Apple Watch Series 9 review: Where have we seen this before?

The new Apple Watch Series 9 has been in stores for several months now, and it looks very similar to its predecessor(s). The most notable innovation – a new way to control your Watch – was initially not available. But now it finally does, thanks to the latest watchOS update. So it’s high time for an Apple Watch Series 9 review.

Same design

The Apple Watch Series 9 feels like déjà vu. It looks exactly like last year’s Apple Watch Series 8. And it was already indistinguishable from the Apple Watch Series 7 from the year before. You still have the choice of two sizes: small (41 mm) or large (45 mm). There is an aluminum version in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED and the new pink. And a stainless steel version in gold, silver and graphite.

On the side of the watch you will find a digital crown and an elongated side button. Unfortunately, the action button remains exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra models. There is a completely new gesture to operate your Apple Watch: Double tap. We had to wait a while for watchOS 10.1 before we could get started with it – the update was released on October 25.

What is Tap Double?

The new Double Tap is a quick and convenient way to control your Apple Watch without touching the screen. Simply tap your index finger and thumb together (on the side where you wear your Apple Watch) twice to perform common actions. For example, opening widgets, taking phone calls, viewing messages, controlling timers, playing music, taking photos, setting reminders and much more.

This gesture is useful in situations where you only have one hand free: you are walking the dog, sitting with your hands in the cake batter or going for a spin on your bike. It’s still a bit trial and error. Where it seems logical, it doesn’t necessarily work. For example, you can tap through a list of widgets, but not through your workout dashboard. In an app like Kompas, it brings up a view that you didn’t even know existed.

‘Tap double’ is a function that you don’t actually need, and we certainly wouldn’t switch for it. But if you have the option, it works like a charm and you will use it anyway. We haven’t accidentally activated anything yet, if you’re worried about that.

Faster chip

Maybe you’re thinking: Tap double isn’t new, is it? That’s somewhat true. Accessibility options are available on older Apple Watches for people with physical disabilities. These allow users to operate the Apple Watch hands-free using hand gestures, such as pressing the index finger and thumb together. However, this is slower and less advanced than Tap Double.

This has everything to do with the real innovation of the Apple Watch: the new S9 chip. That is the new chip that makes the Tap double gesture possible. A part of the chip is called ‘Neural engine’: it processes information from sensors such as the motion sensor, the rotation sensor and the optical heart sensor using a smart algorithm. This program recognizes the small movements of your wrist and changes in your heart rate when you double tap.

And the chip has more to offer: everything feels faster and smoother throughout the system. And without sacrificing battery life: the chip is particularly efficient and you can still easily get through the day on a single battery charge. For the first time in years, a noticeable improvement, because the S6, S7 and S8 were basically identical.

Add an iPhone 15?

If you have a new iPhone 15, the Apple Watch Series 9 has another trick that can be useful to you. The S9 SiP is equipped with a second generation Ultra Wideband chip for location determination. This makes it easier to trace your iPhone 15 (with the same chip). Visual and auditory cues, along with vibratory feedback, help you. The screen shows how far you are from the iPhone 15 and in which direction you should look – even more precisely than with the first generation of the chip.

Much of the same

Furthermore, the Apple Watch Series 9 helps you stay healthy, connected and moving in the same ways as its predecessors. All the new features of recent years culminate in this model. Which means that you can make heart recordings, measure the oxygen level in your blood and that your body temperature is recorded, to name a few.

If you have a hard fall or are in a car accident, call Watch 112. The only thing we really have left in this area is a blood glucose meter. But that might be more something for the Apple Watch X next year.

Apple Watch Series 9 review: conclusion

The Apple Watch Series 9 is a solid choice, especially if it’s your first Apple Watch, or otherwise if you have a Series 5 or older. The cumulative impact of recent years, including the larger screen, makes this upgrade worthwhile. With newer models, you just don’t feel like you really have something new dangling from your wrist, despite the faster chip and the new Tap Double.​​​​​​​​​​​

The highlight under the hood is the brand new S9-SiP (System in Package) chip. While the specifications of the S6, S7 and S8 were identical, the S9 chip finally brings something new and more powerful. This translates into noticeably smoother operation of the Watch. Navigating through widgets is lightning fast, timers start without delay and Siri responds faster than ever. The S9 chip also introduces a new control gesture: ‘Double tap’.​

The S9 SiP is also equipped with a second generation Ultra Wideband chip, which makes it easier to find your iPhone 15. This is useful if you have lost your iPhone, because both devices share the same chip. Visual, auditory cues and haptic feedback help you determine the location of your iPhone. Furthermore, the Series 9’s screen has undergone a noticeable improvement; it is now twice as bright as that of its predecessor, which is useful when using as a flashlight or in bright sunlight.

The Series 9 retains all the features introduced in recent years, such as crash detection, the ability to take heart monitors and measure temperature and blood oxygen levels. This still makes it an excellent choice for those who want to stay healthy, connected and active. But if you already have a fairly recent Watch, no one will notice that you are wearing a new model. In fact, you might forget it yourself.

In conclusion, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a solid choice for new users, but only really interesting if this is your first Apple Watch. If you already have a Series 5 or an older model, all the cumulative improvements over the past few years, including the larger screen, are starting to make a noticeable impact. While ‘Tap Double’ is an interesting addition, it is not a sufficient reason on its own to upgrade.

Buy Apple Watch Series 9

So do you still have an Apple Watch Series 5 or older? Or are you still looking for a new smartwatch? Then take a look at the Apple Watch Series 9 in our price comparator, so that you can be sure that you are not paying too much!