Apple has announced the ninth generation of its smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 9, during its Wonderlust event, the new generation maintains a similar design to its predecessor but comes equipped with a faster processor and enhanced sensors.
For years, the smartwatch’s processor remained unchanged, with Apple not introducing a faster chip since the Series 6 in 2020, however, one of the most significant changes in the ninth generation is the new custom processor from Apple, called the S9 SiP (System in Package).
This means users will notice improved loading times when opening apps or rebooting the system.
The central processing unit contains 5.6 billion transistors, with a graphics processing unit that is 30% faster and a quad-core neural engine capable of processing machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as the eighth generation of the smartwatch.
This translates into improvements, such as faster Siri requests processed on the device, with the ability to access and record health data with privacy and security, for requests that don’t require internet information, Siri doesn’t rely on wireless or cellular networks, resulting in faster and more reliable responses.
The neural engine also makes typing more accurate, up to 25% compared to the eighth generation of the smartwatch.
The energy efficiency of the S9 SiP allows the ninth-generation smartwatch to maintain battery life for up to 18 hours throughout the day.
Another improvement is a brighter display, which Apple claims can reach up to 2,000 nits per square meter, doubling the maximum brightness available in the eighth generation, making text easier to read in bright sunlight.
In dark rooms or early mornings, the screen brightness can drop to as low as one nit to avoid disturbing nearby individuals.
The ninth generation also offers the Double Tap feature, allowing users to quickly and easily perform common actions like answering a phone call by tapping with both the index finger and thumb.
The new Double Tap feature allows users to control the smartwatch with just one hand, without touching the screen directly, this feature somewhat resembles the Click feature introduced with Apple Vision Pro glasses and is provided through AssistiveTouch.
The Double Tap feature relies on the neural engine, which processes data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart rate sensor using a new machine learning algorithm, the algorithm detects the unique signature of small wrist movements and changes in blood flow when performing a double tap.
The ninth-generation smartwatch also features the second-generation Ultra Wideband (U2) chip for more accurate positioning, similar to the U1 chip, the new chip provides spatial awareness, enabling the device to precisely detect the location of other nearby devices equipped with the same technology.
Thanks to the U2 chip’s improved accuracy, it enables new features when using Find My, the precise search provides distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audible guidance to an iPhone that may be in a different room, enhancing the user’s ability to locate it.
The Ultra Wideband chip also offers deeper integration between the smartwatch and the HomePod speaker. When a user is within 4 meters of a playing HomePod, the ninth-generation smartwatch activates the “Now Playing” feature for media control.
This Series 9 watch follows the eighth-generation Series 8 released last year, which was largely an incremental update that added temperature and fall detection sensors along with the Apple Watch Ultra, a significantly updated version with notable changes like a larger display and a separate action button.
The ninth generation is likely to come alongside watchOS 10, the latest operating system for the company’s smartwatches.
The ninth-generation smartwatch is available in aluminum and stainless steel versions, the company allows users to order the new smartwatch today, with availability starting on Friday, September 22.
The company promotes some environmental improvements for its smartwatch, highlighting that it is its first carbon-neutral product, additionally, the smaller packaging allows for easier shipping of multiple devices at once.
The company has redesigned the smartwatch’s packaging to be 100% fiber-based, with the new logo on the packaging indicating carbon-neutral models.
Apple Watch Series 9 Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| New Processor (S9 SiP) | A faster processor that enhances device performance, allowing for faster app launches and system actions. |
| Brighter Display | A screen with brightness reaching up to 2000 nits per square meter, making it easier to view in bright sunlight. |
| Quad-Core Neural Engine | Improvements in processing machine learning tasks and delivering more accurate text input by up to 25 percent. |
| Double-Click Feature | Enables control of the watch with a two-finger double-click gesture, making common actions quicker and easier. |
| Ultra-Wideband (U2) Chip | Enhanced location accuracy and new features in Find My to improve locating lost devices. |
| HomePod Control | Enables remote playback and control of the HomePod speaker when in proximity. |
| Environmentally Friendly and Carbon Neutral | Apple’s first carbon-neutral product and eco-friendly packaging design. |
