Apple Watch Series 9 Review: A Small but Mighty Upgrade
Introduction
The Apple Watch Series 9 refines an already excellent smartwatch formula with subtle but meaningful improvements. While it may not be a radical upgrade over the Series 8, its performance, display, and software enhancements make it one of the best smartwatches on the market. But is it worth upgrading if you already own a recent model? Let’s dive in.
Design & Display
Apple sticks with its tried-and-true design, which remains sleek and modern. It comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes, with aluminum and stainless steel finishes. The always-on Retina display is now brighter than ever, reaching 2,000 nits—double that of the Series 8. This makes outdoor visibility fantastic, even in direct sunlight.
While the design is familiar, Apple has introduced a new pink aluminum color, alongside the usual options like Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED).
Performance & New Features
The biggest upgrade is under the hood: the new S9 chip. Apple claims it's 30% faster than the previous generation, and in real-world use, everything feels snappier—from opening apps to navigating watchOS 10. Battery efficiency remains solid, delivering 18 hours of use per charge, or 36 hours in Low Power Mode.
One of the standout features is the Double Tap gesture. By tapping your thumb and index finger together twice, you can answer calls, pause music, and more—without touching the screen. It’s powered by Apple's improved Neural Engine, making interactions smoother and more intuitive.
Another key improvement is on-device Siri processing, which makes voice commands quicker and more reliable, even without an internet connection. Dictation is also more accurate, making it easier to send texts hands-free.
Health & Fitness Tracking
The Series 9 maintains Apple’s best-in-class health features, including:
✅ Heart rate monitoring
✅ ECG (electrocardiogram)
✅ Blood oxygen tracking
✅ Temperature sensing (for cycle tracking and wellness insights)
✅ Advanced sleep tracking
Fitness tracking is still top-tier, with accurate step counts, heart rate monitoring, and workout modes for everything from running to swimming. The Precision Finding feature (thanks to the U2 chip) also makes locating a paired iPhone much easier.
Battery Life
Battery life remains unchanged from the Series 8—about 18 hours on a full charge. While it’s enough to last a day, it still falls short of competitors like Garmin or Fitbit, which offer multiple days per charge. However, fast charging helps, delivering 0–80% in about 45 minutes.
Should You Buy It?
Buy if:
✅ You have a Series 7 or older and want better performance, display, and new features.
✅ You love the idea of Double Tap and on-device Siri.
✅ You use your Apple Watch daily for fitness and productivity.
Skip if:
❌ You already own a Series 8—the upgrades are minor.
❌ You want a big battery upgrade. The Ultra 2 is a better option for extreme battery life.
❌ You’re looking for a budget smartwatch (consider the Apple Watch SE instead).
Final Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a refined, powerful smartwatch, but not a revolutionary one. Its brighter display, faster performance, and new gesture controls make it the best standard Apple Watch yet. However, for those with a Series 8 or even a Series 7, the upgrades might not be significant enough to justify upgrading.
That said, if you're new to Apple Watch or upgrading from an older model, the Series 9 is an excellent buy that delivers the best of Apple’s smartwatch ecosystem.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
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