The Apple Watch Series remains one of the best smartwatches on the market, even though the Apple Watch 10 is technically newer. This is thanks in part to its improved health-tracking capabilities and key features such as Double Tap, a one-handed gesture input that lets you answer calls, pull up apps, and more by just tapping your thumb and forefinger together.
Double Tap is great if you have fine motor issues and cannot effectively use touch-based inputs or operate the digital crown easily. But it's also a convenient feature for the majority of users. If you're looking to score a great deal, you can currently pick up a Series 9 from Walmart on sale for $249.
But what if you already have an Apple Watch Series 8? The previous version is still a solid pick. It boasts an impressive battery life, temperature tracking which can provide valuable insight into women's health, and accurate sleeping tracking. With all this in mind, is it worth upgrading to the Apple Watch 9?
Let's break down the differences between the two and help you make a decision.
Apple Watch Series 8 | Apple Watch Series 9 | |
Display | 41mm or 45mm Retina | 41mm or 45mm Retina |
Display brightness | Up to 1,000 nits | Up to 2,000 nits |
Processor | Apple Silicon S8 | Apple Silicon S9 |
| Storage | 32GB | 64GB |
| Battery | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Dust/water resistance | WR50, IP6X | WR50, IP6X |
| Connectivity | 5G LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 5G LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth |
| Price | $199 refurbished | $344 |
The Apple Watch has a tiny display and buttons, which can be a pain to navigate and operate -- especially if you have fine motor issues or have trouble seeing the display.
With the one-handed gesture, you can perform tasks normally assigned to the digital crown and action button, such as launching apps, answering calls, or snoozing your alarm.
The updated Retina display on the Apple Watch Series 9 is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 2,000 nits -- twice as bright as the Apple Watch 8. This means you'll be able to read texts, use FaceTime, and work with apps more easily in harsh overhead lighting or direct sunlight.
Conversely, the display on the Series 9 can also be turned down to just one nit for an ultra-dim display when you need it, such as when you're getting ready for bed or when you're in a movie theater.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is made with a case produced from 100% post-consumer aluminum, and the new woven watch bands are made with up to 68% post-consumer material. These materials are part of Apple's efforts to reduce the amount of metal and e-waste entering landfills, as well as lower its carbon footprint.
1. You don't need the faster S9 chip
The Series 9 is made with the new Silicon S9 chip and a four-core neural engine processor for faster, smoother animations as well as on-device Siri request processing.
It's impressive hardware. However, if you don't use Siri on your Apple Watch very often or pay much attention to how pretty your apps look, the new S9 chip won't be much of benefit.
The Series 9 is built to work with the Apple HomePod in order to enhance and expand your smart home's device network.
Similarly to the previous entry, if you don't use smart speakers or prefer that your home be as disconnected from the internet as possible aside from your phone, TV, and computer, then it'll feel like a wasted feature. You won't get much out of it, so why purchase a device that has it?
The biggest change to the Series 9 is the ability to use Double Tap to launch apps and control your new Apple Watch. While this is great from an accessibility standpoint, it may feel like a gimmick for anyone who won't see any real benefit. The expanded gesture input support may become a must-have feature in future Apple Watches, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference.