Notably, the Journal app is still missing on iOS 17-powered devices and is expected to arrive “later this year.”
Despite not increasing the battery size, Apple claims to have made improvements in battery life, possibly due to the more power-efficient S9 SiP. However, I didn’t notice any significant differences compared to my experience with the Series 8 last year. Sleep tracking remained the most power-consuming activity, aside from GPS-connected walks, which consumed about three percent of the battery’s charge per kilometer.
Since the always-on feature is available, I didn’t disable it as I found it convenient for quick glances at my watch face. With all notifications, automated health tracking features, and no exercise tracking enabled, the Watch Series 9 lasted about 1.5 days on a single charge. Turning off sleep tracking and avoiding workouts can extend the battery life to approximately two days. Charging the watch remains the same as before, with the magnetic charger reaching 65 percent in 30 minutes and fully charging in one hour and seven minutes.
Conclusion
The Apple Watch Series 9 doesn’t bring significant changes or new features to the table. This might disappoint loyal Apple fans who were eagerly anticipating something fresh this year, which the Series 9 clearly isn’t. Furthermore, since the design has remained unchanged for two years, those eyeing the new FineWoven bands can also attach them to their existing Series 7 or Series 8 watches.
In my experience, the double tap feature doesn’t live up to the hype. However, Apple is confident in its utility and has stated that it won’t be available on older models, meaning you’ll need to upgrade to a new one to try it.
Last year, I had a similar stance when recommending the Series 8, and this year, my sentiments haven’t shifted. It’s challenging for me to endorse the Series 9 if you already own a Series 7 or Series 8, unless you are particularly keen on the double tap feature. On the other hand, if you are currently using an Apple Watch Series 6, then the Series 9 presents a worthwhile upgrade. It comes with the newer S9 SiP and increased onboard storage, ensuring its compatibility with future software updates compared to the Series 8.