Assessment: Faster Chips, Enhanced Screens in Apple Watch 9 & Ultra 2

Apple sustains its dominance in the smartwatch sector with upgraded features, including an accelerated Siri and innovative hands-free gestures

After years, Apple’s smartwatches get a significant speed boost, along with brighter screens and inventive hands-free gestures. This progress solidifies Apple’s leading position in the market.

The Apple Watch Series 9 presents various sizes and materials, commencing at £399 (€449/$399/A$649) with a £20 price reduction in the UK. Concurrently, the Ultra 2, priced at £799 (€899/$799/A$1,399), is £50 less than its forerunner.

Both timepieces retain the identical external design from their prior iterations. The Series 9 showcases a stylish, pillow-shaped profile, offered in 41mm or 45mm sizes, while the Ultra 2, measuring 49mm, adopts a sturdier look with its solid titanium casing and oversized buttons.

A noteworthy improvement for this year involves significantly brighter screens. The Series 9 now delivers double the brightness of its predecessor, reaching up to 2,000 nits, on par with the brightness of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 and the maximum brightness of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This heightened brightness significantly improves visibility in direct sunlight, a critical factor for a smartwatch.

Taking it a step further, the Ultra 2 features a screen with an astonishing peak brightness of 3,000 nits, marking a 50% increase from the previous year’s model. While this ultra-bright display may seem excessive unless navigating through a desert, it proves beneficial in the built-in torch mode, effectively illuminating your path.

New, faster chip

The S9 chip, present in both watches, represents the initial substantial speed enhancement since the introduction of the S6 chip in 2020. While the 30% performance boost may not revolutionize daily activities, it significantly enhances Siri interactions, with many now processed directly on the watch. Tasks such as setting timers, making calls, and other basic interactions are rapid and function independently of an iPhone or data connection. Moreover, dictation for messages and notes experiences a 25% improvement in accuracy, facilitating quicker responses without depending on a smartphone.

Regarding battery life, the Series 9 provides around 36 hours of usage, while the Ultra 2 extends closer to 70 hours. This implies that the Series 9 can comfortably last a full day and night, and the Ultra 2 can go for almost three days before needing a recharge.

Double-tap coming soon

Apple is introducing a new hands-free gesture known as “double-tap” for the watch, which detects when you pinch your finger and thumb together twice. This gesture is a simplified version of one of Apple’s existing AssistiveTouch accessibility functions for the watch but is faster and has become a standard component of the user interface for all.

With this double-pinch action, users can accomplish tasks such as silencing alarms, timers, initiating or ending calls, and other essential actions. It operates only when the screen is active, ensuring that it is facing the user, thereby preventing unintentional activations. To access this feature, users will need to install the watchOS 10.1 update, currently in public beta testing and proven to be effective. The complete rollout of this update is anticipated to take place before the end of October.

Sustainability

Apple does not explicitly mention the expected battery life, but it is engineered to withstand over 500 full charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of its initial capacity. If required, the battery can be replaced for a fee of £95. Repair costs vary from £309 to £509, depending on the specific model.

These timepieces integrate recycled materials such as aluminum or titanium, along with cobalt, copper, gold, plastic, rare earth elements, tin, and tungsten. Apple supports trade-in possibilities and offers complimentary recycling services for devices, meticulously detailing the environmental impact of each watch in its reports.

Price

The Series 9 is offered in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, providing a range of materials and the option for 4G connectivity, which requires an e-SIM and an additional phone plan. Its starting price is £399 ($399/A$649), while the 4G models come with an extra cost of £100 ($100/A$160). The Ultra 2 is priced at £799 ($799/A$1,399).

For comparison, the Apple Watch SE is priced at £259, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is available for £289, the Google Pixel Watch 2 costs £349, the Garmin Venu 3 is priced at £449, and the Garmin Epix Pro is offered at £829.

Verdict

Maintaining Apple’s smartwatches at the forefront of the market hasn’t demanded much exertion, but both the Series 9 and Ultra 2 introduce subtle yet impactful updates that will be challenging to surpass, even if their external appearances remain unchanged.

The significantly enhanced screen brightness truly revolutionizes the experience of swiftly checking the time, notifications, and exercise data outdoors. The faster chip ensures the watch’s sustained responsiveness for years to come, enabling swift interactions with Siri even when your phone is out of reach.

The forthcoming addition of the double-tap gesture is a valuable enhancement, making tasks like checking train schedules while juggling bags a more seamless experience.

For those in pursuit of the ultimate smartwatch to pair with an iPhone, the Apple Watch, in either variant, remains unparalleled.