Faster processing and higher sustainability are simply two options within the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. Compare the wearables’ specs and get pricing and availability particulars for these Apple Watches.
During Apple’s Wonderlust keynote on Tuesday, the corporate unveiled the iPhone 15, however the occasion began with information concerning the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We examine the specs and options of each wearables that will help you determine which Apple Watch is good for you, in addition to present pricing and availability data.
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New options in Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2
Design, colours and sustainability
The design of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is unchanged because the Series 8 and authentic Ultra releases.
Apple Watch Series 9 is offered in an aluminum end within the colours pink, midnight, starlight, silver or product crimson, and in a stainless-steel end in gold, silver or graphite (Figure A). As with the earlier Apple Watch Ultra, the Ultra 2 is available in the identical pure titanium end.
Figure A
The Apple Watch Series 9 lineup has an enormous array of case and colour choices. Image: Apple
In phrases of sustainability, the Apple Watch merchandise being shipped at the moment are carbon impartial when paired with sure Apple Watch bands, in Apple’s neverending push to make its product environmentally pleasant and sustainable. As a part of Apple’s efforts to be extra environmentally pleasant, the corporate not presents leather-based Apple Watch band merchandise and has switched to a brand new, extra environmentally sustainable materials known as FineWoven to interchange the leather-based bands.
New SiP
Very few processor adjustments have been made to the Apple Watch since Series 6. Apple made an enormous transfer with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 by introducing a brand new System in Package known as S9 that brings a brand new processor (dual-core CPU) based mostly on the A15 Bionic and an all-new 4-core neural engine (Figure B). This enchancment may also help with on-device machine studying duties similar to permitting Siri to reply questions without having to work together with the community. Apple is claiming 30% quicker processing energy, which implies that apps and duties will carry out a lot quicker on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 than earlier Apple Watches. Older variations of the Apple Watch are considerably slower than these new chips.
Figure B
The S9 chip is a large enchancment over the earlier 12 months’s fashions, and it presents numerous smaller enhancements like a brand new 4-core neural engine and elevated cupboard space. Image: Apple
This new SiP additionally contains an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip that may assist with precision discovering of AirTags and units that help the Find My characteristic from greater than 2x the gap of the earlier chipset.
Another characteristic of the upgraded SiP is that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 now characteristic 64GB of storage in comparison with the 32GB beforehand supplied within the S8 package deal.
On-device processing
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With the upgraded S9 SiP, Apple is ready to do much more processing onboard for Siri and different machine studying functions, together with those who third-party apps would possibly introduce in a while. Being in a position to course of Siri requests on the Apple Watch as a substitute of by a networking name implies that the duties return faster and customers aren’t left ready. It additionally implies that Siri can produce outcomes offline when no web connection is offered for some duties.
One instance of that is Siri interactions on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are executed on-device duties not requiring an web connection (e.g., setting an alarm and opening an app). This means these duties full quicker than earlier than and with 25% extra correct dictation.
Brighter shows
The show on the Apple Watch is likely one of the greatest on any wearable, and Apple is making these shows simpler to learn, even within the harshest daylight that you just would possibly encounter. The Apple Watch Series 9 can illuminate the show as much as 2,000 nits of peak brightness in comparison with the 1,000 nits obtainable on the Apple Watch Series 8. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is ready to get the height brightness as much as 3,000 nits in comparison with the backlighting of two,000 nits peak brightness on the earlier Apple Watch Ultra.
Ultra Wideband enhancements
Apple launched the Ultra Wideband a number of years in the past and popularized it with AirTags and the flexibility to seek out your units by the Find My utility. When paired with an iPhone 15, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 can present detailed precision discovering of the system just like AirTags (Figure C), providing useful arrows to information you to your misplaced system. In addition, HomePod integration with the Apple Watch implies that when your watch will get near a HomePod, the Now Playing view can seem, and you may management music or substitute music enjoying on a HomePod proper from the watch.
Figure C
The precision discovering characteristic of Apple Watch implies that Find My customers can extra precisely observe the watch and likewise discover an iPhone 15 proper from the watch. Image: Apple
Gesturing
Included within the S9 SiP is the flexibility for sensors to acknowledge a brand new gesture that Apple is looking “the double tap.” When pinching your index finger and thumb collectively twice in fast succession, you may set off actions on the Apple Watch similar to with the ability to reply an incoming name, cling up the decision or different duties in watchOS (Figure D). This might be executed due to a brand new machine studying algorithm working on the brand new 4-core neural engine within the S9 chip.
Figure D
The Apple Watch has a brand new gesture the corporate calls “the double tap.” Image: Apple
Other Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 enhancements
Siri can entry well being and health information and reply questions on that information on-device.
A 4-core neural engine that permits Siri and different machine studying duties to be accomplished on-device. Developers may also make the most of this further processing energy to make apps extra reactive.
Display can get dimmer in darkish rooms and at night time (all the way down to 1 nit of brightness).
Comparison of Apple Watch fashions
FunctionApple Watch Series 9Apple Watch Ultra 2
Case dimension45mm or 41mm aluminum or stainless-steel case dimension49mm titanium case dimension
Display brightness2,000 nits3,000 nits
Emergency SOSYesYes
Emergency SOS SirenNoYes
Water resistanceWater resistant (50 meters underneath ISO customary 22810:2010)SwimproofWater resistant (100 meters underneath ISO customary 22810) SwimproofHigh-speed water sportsRecreational dive to 40m
Precision dual-frequency GPSNo, L1 GPSYes, L1 and L5 GPS
BatteryUp to 18 hours regular useUp to 36 hours in Low Power ModeFast chargingUp to 36 hours regular useUp to 72 hours in Low Power ModeFast charging
Depth gauge and water temperature sensorNoYes
Microphone / speakersSecond-generation speaker and micDual audio system and three-mic array with beamforming
What are the goal markets of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2?
The Apple Watch Series 9 is focused in the direction of customers who desire a health monitoring system that features communication options similar to the flexibility to make calls, reply to messages and reply to notifications extra successfully and effectively.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 takes what’s obtainable on the Apple Watch Series 9 and upgrades it for customers who need longer battery life and luxuriate in being outdoor. Users can put on it diving and outdoor for almost three days on a single battery cost. It additionally contains superior GPS for monitoring your self as you hike the place mobile service might not be obtainable.
How a lot do the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 value?
The Apple Watch Series 9 begins at $399 USD and varies relying on band kinds and case choices. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is $799 USD.
When will Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 be obtainable?
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be found for preorder now and can ship to prospects in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the U.Ok., the U.S. and greater than 40 different nations and areas and be obtainable for in-store pickup on Friday, September 22, 2023.