Should you rush out and buy the Apple Watch Series 9? Yes, but also no, depending on what's on your wrist already. Our in-depth review explains everything.
Apple Watch Series 9 MSRP $399.00 Score Details DT Editors' Choice “The Apple Watch Series 9's 24/7 comfort, extensive features, fast performance, and seamless integration with the iPhone make it a must-buy — but not a must-upgrade.” Pros Cons The Apple Watch Series 9 is the perfect introduction to the world of Apple’s superb smartwatches, as not only does it follow the winning formula of previous models, but it’s also only going to get better over the coming months.
The fact the Apple Watch Series 9 repeats the Series 8 and Apple Watch Series 7’s formula means two things: if you liked either of those smartwatches, you’ll like the Series 9. If you hate either of those smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 won’t change your mind. But to hate it based on looks is to be willfully contrary, as the Apple Watch is almost perfect in its fit, shape, and weight.
Apple Watch Series 9: what about Double Tap? Before I go into the rest of the Apple Watch Series 9, it’s best to talk about the Double Tap feature. It’s the ability to control aspects of the watch, from enabling dictation in message replies to stopping a timer using only a two-finger pinch gesture. Apple talked about it extensively when it first showed the Series 9 to the public, but it’s not available on the smartwatch yet. It’s apparently coming in a software update during October.
It has taken me a while to adjust to the new system, but I’m not sure it’s better than before, just different. The reason for the alteration seems to primarily be to make way for the Smart Stack, which repeats the multi-widget option of the same name in iOS, and various somewhat informative cards appear when you twist the Digital Crown.
It’s not a negative change, but I noticed the instant I put the Apple Watch Series 9 on. Apple has not mentioned any hardware changes that would bring this about, so it may be watchOS 10-related. Don’t let it put you off, though. The Snoopy watch face is part of watchOS 10, so it’s available on any Apple Watch that runs the software, not just the Series 9. The fact I’ve written two paragraphs about Snoopy should tell you what to expect from the new Apple Watch’s screen: it’s basically the same as the last one, and the aspect that got me most excited is a watch face available on pretty much any recent Apple Watch.
All this means tracking your health and fitness with the Apple Watch Series 9 is very much like doing so on the Series 8 and the Series 7. Apple is working to make the platform more powerful, starting with its cycling updates, but the Apple Watch remains ideally suited to the regular exerciser interested in fitness rather than the hardcore fanatic. It’s also brilliant for the casual exerciser, the camp into which I fall.
Inside the Apple Watch Series 9 is the new U2 Ultra Wideband chip, which brings smart, location-based HomePod control, and the Precision Finding feature so you can exactly locate a lost iPhone 15 model. Bizarrely, Precision Finding isn’t part of the Find My app on the Apple Watch and is instead found in the Control Panel when you force the Apple Watch to ring your lost phone. It’s very easy to use once you have figured out where to find it, and it has always located my iPhone reliably.
Apple Watch Series 9: price and availability The 41mm Apple Watch Series 9 with Wi-Fi and GPS starts at $399 or $429 for the 45mm model, and the price increases by $100 if you want to include a cellular connection. Prices also vary depending on the band you specify, with anything other than the Sport Band or Sport Loop costing extra. The stainless steel model, which is otherwise identical to the aluminum version, starts at $699.
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