Apple Watch Series 9: Release, specs, price, features

The Apple Watch has been an enormous success for the corporate, just about tying up the wearables sector on the first try. With 2023 underway, we’re wanting ahead to seeing what Apple will do with the subsequent era of its digital timepiece. So, right here’s all of the information, rumors we’ve found to this point in regards to the Apple Watch Sequence 9 in addition to our expectations for the brand new system.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: Launch date

Apple has a launch schedule for its Watches that, in the event you’ll pardon the pun, runs like clockwork. For years now, its newest iterations have made their debut within the second or third week of September, often alongside the brand new iPhones, with on-sale dates a couple of week and a half later:

• Apple Watch Sequence 8: September 7, 2022
• Apple Watch Sequence 7: September 14, 2021
• Apple Watch Sequence 6: September 15, 2020
• Apple Watch Sequence 5: September 10, 2019
• Apple Watch Sequence 4: September 12, 2018
• Apple Watch Sequence 3: September 12, 2017

It appears extremely unlikely that Apple will change the cadence this yr, so we anticipate the Apple Watch Sequence 9 to launch in September 2023, doubtless on September 6 or 12.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: Value

Once more, Apple has been remarkably according to its pricing technique for the Apple Look ahead to U.S. consumers. Nonetheless, 2022 noticed European international locations take the brunt of a number of worth will increase. As such, the U.Ok. noticed the baseline mannequin rise by £50:

• Apple Watch Sequence 8 – $399/£419
• Apple Watch Sequence 7 – $399/£369
• Apple Watch Sequence 6 – $399/£379
• Apple Watch Sequence 5 – $399/£399
• Apple Watch Sequence 4 – $399/£399

With a worth rise in Europe already in place, we’d anticipate the Sequence 9 to have the same worth because the Apple Watch Sequence 8 it replaces. So, it needs to be round $399/£419.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: watchOS 10

One factor we all know for certain in regards to the Apple Watch Sequence 9 is that it’ll ship with watchOS 10. Like at all times, you may anticipate a couple of new watch faces—presumably a pair which are unique to the brand new mannequin—and a brand new function or two. Nonetheless, this yr’s replace might be extra substantial than common. A report by Mark Gurman in April claimed that watchOS 10 “would be the focus” of Apple’s 2023 watch technique, bringing “larger enhancements, together with an up to date interface.” He added that watchOS 10 “will inform you most of what you must know in regards to the Apple Watch in 2023,” which means the {hardware} upgrades might be minor in comparison with the Sequence 8.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: Rumored new options

The Apple Watch Sequence 9 isn’t anticipated to be a significant improve over the past yr’s fashions, which featured the introduction of the Apple Watch Extremely with a bigger display, rugged titanium design, and an Motion button. Based on a tweet from Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 upgrades might be “something however main,” with the brand new mannequin “poised for a extra modest yr.” He provides that Apple is planning “a significant replace to the watch {hardware} in 2024, full with a bigger, custom-built show.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: Attainable new options

Even with out main adjustments, there are nonetheless a number of doable new options that will make the Apple Watch Sequence 9 a worthy improve.

Motion button

Final yr Apple launched the all-new Apple Watch Extremely with a dizzying array of options and parts. The most recent member of the Apple Watch household featured a extra rugged design, flat edges, and a barely bigger show (49mm vs 45mm on the Apple Watch Sequence 8), together with a stunning new function: the Motion button.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The Motion button is positioned on the other facet of the Digital Crown and would simply match on the Apple WAtch Sequence 9. On the Extremely you may set it to set off particular duties reminiscent of a stopwatch, exercise, or flashlight, performance that will be a superb improve to the prevailing Apple Watch design.

S9 chip

If you happen to have a look at the tech specs for each new Apple Watch, you’ll see a brand new chip listed. The Sequence 8 has an S8 chip, the Sequence 7 has an S7, and the Sequence 6 has an S6. The one factor that’s bizarre is that they’re all the identical chip with totally different names. Whereas the S6 delivered a 20 % increase in efficiency over the Sequence 5, the S7 and S8 are rebranded variations of the identical processor based on teardowns and Apple’s conspicuous fee of any kind of efficiency enhancements. However the S9 is rumored to vary that, with a design primarily based on the A15 that brings a lift in efficiency and battery life, and possibly a Neural Engine constructed into the chip.

Twin-Frequency GPS 

Just like the iPhone 14 Professional, the Apple Watch Extremely upgraded its GPS to incorporate the L5 band along with the usual L1 for quicker and extra exact location monitoring. Even in the event you’re not climbing in steep terrain, the additional band could be helpful in busy metropolis areas the place the usual Watch can battle. Apple has a behavior of introducing new options on high-end fashions after which trickling them all the way down to the lower-end fashions, and we predict that very effectively might occur right here.

Foundry

5G

To date, Apple Watches are one of many few remaining Apple gadgets that hasn’t been up to date to 5G—even the high-end Apple Watch Extremely has 4G LTE. With the Apple Watch transferring nearer towards full independence, having the quickest connection accessible looks as if a good suggestion. We’re certain there are little question a couple of issues to beat, however Apple tends to be good at that.

New sensors

Apple has been working for years on a non-invasive approach to monitor glucose ranges without having additional tools. A latest report claims {that a} secret staff inside Apple has reached a number of “main milestones” within the mission, and the function is now thought of to be at a “proof of idea” stage. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that it’ll seem on this yr’s watch and will nonetheless be a number of years away.

Different doable sensors for inclusion might be an electrodermal exercise (EDA) sensor for measuring stress ranges and a bioimpedance sensor for measuring physique composition.

MicroLED show

There have been loads of rumors about Apple doubtlessly utilizing MicroLED shows on varied gadgets over the previous few years, however the strongest are concentrating on the Apple Watch as the primary system to make the swap. In any case, the Apple Watch was the primary system to have an OLED display—years earlier than the iPhone—so it’s doubtless that Apple will debut its MicroLED display on the Apple Watch too. The benefits would effectively make it worthwhile, as MicroLED is thinner, brighter, higher-res, and extra environment friendly than even OLED. The newest rumors say the primary microLED watches received’t arrive till 2024, however we’re holding out hope for an earlier look.

Apple Watch Sequence 9: watchOS 10

Whereas we don’t know a lot in regards to the subsequent launch of watchOS, which might be model 10 assuming Apple sticks to the identical numbering system, however we do know we’ll get our first have a look at it throughout WWDC 2023. You may anticipate to see some new well being and health options in addition to a handful of recent watch faces.

We’ll preserve updating this text as extra info turns into accessible, so make sure to examine again repeatedly. Within the meantime, in the event you can’t wait till September, right here’s our roundup of the most effective Apple Watch offers at present round.

Additionally learn: Each new Apple product coming in 2023 and When is the subsequent Apple Occasion?