While the Apple Watch Series 9 is to be announced next month, we take stock of all the rumors about it, both for its performance, its design and its operating system.
Like every year, back to school also means the launch of new Apple products. The American firm has made a habit of launching, in mid-September, its new iPhones, but also its new connected watches, the Apple Watch. This year, we’re not only expecting an Apple Watch Ultra 2, following on from last year’s model, but also a more classic Apple Watch Series 9.
While waiting for its official announcement, let’s take stock of the various rumors around the future Apple Watch 9.
A more powerful chip
With each new generation of Apple Watch, its new integrated chip. Nevertheless, the latest generations of Apple Watches have all tended to rest on their laurels. The Apple S8 chip that powered the Apple Watch Series 8 was in fact largely based on the characteristics of the Apple S7 chip, itself very similar to the Apple S6 chip of the Apple Watch Series 6.
For this ninth generation of Apple Watch, the manufacturer would therefore have decided to review its internal development of the SiP chip (system in package) based on… an iPhone processor.
Indeed, according to information from journalist Mark Gurman of the agency Bloomberg, Apple would have decided to base the development of its Apple S9 chip on the basis of the Apple A15 Bionic processor which fitted the iPhone 13. The idea would thus be, for the American manufacturer, to offer a processor that is both more powerful and more efficient. in terms of energy management. Concretely, users would thus be entitled to a smoother and more responsive interface, but also to improved autonomy thanks to a finer burning process. The Apple A15 was indeed engraved with a 5 nm processor, against 7 nm for the previous Apple S8 chip.
A new interface with watchOS 10
Announced at Apple’s latest WWDC 2023 conference, watchOS 10 is the latest system update powering Apple Watch watches. This new version of the system should be one of the main attractions of the new Apple Watch 9, since it is a major overhaul of the interface of connected watches.
Where previous Apple Watch updates were content with simple additions within applications or small features here and there, watchOS 10 introduces a new way to interact with your watch thanks to the integration of cards — baptized Smart Stack (or smart stacking) — right on the watch face. These cards will display functions as the day progresses and according to the context by calling on the machine learningas is already the case on the iPhone.
Among the other new features integrated into watchOS 10, the Apple watch Series 9 will be entitled to new applications to manage the weather, messages, clock or heart rate. For athletes, and in particular cyclists, watchOS 10, the watch will make it possible to display more data such as the functional power threshold or the pedaling rate. Finally, and as with each new version of watchOS, the update will allow you to take advantage of new watch faces including Palette and Snoopy.
Only problem, if watchOS 10 should be one of the major novelties of the Apple Watch Series 9, the update will not be reserved for this watch alone. Like every year, Apple will also deploy this update to its previous models, from the Apple Watch Series 4 to the Apple Watch Series 8. The beta version of watchOS 10 is also already available for download.
A new pink color
In terms of design, Apple should not touch anything on its previous watches. The Apple Watch Series 9 should thus retain the same shape as the manufacturer’s previous knockers, and still be available in two formats: 41 and 45 mm. The watch should also be offered in two finishes, aluminum or stainless steel, as was already the case on previous models.
However, the novelty on the design side should arrive with a simple new pink colorway, according to information from leaker ShrimpApplePro: “ I wish it was different on the outside, but it looks the same. Apple added a pink tint alongside the other four colors with the same case materials “.
Shrimp’s update
– Apple Watch Series 9
Well, i wish i can see anything that is new outside but it looks the sameAdded a pink color along with the other 4 colors with the same case material.
There is a new box this time (better than nothing) more compact box.
New chip i guess. pic.twitter.com/rh95TNuady— ShrimpApplePro ? (@VNchocoTaco) August 1, 2023
Concretely, if this information is proven, we would therefore be entitled to an aluminum version offered in midnight (black), starlight (golden), product red (red), silver and pink. The stainless steel version would be available in gold, silver and graphite.
A transition watch while waiting for the Apple Watch Series X
Given the rumors of the hallway whispered for several months, we should not expect a big evolution on the side of the Apple Watch Series 9. It must be said that Apple watches have finally evolved very little these last years. The Apple Watch Series 7 thus brought a larger screen, while the Apple Watch Series 8 was satisfied with a new skin temperature sensor.
Only, if Apple seems rather economical in the novelties of the Apple Watch 9, it is because the firm would in fact be working on a major evolution of its range from next year. According to information from journalist Mark Gurman, Apple has indeed in its pipes an Apple Watch Series X which should disrupt its range of connected watches as much as the iPhone X could have done in 2017.
This Apple Watch X should therefore be launched sometime next year, probably at the same time as the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. According to the journalist of the agency Bloomberg, it would be entitled to a thinner case than the current models, as well as a new attachment system for the bracelets: “keeping the same design allows the bracelets to be compatible with the old and the new models, but it has flaws”. Concretely, this new attachment system should take up less space to allow the integration of a larger battery.
Mark Gurman also cites, among Apple’s plans for its Watch Series X, the possibility of a microLED screen instead of the Oled technology used so far. However, this technology may be reserved for the Apple Watch Ultra range. Another potential novelty of the Apple Watch Series X: the integration of a blood sugar level measurement, particularly practical for people with diabetes. Again, this is a long-standing project from Apple.
Anyway, if the Apple Watch Series 9 should not bring great novelty to the Apple range, it would still have the merit of offering a more recent and slightly more efficient model, not for the owners of Apple Watch Series 7 or 8, but for those with older watches… while waiting for the Apple Watch Series X.
Apple Watch Series 9 price and launch date
It remains to be seen when Apple will officially announce its new Apple Watch Series 9. Like every year, the watch should be presented during the manufacturer’s back-to-school keynote, at the same time as the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro.
According to information from journalist Mark Gurman, this conference could take place as early as September 12. A date that seems consistent with previous launches. In 2022, the keynote took place on September 7 and, in 2021, on September 14.
For prices, given the few new features expected this year, we can expect prices in the same vein as for last year’s model. As a reminder, the Apple Watch Series 8 was available from 499 euros in the aluminum 41 mm GPS version and up to 899 euros for the stainless steel 45 mm GPS + 4G version. It could however be that Apple slightly increases its prices, but the increase should logically not be substantial.
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