Apple Watch Sequence 9 evaluation: One of the best for most individuals
Editor’s Notice
• Authentic evaluation date: September 2023
• New Sequence 10 with upgrades out now
• Launch worth: $399 / £399 / AU$649
• Official worth now: $399 / £399 / AU$649
Replace: November 2024. In 2024, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 is now not the very best Apple Watch available on the market, an honor that falls to the newer Apple Watch Sequence 10. Nevertheless, the variations between the 2 are scant, definitely not sufficient to advantage upgrading from one to the opposite. The Sequence 10 is barely larger at 42mm and 46mm respectively, versus 41mm and 45mm for the Sequence 9. The At all times-on show is 40% brighter when considered at an angle on the Sequence 10, and there’s a barely sooner chip. The Sequence 10 ditches chrome steel for titanium, however in any other case there’s not a lot in it.
As such, if you will discover an Apple Watch Sequence 9 with a good low cost, it’s effectively value contemplating. We have seen costs drop to as little as $279.99/£299.99/AU$499 in large sale occasions. So should you spot one at these costs (or decrease), it’d effectively be value snagging over a costlier Sequence 10, or pushing the boat out should you’re contemplating the cheaper Apple Watch SE. The remainder of this evaluation stays as beforehand printed.
Stephen Warwick
Apple Watch Sequence 9: One-minute evaluation
After a number of pretty iterative updates, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 lastly brings a genuinely thrilling, use-everyday new characteristic to the flagship Apple Watch within the type of Double Faucet. The gesture is certain to make waves when it’s made obtainable later this yr, and I discovered it a delight to make use of in my temporary time with it.
A brighter display screen and on-device Siri, making certain that well being queries are processed securely, are welcome adjustments, too. Though not a lot else has modified, as ordinary, the Watch 9 goes to be the very best Apple Look ahead to most individuals. The exceptions happen should you’re searching for an actual price range cut price, wherein case look to the Apple Watch SE 2, or a correct premium mannequin within the Extremely 2.
The watch’s eco-friendly aspirations are admirable, and the transfer to Extremely Wideband radio expertise is one thing that can pay dividends as subsequent iPhones make use of the tech. The improved Discover Units characteristic, for instance, gives elevated accuracy because of the stronger connection Extremely Wideband gives, even telling you what number of ft away your telephone is out of your watch. At current this tech is just obtainable with Sequence 9 and iPhone 15 at current, though it is positive to be on all subsequent telephones and watches.
Contemplate the Watch 9 pretty future-proof, a minimum of for the subsequent few years. It gives a preview of Apple’s ambitions, with a carbon-neutral method to manufacturing (effectively, pushed by advertising and marketing) and a rising listing of gadgets linked by Extremely Wideband. The Sequence 9 will be capable to make use of recent options developed for Extremely Wideband-capable gadgets, presumably obtainable on watchOS 11 and past.
Nevertheless, innovation can solely go up to now: the brand new Apple Watch shares the very same 18-hour battery life, sizes, working system, and design as its predecessors, and so – as we are inclined to say yearly – the replace is iterative in some ways. As ever, it’s the iOS watch to get should you’re searching for a brand new wearable, but when you have already got the Apple Watch Sequence 8 or Sequence 7 you possibly can most likely be excused.
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Specs
| Part | Apple Watch Sequence 9 (41mm) | Apple Watch Sequence 9 (45mm) |
| Worth | From $399 / £399 / AU$649 | From $429 / £429 / AU$699 |
| Dimensions | 41 x 35 x 10.7mm | 45 x 38 x 10.7mm |
| Weight | 32.1g (aluminum) | 38.7g (aluminum) |
| Case/bezel | Aluminum or chrome steel | Aluminum or chrome steel |
| Show | 352 x 430 px always-on OLED Retina Show | 396 x 484 px always-on OLED Retina Show |
| GPS | Sure (unspecified) | Sure (unspecified) |
| Battery life | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE choices obtainable | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE choices obtainable |
| Water-proof | Sure, WR50 (swimproof) | Sure, WR50 (swimproof) |
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Worth and availability
- Begins from $399 / £399 / AU$649 with aluminum case
- Two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, with LTE choices
- More durable chrome steel case additionally obtainable
The Apple Watch Sequence 9 was introduced at Apple’s September 12 occasion and is out there now, with costs ranging from $399 / £399 / AU$649. That’s the value for the most affordable 41mm mannequin with an aluminum case (with coloration choices of Midnight (black), Starlight (a form of silver/gold hybrid), Silver, Product Pink or the brand new Pink providing) and GPS connectivity solely, with out mobile LTE connectivity, and it is the identical worth because the Sequence 8 was within the US, and barely cheaper than the 8 within the UK. Rating!
In case you get this model you will not be capable to connect with the web with out Wi-Fi or your telephone useful, though you possibly can nonetheless use GPS features when you work out. For many who need a bigger mannequin, LTE connectivity, or a stainless-steel case (which is available in a selection of enticing gold, silver and graphite finishes), you’ll pay a further premium as ordinary.
For instance, a 45mm aluminum watch in Pink, with GPS solely, prices $429 / £429 / AU$699, whereas the GPS and Mobile LTE possibility prices $529 / £529 / AU$859. In case you had been to go along with the chrome steel possibility, the value would improve once more. That is nothing new in Apple Watch world, however it’s value noting should you’re pondering of selecting one up for the primary time.
If you’d like an much more premium possibility, there’s additionally the Apple Watch Extremely 2. This brings a raft of outdoor-focused options, a extra rugged design and a greater display screen – however for a better worth nonetheless. You’ll be able to learn extra about that in our hands-on Apple Watch Extremely 2 evaluation.
Worth rating: 4/5
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Design
- Plenty of recycled supplies
- Similar structure to predecessors
- New bands and pink aluminum case possibility
As you may anticipate from a flagship Apple Watch at this level, Apple isn’t reinventing the wheel. It received issues proper early on, and are available hell or excessive water it is caught to its weapons (with the attainable exception of the ‘radical’ Apple Watch Extremely design). Similar two sizes, identical rotating digital crown, identical facet button, the mic and speaker launched a number of generations again are nonetheless current and proper… to have a look at its chassis, it’s just about the identical watch. Sequence 8 customers hoping for a change are higher off wanting elsewhere.
Happily, the brand new watch remains to be extremely easy to arrange and use immediately. Utilizing a mixture of the digital crown, facet button and touchscreen, our early navigation of the brand new watchOS 10 working system was easy and intuitive. Mentioning Settings with the facet button seems like a logical transfer, and I really like the brand new widget stack, which makes it far simpler to leap to the one you need.
Greater than every other characteristic, the widgets have reworked the Apple Watch expertise for me, however this isn’t distinctive to the Sequence 9 – any Apple Watch from the Sequence 5 or above will obtain the watchOS 10 replace.
What has modified is the composition of supplies used within the Sequence 9. Apple is eager to emphasise the truth that every new Apple Watch produced is now ‘carbon-neutral’, partially because of a mixture of recycled supplies used each inside and out of doors the watch, such because the cobalt in its batteries and aluminum utilized in its casings.
Apple can be making an attempt to offset electrical energy used throughout charging and scale back delivery emissions – even the packaging is 25% smaller, in order that extra items can match into delivery crates.
We’ve coated Apple’s large carbon-neutrality claims extensively elsewhere, so we received’t go into way more element on this evaluation, however this eco-friendly ethos has additionally led to some cool redesigned bands. The usual sport loop is now constituted of 82% recycled yarn, whereas choose variations of the swim-proof silicone-fluoroelastomer band are textured because of the recycling course of, making every band distinctive. That’s fairly neat.
A brand new Pink coloration, as talked about, is certain to be snapped up by everybody who noticed Barbie this summer time, however the Midnight, Silver, Starlight, and Product Pink colours all make a welcome return from final yr. The premium chrome steel choices may also be purchased with a metallic band matching the watch’s casing.
Design rating: 4/5
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Options
- Double Faucet is an apparent standout
- New Extremely Wideband use instances are nice
- On-watch Siri secures well being information
Let’s get into the main points. I attempted the Double Faucet characteristic, which garnered a lot of the eye throughout the announcement occasion, though it will not truly land on the Apple Watch 9 till October. Double Faucet makes use of the accelerometer and gyroscope to detect intention: you must increase your watch as if wanting on the time earlier than performing the two-pinch gesture along with your watch hand, as this prevents it from being triggered by chance. It may be used to carry out any foremost motion on any complication you occur to have open in your watch face, from beginning and stopping a timer to snoozing an alarm, to answering a name
I actually appreciated utilizing it, and I firmly imagine that is simply the beginning. My nightmares of getting to pinch the air again and again like a crab whereas attempting to get the factor to work had been utterly unfounded: I used to be in a position to cease a timer, reply a name and entry different issues very simply, first time.
Different notable new options embody the use-cases for the brand new second-generation Extremely Wideband radio expertise. The Discover Units app has modified: so long as you’re connecting to a different machine with a second-gen Extremely Wideband chip in it (so simply an iPhone 15 mannequin for now then), you’ll be capable to see precisely what number of ft away that machine is in your Watch, together with a directional icon. You’ll be able to then play Marco Polo till you get inside a foot of it, at which level the Sequence 9 will subject a inexperienced tick to point that you simply’ve discovered it.
I used to be very impressed by the demo, however for the time being it’s restricted to simply the Sequence 9, Apple Watch Extremely 2, and iPhone 15 fashions. As future gadgets come together with this expertise put in, it’s going to turn out to be way more extensively used (and rightly so, the characteristic’s nice), even when comparatively few of us are going to be fortunate sufficient to snap up two new Apple devices this yr.
On-device Siri is out there for the primary time, which suggests it doesn’t have to connect with the cloud so as to course of your questions. This can be a pretty area of interest change for many, however an enormous leap ahead for these involved about privateness is that you would be able to now use Siri to entry your well being information.
Apple may be very eager to emphasise that any information about your well being both stays in your machine or is encrypted earlier than being shared. Having Siri obtainable to learn you your Transfer ring standing or menstrual-cycle monitoring information may sound like a minor factor, however it’s a long-term win: we’re slowly realizing that, collectively, we’re far too cavalier with our well being data lately.
Options rating: 4/5
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Efficiency
- Glorious day-to-day utilization
- New brightest setting is redundant
- Lack of enchancment on battery is a frustration
Since my preliminary first impressions, I’ve been carrying the look ahead to six days, paired with an iPhone 13 working iOS 17. I received’t delve an excessive amount of into what it’s prefer to reside with watchOS 10 for per week, as that’s not strictly talking distinctive to Apple Watch Sequence 9. Nevertheless, watchOS 10 does dramatically enhance the expertise by way of the Good Stack. With a swipe or a scroll up, I can see my upcoming occasions (together with all of the occasions cluttering up my work shared calendar, which I have to type out) the fantastically animated widget model of the climate app, motion rings, a trending information headline, and anything I’m actively working, akin to exercises or Spotify.
I’ve at all times liked widget stacks and lists. The widget listing comes as commonplace on the finest Garmin watches, however the expertise right here may be very not like Garmin’s pared-back health-focused method. Small animations, in stunning full-color and with that refresh charge we talked about within the Design part, make scrolling by the stack with the digital crown a breeze, serving me up snapshots of all the knowledge I’d need on my watch at any given time. As ordinary with Apple, the interface is fantastically designed, and I’ve discovered that the one instances I have to press into the digital crown and open my watch are if I’m after a particular app, such because the ECG performance.
On the time of writing, the Double Faucet operate remains to be not obtainable, so past my preliminary take a look at with Apple I used to be unable to make use of it commonly and decide its efficiency in an on a regular basis state of affairs. Nevertheless, I used to be in a position to take a look at all the standard options, and located them, as anticipated, as much as snuff. I used my Apple Watch to simply accept a name and chat after I didn’t have a free hand, discover my telephone after I misplaced it (sadly, the improved Discover Units performance appropriate with iPhone 15 additionally wasn’t obtainable for normal use throughout testing) and set timers for myself whereas I used to be cooking with Siri. On-device Siri is now noticeably snappier and responsive, and these on a regular basis duties are extra intuitive to carry out than they’re on every other smartwatch so far.
Asking Siri about your Well being standing with out having to fret about sharing your information is neat, however area of interest, and I discover extra use for Siri as a elaborate kitchen timer than I do as a font of information. I can’t wait till I can cancel these timers with a easy double-pinch.
I did use my Apple Watch to report a run and a hilly hike on separate days. It wasn’t a strenuous hike, as you possibly can see within the image beneath – we stopped for a cup of tea from a thermos midway spherical – however the Apple Watch Sequence 9 gives similar monitoring functionality to earlier fashions, with break up paces, a coronary heart charge graph, and GPS monitoring. Extra granular data, akin to time spent in numerous coronary heart charge zones and (for runners) floor contact time and vertical oscillation, is out there by increasing these home windows. Loading the third-party AllTrails app onto the watch throughout my hike allowed me to see my progress with out reaching for my telephone each time I used to be in peril of taking a mistaken activate the path.
To date, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 performs just about the identical as its predecessors, however was the battery compromised by that up-to-2,000-nit OLED display screen? Fortunately, no: I nonetheless received about 20 hours of use out of my Apple Watch on common, although I ought to caveat that by saying that the display screen has three commonplace brightness settings and I discovered the center setting greater than adequate for my wants; on the brightest setting, battery life might endure.
Then once more, you might not ever want the brightest setting. Even on my hike, when the September solar was clear and unobscured on the facet of the hilly outcrop we had been trekking round, the Retina Show display screen was brilliant sufficient that I by no means wanted to dive into my settings and begin altering issues. The one time I truly went into the settings to show it up was to intentionally take a look at the brighter display screen operate: more often than not, the watch is so good that the brighter display screen possibility truly appears pointless.
My largest gripe is that the Watch 9 nonetheless wants charging each day. I’m used to watches that final days and even weeks and would have liked final yr’s Extremely battery enchancment (36 hours) on this yr’s mainline Apple Watch. Sadly, Apple appears intent on offering solely minor upgrades with every refresh, and although it exceeds its promise of 18 hours, it’s by no means fairly sufficient. Thank goodness it’s fast to cost.
When chatting to our telephones editor Alex Walker-Todd, he likened Apple’s iterative upgrades to bettering a fireplace extinguisher – it doesn’t must be reinvented, it simply needs to be nice at doing its job whenever you want it. And the Apple Watch Sequence 9, regardless of its comparative lack of improvements exterior of the brand new Double Faucet characteristic, and even permitting for its frustratingly brief battery life, is nice at doing its job.
Efficiency rating: 4/5
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Scorecard
| Class | Remark | Rating |
| Worth | The flagship Apple Watch retains the value construction of earlier years, and is definitely much less within the UK. | 4/5 |
| Design | An improved eco-ethos and glorious software program structure when paired with watchOS 10. | 4/5 |
| Options | Double Faucet goes to alter the sport, however the Watch’s improved S9 chip has different tips, too. | 4/5 |
| Efficiency | It performs effectively sufficient, similar to every other Apple Watch, and shines in lots of on a regular basis situations. Wants extra juice, although. | 4/5 |
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Ought to I purchase?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate
| Part | Apple Watch Sequence 9 (41mm) | Garmin Foreruner 265 | Apple Watch Extremely 2 |
| Worth | From $399 / £399 / AU$649 | $449 / £429 / AU$770 | $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 |
| Dimensions | 41 x 35 x 10.7 (mm) | 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 (mm) | 49 x 41 x 14 (mm) |
| Weight | 32.1g (aluminum) | 47 g | 61g |
| Case/bezel | Aluminum or chrome steel | Fibre-reinforced polymer | Titanium |
| Show | 352 x 430 px always-on OLED Retina Displayss | 416 x 416 px AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass | 502 x 410 px poly-silicon always-on OLED Retina Show |
| GPS | GPS (unspecified) | GPS, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo, SatIQ | Sure (unspecified) |
| Battery life | 18 hours | 13 days (20 hours GPS) | 36 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE choices obtainable | Bluetooth 5.2, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE |
| Water-proof? | Sure, WR50 (swimproof) | Sure, 5ATM | Sure, WR100 (waterproof) |
