Apple Watch Series 9 review
Introduction
The Apple Watch Series 9 definitely is the device that knocks off some serious mile markers in the overall evolution of Apple's smartwatch lineup. The watch takes a solid foundation from its predecessors, coming with all-new features targeting both the techy geeks and environmentally conscious consumers. With every new release, Apple seems almost relentlessly to be trying to push the boundaries of what a smartwatch can do—the Series 9 not exempt. This is an unprecedented mix of higher performances with better sustainability, making it one of the most competitive options in the market. Fundamentally, this Apple Watch Series 9 improves the user experience.
From the sleek design to the solid build, through to this all-new powerhouse of a chipset, it's easy to see that it doesn't get finer for a smartwatch looking to hoof up performance—whether you're keeping on top of your fitness goals or staying connected on the move, or quite simply getting the convenience of having an mini-computer attached to your wrist.
Furthermore, Apple's commitment to sustainability is reflected in Series 9 through the use of multiple recycled materials and energy-efficient components to drive larger environmental ambitions.
Knowing what makes this device stand tall against not only its predecessors but also the Apple Watch Ultra—with an interesting mix of innovation and responsibility—the price of the Apple Watch Series 9 in India, its specs, design, and performance are well explained below.
Apple Watch Series 9 Specifications
• Starting Price: ₹33,000.
• Sizes: 41mm, 45mm.
• Colors: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Product Red, Pink.
• Processor: Apple S9.
• Connectivity: Cellular (optional), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, U2, NFC, GPS.
• Dust-resistance: IPX6.
• Waterproof: Up to 50 meters.
• Health Sensors: Skin temperature, heart rate, ECG, SpO2.
• Battery Life: 18 hours (36 hours with low power mode).
• Compatibility: iOS only.
Although the Apple Watch Series 9 looks quite similar to its predecessor, it packs some quite serious upgrades in both performance and features. The true powerhouse driver of changes is the S9 processor, equipping enhancements that include a better performance, brighter display, more improved Siri interactions, and other features ad infinitum. Another feature added to the Series 9 is an ultra-wideband chip that will allow for new capabilities within the Apple ecosystem.
Of these upgrades, maybe the most exciting is a new double-tap gesture that allows people to control Apple Watch with one hand.
Offerings toward sustainability, however, are really what set the Apple Watch Series 9 apart. This includes eco-friendly bands with reduced packaging and a greater percentage of recycled materials to make it one of Apple's first carbon-neutral devices—the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and returning Apple Watch SE join to round it off.
Price and Availability
Pre-orders have started for the Apple Watch Series 9 in India, with wider availability on September 22, 2024. The GPS-only model comes in at a starting price of ₹33,000, while for those wanting the luxuries of GPS + Cellular combined, they will have to shell out ₹41,500. Meanwhile, a larger 44mm model in that category could set users back ₹35,500 if only GPS were to be used, or as much as ₹44,000 with cellular.
Please note that using the Apple Watch independently of the iPhone might incur an extra cost from your phone carrier.
Design
The Apple Watch Series 9 is, at first glance, almost identical to the Series 8. The most recognizable change is probably the new pink finish option, further sophisticating the collection with a pretty, soft color. This color may not be to all tastes, but this appeal by is quite subtle without being flashy or over the top in its forms of watches.
But besides the aesthetic reinvention of the product, Apple has put in immense effort toward increasing the use of recycled material content in the Apple Watch Series 9. Now, the aluminum models in the product line are made from 100% recycled aluminum, and the battery itself is made from 100% recycled cobalt. In addition, new Sport Loop bands go with the Series 9 and are made out of 82% recycled yarn in their manufacture, cementing Apple's dedication to sustainability. Besides this, the major quantity of its finished products is paging out, minimizing packaging, and, at the same time, scaling back on air-shipping in favor of greener alternatives.
Performance
Apple Watch Series 9 comes with big performance boosts courtesy of the new S9 chip, which includes a 25% efficiency boost over the prior one. It hosts 5.6 billion transistors and packs a 4-core neural engine that offers double machine learning speeds. The new GPU is also faster by 30%, resulting in smoother animations and faster app launching.
If you're coming from an Apple Watch Series 8, it is way more responsive on the series 9. The new Smart Stack UI in watch OS 10 feels intuitive and fluid. It makes navigation seamless.
Of the many features that set the Series 9 apart, an improved Siri really stands out. The next significant change is an improved Siri interface. With Siri working on-device, it is now considerably faster and more reliable, even when your watch isn't connected to Wi-Fi or your iPhone. This is particularly good when using Siri to do things like starting workouts or sending messages on the fly.
Apple Watch Series 9 will retain the same 18-hour battery, despite the display now hitting up to 2,000 nits. That makes it twice as bright as the Series 8, making the watch far easier to read while in bright sunlight. Still, Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the brightest display of any Apple Watch model at 3,000 nits.
The New Double-Tap Gesture: A Game Changer
Most mentioned of all is the double-tap gesture in the Apple Watch Series 9—something totally new for control, which makes doing some actions very easy and often needs only a pinch of the index finger and thumb joint. For instance, you can answer or even end a call only by double-tapping on it, actions which otherwise would need your other free hand.
This comes in very handy, especially when the other hand is busy holding a cup of coffee or doing any other activity.
The double-tap gesture, not only limited to the phone calls, also scrolls through the Smart Stack and controls apps like the Timer and Apple Music, even capturing remote photos using the Camera Remote app on the Watch. It will be enabled by the S9 processor that allows for detection of exactly that kind of motion—a double-tap.
While this gesture is a huge revolutionizer in its way, there are some limitations attached to the double-tapgesture. It only works while your wrist is intentionally raised. In sleep mode, it is turned off to avoid accidental triggers. Moreover, it will work on the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 since it requires an S9 processor.
WatchOS 10: Raise Your Apple Watch Experience
Apple Watch Series 9 has the latest version of the Apple smart watch operating system pre-installed, watchOS 10. Enhancements in watchOS 10 include Smart Stack UI, a feature that offers easy and quick access to favorite apps and data. watchOS 10 offers a bike computer service, it tracks mental health with its Mindfulness app and vision health via its Ambient light sensor.
Noticeably, Apple Fitness Plus—Apple's virtual fitness platform—has had some key updates within watchOS 10. Now you can stack classes and create your custom workout plans to reach fitness goals with much ease. Moreover, new Apple Watch owners in India will be able to try an experiment at Apple Fitness Plus; indeed worth knowing is the depth of this platform when it goes out in terms of workouts.
Personalize Your Apple Watch watchOS 10 brings so much to life if you're among the many looking to personalize your Apple Watch. Available in the App Store are a plethora of apps that can be downloaded, starting from fitness and sport scoring trackers through to health monitors. The Series 9 version also supports third-party complications, which will be really helpful in visualizing data from some of your favorite apps on the Watch face itself.
Battery Life
Series 9 did not find too many changes in the Apple Watch series as far as battery life is concerned. At the same time, striking a balance is something that the brand did very effectively. For example, this watch is rated to last for 18 hours—long enough to get one through most busy days of activities.
But if it was really battery life that was your primary concern in the first place, it's worth going all out and opting for an Apple Watch Ultra 2, which could run up to 36 hours with everyday use and up to 70 hours in low power mode. How you'll actually charge the Apple Watch Series 9 hasn't changed: It does what all the models before did. The charging cord is now braided for added durability. It goes from 0% to full in about an hour, good enough for the full day's use. If it's running low, a few minutes of charging give one the remainder power needed to get through the night while tracking your sleep.
Verdict
Having just spent a bit of time with the Apple Watch Series 9, testing reveals that it is indeed the best smartwatch Apple has ever released. Forextravagant performance joins the watch now, available with double-tap gestures and a strong environment-focused offering.
The number of features improved in the latest version may not suffice to motivate an abrupt upgrade if one already has either an Apple Watch Series 8 or Series 7. If someone is going to buy a new smartwatch, the best overall would be the Apple Watch Series 9 since it is the best guarantee of the performance-to-test ratio with respect to features, and it is also more sustainable.
In any case, the Apple Watch increases the stakes in what should be expected from a smartwatch with incremental advancements. Principally, it would introduce double-tap gesture and advanced features of Siri in this year's offering.
FAQs
1. How much can one acquire the Apple Watch Series 9 for in India at present?
The Apple Watch Series 9 comes at a base price of ₹33,000 for its GPS-only variant. Any user who wants cellular connectivity would at least need to pay ₹41,500 for the GPS + Cellular model for more flexibility on occasions when the iPhone is out of hand. You can also have the option of the 44mm form, beginning at ₹35,500. This makes sure that there is a model for many tastes and pocket-sized budgets to keep Apple high-end but affordable in wearable tech.
2. What are the major upgrades of the Series 9 over the Series 8 Apple Watch?
Right after the performance-geared S9 processor, key improvements in the Apple Watch Series 9 over the Series 8 lie in display capacity, going up to 2,000 nits and allowing tearless reading, be it under hostile lighting or bright sun rays. Prominent among the additions was on-device Siri processing for quicker and more personal voice commands and the new double tap gesture, ensuring now it's controlled much more intuitively at the watch. The reflection is simply this—expressing Apple's commitment to innovation and user experience.
3. Will the Apple Watch Series 9 band work with all other Apple Watch bands?
This would mean that an Apple Watch Series 9 would still be able to house all the current bands for theApple Watch, and give customers a potential way to keep using their favorite accessories.
Those would include eco-friendly bands, made with more sustainable materials, new this year.
One more option that Apple has designed into Series 9 is its variability: allowing the user to wear a great variety of bands, either legacy or new. It is in compatibility such as this that Apple—the environmentally sensitive, user-minded company—DbContext manifestly in each of its rigorous products.
4. How does the battery life of Apple Watch Series 9 stand compared to Apple Watch Ultra 2?
The Apple Watch Series 9 is said to provide a battery life of up to 18 hours, adequate for regular use. This will be enough to track fitness activities, other features of the watch, and even notifications. On the other hand, Apple Watch Ultra 2 is purposed for advanced users who might need watches to attain up to 36 hours of battery life under normal conditions. Moreover, this receiver/instrument has the ability to extend that life up to 70 hours on low power—sufficient enough for a long journey outdoors or for situations wherein the ability to charge cannot be done instantly. That fact alone puts the Ultra 2 into the limelight for extreme and active lifestyles.
5. Is a double-tap gesture available for older Apple Watches?
No, in that case because of the fact that this double-tap gesture was indeed a feature new to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This is so given it needs the S9 processor, which is new and is needed for computing power needed, together with other new sensors needed in the detection of that exact movement.
Due to this, even on advanced orders, it cannot be provided on older Apple Watches. The double-tap gesture enables easier user interaction when frequent actions are fast and sometimes even do not require a screen tap. Skipping forward 15 items by triple-clicking the Side button makes Series 9 and Ultra 2 the most convenient and technically equipped models from the line.
