The Apple Watch has come a long way in recent years. At first glance, the changes this year seem rather smaller. But the test shows that they definitely have an effect in everyday life. One feature in particular is really tough.
Whether as a fitness tracker, wallet on the wrist, as a second display for the iPhone – or simply as a watch: the Apple Watch has long since become an indispensable everyday companion for many users. After a gigantic upgrade was introduced last year with the Apple Watch Ultra, the innovations of the now introduced Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are rather smaller on paper. Here you can find out whether the purchase is still worth it.
When you pick up the watches for the first time, you might think you are looking at the predecessor: In terms of design, neither the Apple Watch Ultra 2 nor the Apple Watch Series 9 have changed anything. The Ultra model uses a stylish titanium housing, the Series 9 uses aluminum or stainless steel, depending on the model. Even when it comes to weight, virtually nothing changes: depending on the model, the new models weigh a maximum of a tenth of a gram more or less. The biggest visual innovation: The Series 9 is now also available in a chic pink color.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is now also available in a chic pink
© Malte Mansholt / stern
New feeling in an old look
The fact that the watches still feel different is due to a function that immediately becomes familiar: the new double-tap gesture. If you quickly tap the index finger and thumb of the watch arm together twice, the watch recognizes this – and carries out an action depending on the context. If the phone rings, she picks it up; if you’re on the call, she hangs up. One is coming SMS, it is displayed, the so-called stack opens in the home view, which displays the widgets with iOS 17. And in this view you can switch through the widgets again.
Because the gesture is so simple, you get used to it surprisingly quickly. And almost wishes there were more gestures like that. The benefits are immediately apparent. Whenever you only have one hand free, you can still react quickly, be it in the kitchen, while driving or playing sports.
The most exciting innovation of the Apple Watch Series 9 (pictured) and Apple Watch Ultra 2: You can also control the watch with one hand with a double tap
© Malte Mansholt / stern
The detection works surprisingly reliably. Because the screen needs to be activated, the watch only responds when you lift your wrist and look at it. Tapping between the thumb and other fingers does not result in incorrect entries. It just doesn’t work when the arm is on. The reason: To recognize the gesture, several sensors are used, such as the pulse, movement and speed sensors. If the arm rests on something, the movement is not recognized.
It’s a bit of a shame that you have no control over what exactly triggers the gesture. It is actually generally obvious what will happen. If you want to achieve something other than the standard action for the current situation, you have to use the other hand again. But that’s fine for the beginning. Apple may be able to add more gestures later.
However, if you are excited about the new gestures, you shouldn’t expect them at launch: Apple only announced double-tapping for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in an update in October. For the test we were able to try out a specially prepared preliminary version.
Faster, even with Siri
But a lot has also happened technically. Both watches come with a new processor, the S9 SiP, which is intended to ensure faster reactions and smoother animations. But above all he leaves Siri reacts significantly faster: According to Apple, all standard requests such as timers, reminders and the like are now processed directly on the watch. This not only ensures more privacy, but otherwise the voice recordings would be sent to Apple’s server. The requests are also simply processed faster: Siri has sometimes processed the command and set the egg timer in less than a second. This actually makes the voice assistant more useful in everyday life.
Another small chip offers several advantages. The second version of the ultra-wideband chip – from Apple, probably not by chance not Called U2 – it allows devices to be addressed at even greater distances. If you use one of the new iPhone 15 (here you can find the test of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and here that of the Pro models), you can no longer just ping it with the “Find iPhone” function, but also the exact distance show when they are nearby. Since the display updates live, the device can be found again in no time.
The U-chip also has an advantage for owners of a Homepod: If you are less than four meters away, the watch automatically suggests music playback on the Apple speaker.
Brighter – and darker
Speaking of the display: Both watches also have something new to offer: While the first Apple Watch Ultra was twice as bright as the Series 8 with 2000 nits, the Series 9 now also has this brightness level. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is even upgraded to 3000 nits maximum brightness. This makes both watches even easier to read in bright daylight. But you won’t be blinded in the dark: the watches continue to adapt the lighting to the ambient light; both watches can even adjust it down to 1 nit in the dark. Even when you put the children to bed, the room only becomes slightly brighter.
Incidentally, both watches have no innovations to offer when it comes to sports functions. They use the same sensors as the previous models. In test runs, both differed so minimally from their predecessors that it was never possible to say which measurement might be more accurate.
Sporty prizes
There is a welcome change in prices: all new models have become cheaper. With a price starting at 449 euros, the Series 9 costs 50 euros less than its predecessor when it was released, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is even 100 euros cheaper at 899 euros. However, the predecessors have also fallen significantly in price. If you can do without the innovations, they are still an attractive alternative.
Conclusion: Small update, big impact
Overall, the new Apple Watches are actually a rather small upgrade. All innovations have a direct impact on this: the clocks are easier to read during the day, and the double-tap gesture becomes routine in almost no time. The faster Siri is also immediately noticeable. And of course the new prices are also very attractive.
But the new watches are not a must-have. Hardly anyone would suddenly want to buy a new watch because of the finger gesture. If you’re planning on buying a new Apple Watch anyway, the new features are definitely worth the extra cost over the older models. If you can do without it, you will still be well served with the models from last year.