The newly announced Apple Watch Series 9 is available for order on Apple’s online store with availability starting from Friday, September 22.
Powered by the new S9 SiP, the Apple Watch Series 9 offers an increase in performance and capabilities like Precision Finding for iPhone, faster on-device Siri to access and log health data, and a new double-tap gesture to control the smartwatch. However, the innovation ends there.
This year’s Apple Watch Series 9 skipped the alleged groundbreaking health features like non-invasive blood sugar tracking and body temperature monitoring.
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Series 7: A features comparison
Apple Watch Series 6 launched in 2020 featured a Blood Oxygen sensor and app and was the last lineup to be available in 40mm and 44mm sizes.
In 2021, the Cupertino tech giant redesigned the Apple Watch Series 7 with “nearly 20 percent more screen area and thinner borders at just 1.7 mm (40%) smaller than those on Apple Watch Series 6 and introduced larger 41mm and 45mm sizes starting at $399. The Apple Watch Series 8 launched in 2022 in the same design, and sizes for the same price and so has the latest Series 9 in 2023.
Therefore, we are comparing the new Apple Watch Series 9 with the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Series 7 to know if it is worth the upgrade.
| Specs | Apple Watch Series 9 | Apple Watch Series 8 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
| Processor | S9 SiP (64-bit dual-core) W3 wireless chip Second-gen Ultra Wideband chip 4-core Neural Engine | S8 SiP (64-bit dual-core) W3 wireless chip U1 Ultra Wideband | S7 (64-bit dual-core) chip W3 wireless chip U1 Ultra Wideband |
| Software | watchOS 10 | watchOS 10 | watchOS 10 |
| Display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display |
| Sizes | 45mm and 41mm | 45mm and 41mm | 45mm and 41mm |
| Features | Double tap gesture Precision Finding for iPhone On-device Siri Blood Oxygen app ECG app Sleep stages Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates Crash Detection Fall Detection International emergency calling Emergency SOS Apple Pay | Blood Oxygen app ECG app Sleep stages Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates Crash Detection Fall Detection International emergency calling Emergency SOS Apple Pay | Blood Oxygen app ECG app Fall Detection International emergency calling Emergency SOS Apple Pay |
| Water resistance | 50 meters | 50 meters | 50 meters |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours Up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode Fast charging | Up to 18 hours Up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode Fast charging | Up to 18 hours Fast charging |
| Capacity | 64GB | 32GB | 32GB |
| Connectivity | GPS GPS+Cellular | GPS GPS+Cellular | GPS GPS+Cellular |
| Finish | Aluminum Stainless steel | Aluminum Stainless steel | Aluminum Stainless steel Titanium |
| Price | $399 | $399 | $399 |
Verdict: Buy an Apple Watch Series 9 only if you’re upgrading from Apple Series 7 or older
As seen in the feature’s comparison chart above, the new Apple Watch Series 9 offers slight improvements to the Apple Watch Series 8. The only noticeable differences between the two models are the Double tap gesture capability in Series 9 to control the smartwatch and the Precision Finding for the iPhone to get guided directions to locate the smartphone when lost.
However, the new Apple Watch Series 9 is a leap forward from the Apple Watch Series 7 featuring advanced capabilities like Sleep stages, Crash Detection, and Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates.
Therefore, users with an Apple Watch Series 7 or older models should upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 9. Apple Watch Series 8 users do not need to.
Personally, I believe Apple Watch Series 6 or older users should upgrade to the latest Apple Watch because it is about time. Although the new watchOS 10 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, certain features will only be available on the newer models because of their advanced processors and sensors.
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