It’s that time of year again. During its Wonderlust event on Tuesday, Apple introduced a number of new gadgets, including the much-rumored iPhone 15 with USB-C and the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Series 9 starts at $399, and the Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, with both set to arrive on Friday, September 22nd.
Both watches will ship with watchOS 10 and come equipped with Apple’s S9 SiP, which is based on the A15 chip first seen in the iPhone 13. That should translate to improved performance and battery life while allowing on-device Siri processing. They’ll also be able to use Apple’s new “double-tap” feature, which will be available next month and is a kind of spin on Apple’s existing AssistiveTouch. The setting allows you to answer calls, stop timers, play music, and more by tapping your index finger and thumb together.
Yet, while they share a new chip and OS in common, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 caters to more athletic types than the Series 9. It can show real-time data and offers the brightest display of any Watch in Apple’s lineup while offering better battery life than the prior model.
We’ll have full reviews for both watches soon, but, at least on first impression, the latest models closely resemble their predecessors with some minor spec bumps. Regardless, you can preorder both watches from Apple starting today, with other retailers likely to follow soon.
The Apple Watch Series 9 comes with a new processor, which should allow for better performance and snappier Siri responses. In addition to the aforementioned double-tap feature, the Series 9 sports a new ultra wideband chip for more precise tracking. It also features a larger, brighter display and comes in a new pink color, which will be available alongside the starlight, silver, midnight, and Product Red models.
Given its 49mm sizing, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains the biggest and most rugged wearable in the Apple Watch lineup. It offers up to 72 hours of battery life when in low-power mode, along with a brighter, 3,000-nit display. The Ultra 2 also features the new S9 SiP and second-gen ultra wideband chip for more precise finding, much like the Series 9, along with cellular connectivity by default.
