Apple Watch Series 9 review - essential upgrades or just a luxury?

Apple's smartwatches remain the gold standard among wearables, and the Apple Watch Series 9 is not exempt from that. The release here shows thoughtful and eco-conscious differences, upgraded hardware, and innovative usability in gestures like Double Tap and improved Ultra Wideband capabilities. Is this the secret to making the Series 9 a must-buy?

Here's a closer look at what Apple's latest wearable brings to the table and whether it's worth your money in this review.

Design and display

Apple Watch Series 9 has its unique designs, but this time with a twist on environmentalism. For one, this is one of the Apple smartwatches that will be carbon neutral. The watch uses recycled aluminum and cobalt as well as eco-friendly packaging material. Environmentalism has come close for Apple, including watch bands, and even if they are new for their color pink, it gives a fresh look.

However, the Apple Watch Series 9 takes it to the next level with its ultra-high brightness feature, reaching a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is double that of the Series 8, making it a significant upgrade in the Apple Watch Series 8 vs 9 comparison.

The potential downside of this array of brightness options is how dim they can feel at times in nighttime conditions, forcing you to switch back to normal brightness. The Series 9 gets the perfect intersection of eco-conscious design and the ability to be functional enough for both new and returning Apple Watch users.

Significant features

Apple has filled the Series 9 with some significant innovations that make it different from its predecessor:

Double tap gesture

The Double Tap gesture of the Series 9 allows users to operate the device without touching the screen. It is activated by a quick two-finger pinch and lets users snooze alarms, answer calls, play music, and many more things.

For multitaskers and accessibility needs, it is a useful addition. Double Tap becomes more precise with time, but users could face the challenge of accidental gestures on the initial tries. Although it might sound simple, this intuitive feature adds more complexity to how users interact with their watch.

Advanced Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip

Series 9 introduces the second-gen UWB chip, which further enhances the "Find My" functionality. With this technology, users can find where compatible Apple devices are located with extreme precision, which is super useful, especially for users who often can't find where they put their iPhones.

It's nothing short of a lifesaver when it comes to forgetful users: the UWB chip enhances spatial awareness, following down to the specific room level. Right now, the options that have taken advantage of this capability are limited to only the second-gen UWB chip-enabled devices, such as the iPhone 15.

Siri and health integration on device

Another meaningful upgrade is on-device Siri, which lets users voice commands and get responses without a cloud connection. This not only makes the response quicker but also speeds up data privacy.

Siri has access to directly communicate with health data, making it easier to monitor metrics like heart rate, sleep, and activity goals. Not the most revolutionary, but this feature is an incremental one that helps simplify health tracking for Apple Watch users.

Performance and battery life

The Series 9 is indeed powered by Apple's new S9 processor, which promises a smoother, faster experience. Though the upgrade in the processor improves performance, it does not particularly stand out for those switching from the Series 8 for everyday tasks.

Battery life remains around 18 hours under normal usage; users hoping for it to be longer may be disappointed. However, battery efficiency under moderate use, such as non-intensive workouts, continues to make the Series 9 a good companion throughout the day.

Health and fitness tracking

Like with previous models, the Apple Watch Series 9 includes a full health kit: it tracks heart rate, offers ECG reading, performs blood oxygen monitoring, and tracks sleep analysis. Apple has also updated watchOS 10 for its end-users to equip with a renewed interface and a completely new Smart Stack that makes working with widgets much more intuitive.

Users can now easily check important statistics quickly, which helps them easily monitor daily health goals. Though these features are on Series 8, Series 9 is a refinement to be used more smoothly

Enhanced user interface with watchOS 10

The Series 9 runs on watchOS 10 which brings a fresh interface and a new focus on navigating the Smart Stack through widgets. Users can simply swipe their fingers to check important widgets such as weather, events in the calendar, and more about activities.

The watchOS 10 update comes to the older models, but the experience feels notably smoother on the advanced processor in the Series 9. The new operating system also introduces new mental health tracking features, letting the users reflect on their mood and stress levels, which aligns with Apple's broader health initiative.

Battery life and charging

The battery life is still quite standard, like the previous models: about 18 hours with normal use. For those who, for example, are focused on Always-On Display and often use a workout tracker, the battery can become a weakness due to the need for everyday charging.

However, if you need an infusion of power, then a fast watch charger is your real savior. Yet compared with competitors in whom much longer battery operation is offered, this model will appear limited for uninterrupted all-day intense use.

Pros and cons of Apple Watch Series 9

• Double Tap gesture brings hands-free functionality.
• Better UWB chip for better location sensing capabilities.
• Siri is now on the device with deeper health data integration.
• Environment-friendly, carbon neutral.

• Same battery life as previous models
• Slight Performance upgrades but not much from the existing users of Apple Watches
• UWB chip is used to its bare minimum if not paired with compatible devices.

FAQs on Apple Watch Series 9

Is the Apple watch series worth upgrading from the series 8?

For the persons who have an interest in the Double Tap feature, on-device Siri, or eco-friendly construction, the investment will be worth this Series 9. However, the upgrades might not have a strong feel about it for Series 8 users.

How does double tap work?

With Double Tap, users can control the following features with their watch using a two-finger pinch that is great to use for snoozing alarms answering calls hands-free or taking a selfie.

Can I use Apple UWB with my Series 9 on all Apple devices?

No, the enhanced UWB functionality works only on such devices as the iPhone 15, which has a second-generation UWB chip.

How eco-friendly is the Series 9?

The Series 9 is Apple's first carbon-neutral watch. The device has used recycled aluminum, cobalt, and sustainable packaging to shrink its environmental footprints.

Does the Series 9 provide longer battery life compared to earlier editions?

No, Series 9's battery is the same as the Series 8 model, based on its about 18 hours of usage even from a full charge.

Final thoughts

To sum up, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a futuristic wearable that has a thoughtfully imagined added functionality in usability and also in eco-friendly design. Convenience and value are great, though they might not help convince everyone to upgrade to one.

To those using a series for the very first time or with previous, older generation models such as Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 6 and more, it represents the perfect and exciting feature-rich smartwatch in itself. An eco-friendly offering combined with new tech-savvy means Apple delivers on promises by making these wearables smart and even greener.

While the Apple Watch Series 10 vs 9 may offer further innovations, the Series 9 remains a highly recommended choice for those seeking a perfect balance of performance and sustainability.