Apple Watch 9 review: Worth it, especially at this record low price
The latest Apple Watch Series 9 smartwatch is about to get even smarter with the release of the WatchOS 11 operating system coming this fall. But there's no need to wait to upgrade to this already feature-packed and incredibly popular smartwatch. You'll discover great deals right now from Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. We're seeing prices for this smartwatch at an all-time low this summer, so you won't want to miss out on these deals that start as low as $286.
Whether you're thinking about upgrading from Apple Watch Series 8 (or an earlier version) or you're just a newb who's mulling your very first smartwatch buy, we have all the advice you need on whether the new Series 9 is right for you. We've even factored in folks who may be interested in buying this model for a child in lieu of a smartphone, or for a non-tech-savvy elderly parent who might benefit from the watch's enhanced safety features.
Apple Watch Series 9: At a glance
Casing size options: 41mm or 45mm | Casing material options: Aluminum or stainless steel | Battery life: Up to 18 hours, 36 hours in Low Power mode | Water resistance: 50 meters | Connectivity: GPS only or GPS + Cellular (both with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) | Display: Always-on Retina LTPO OLED touchscreen | Maximum display brightness: 2,000 nits | Operating system: Apple WatchOS 10 (or later) | Processor: Apple S9 | Watch band: Extensive selection of styles and colors
The Apple Watch Series 9 should look familiar to anybody who already has an Apple Watch. But it's what's inside the watch -- the upgrades to the operating system, the new watch bands, the enhancements to pre-installed apps and the addition of new ones -- that make Apple Watch Series 9 worthy of your consideration.
Apple Watch Series 9: What it's really good for
In the early days, Apple Watches were basically just a second, tiny screen for an iPhone. Not anymore. The Apple Watch Series 9 can now be considered a powerful and feature-packed communications, productivity, health/fitness, safety and entertainment device that's extremely customizable.
To be honest, if you're thinking about upgrading from an Apple Watch Series 8 to an Apple Watch Series 9 and sticking with the same configuration (especially when it comes to choosing between the GPS or GPS + Cellular version), you're not going to notice a big difference. This new version, as well as versions of the Apple Watch from Series 4 to the present (along with the Apple Watch Ultra, Ultra 2 and SE) can all run WatchOS 10 and benefit from the same features and preinstalled apps.
But that doesn't mean there aren't a few plusses. The two things I noticed within minutes of setting up my new Apple Watch Series 9, were the brighter display and faster overall speed of the watch. These make a big difference.
As for what else Apple Watch is good for, that has a lot to do with you. Yes, it tells the time and displays the date. Using a customizable watch face, the watch can also showcase the weather, your next appointment, your activity level for the day, the local air quality, the phase of the moon and your heart rate. Plus, you can choose from a pre-created stagnant or animated watch face, or you can create your own using your favorite digital photo, or even an emoji as the centerpiece.
Personally, my custom watch face rotates between displaying 10 photos of my dog, while also posting the time, date, day of the week and current weather. I created this watch face in a matter of minutes using the tools offered by the Apple Watch app on my iPhone.
Beyond just appearance, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a customizable tool that can boost all aspects of your life while it's wrapped around your wrist. Here are just some of the ways people utilize their Apple Watch on a typical day. Again, you can pick what functionality you want to take advantage of based on your personal needs.
Apple Watch 9 offers powerful safety features
One of the biggest reasons why I invested in the GPS + Cellular version of the Apple Watch for myself and my 84-year-old mother, as well as recommending it to the parents of my 12-year-old niece, is for the safety features. They're a big deal -– even when an iPhone is not nearby.
The main safety features of the watch include emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall detection and auto crash detection. Last winter when I was walking my dog, I slipped on ice and banged my head. The watch's fall detection feature kicked in and had me confirm I was conscious. If I did not respond, the watch would have contacted 9-1-1 and my emergency contacts automatically and at the same time, shared my location.
Meanwhile, I often serve as a speaker aboard cruise ships and travel overseas. If I find myself in danger, I can simply hold down the side button on the Apple Watch and contact 9-1-1 (or the international equivalent) in an emergency gives me tremendous peace of mind. And even if there's no cellular service nearby, the Apple Watch can send emergency text messages via a satellite system.
I chose the GPS + Cellular version of the Apple Watch for my mother because she lives alone and is concerned about slipping in the shower or having a problem when she's walking her dog at night. If something does happen to her, even though she's not at all tech savvy, the watch's fall detection feature will kick in, or she can use the Emergency SOS feature. If an authorized family member can't reach her, it's easy to track her location in real time using the Find My app to ensure she's safe.
As for my niece, like all 12-year-olds, she is gaining her independence, but her parents were not comfortable giving her a smartphone at her age. The Apple Watch offers a great alternative. Using the Family Setup feature, my sister can control the watch via her iPhone and fully adjust the integrated parental control features. At the same time, my niece can make and receive calls, plus send and receive text messages via the watch, but only communicate with people my sister has pre-approved. My niece also knows that in an emergency, she has access to the Emergency SOS feature.
Also from a safety standpoint, if the person wearing the GPS + Cellular version of the Apple Watch ever gets lost, between Siri, the watch's GPS functions and the pre-installed Apple Maps app, all someone needs to do is say, "Siri, how do I get home from here" or "Siri, how do I get to [insert location]" in order to get real-time, turn-by-turn walking, driving or mass transit directions to their intended destination. Again, this is possible even if the person's iPhone is not with them.
My experience using the safety features of the Apple Watch have been extremely positive, with past versions of the Apple Watch and so far with the Series 9 version as well. These features alone offer a compelling reason to own and wear an Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular connectivity.
Apple Watch 9 is a fitness coach you wear on your wrist
For someone who is health- and fitness-minded, the Apple Watch Series 9 has it all. It can track everything from blood oxygen levels, heart rate and body temperature, to distance traveled, speed, elevation, calories burned, stress level and sleep patterns. Also built into the watch are specialized functions for a wide range of exercises, from running, cycling and Pilates, to swimming, surfing, rowing, kickboxing, walking and more. The watch uses its internal sensors to gather data and share it with the Health app (or other health/fitness apps) on the iPhone.
And as you'd expect, Apple Watch Series 9 supports Apple Fitness+. In fact, when you purchase a new Apple Watch, you get a three-month trial subscription for free. After that, it costs $10 per month or $80 per year. With this service, you get access to more than 4,000 pre-created workouts, between five and 45 minutes in length, that cover more than a dozen fitness-related activities. There are also live, audio- and video-based group training sessions you can access via your watch. With Apple Fitness+ it's easy to identify your fitness goals, create a plan and monitor your progress using the Apple Watch and your iPhone.
Beyond fitness, Apple Watch can be used as a medical device and sleep monitor, especially when it's wirelessly paired with other equipment. An, if you take prescription medications, the watch's medication app can remind you when to take them and keep a log of what you've taken. Plus, there's the new Vitals app coming in the fall for free. It'll better collect and analyze key health metrics while you're training, sleeping and during your everyday activities.
Apple Watch 9 would make Dick Tracy jealous
As long as the watch is within about 33 feet from an iPhone, the-GPS only version of an Apple Watch Series 9 can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, access Siri and handle any other task that requires Internet access using one of the watch's preinstalled or optional apps. But, the GPS + Cellular version of the watch can handle all of that and more, even when the iPhone is not close. In fact, you can leave your phone at home when you go for a walk, head out to the gym, or wander away from your desk at work.
The Apple Watch itself has a built-in microphone and speaker system which allows it to serve as a speakerphone with surprising clarity. However, I found that it's much easier to make and receive calls, or even dictate outgoing text messages and access Siri when the Series 9 watch is paired with wireless earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen). These are often on sale, too. In fact, I've seen them on Amazon for as little as $193 (compared to their usual $249 price tag).
When it comes to composing text messages using the watch, there are four options. You can use the small virtual keyboard that appears on the display, use your finger to draw one letter/number at a time on the display, you can dictate the message with your voice and have Siri transcribe it, or you can send a pre-written response with a single on-screen tap.
And if you want to communicate with other Apple Watch users, there's also the Internet-based walkie-talkie feature and FaceTime audio. It's true these are all features offered by previous versions, but the faster processor and brighter screen make using the watch easier. Plus, Siri now has better accuracy when dictating messages.
I would not recommend composing long emails using the Apple Watch, but you can be alerted of incoming messages and quickly respond to them with ease.
Apple Watch 9 talks to all your other Apple devices
Another great thing about the Apple Watch is that it shares data automatically with many of the apps on your iPhone, including the Calendar, Notes and Reminders app. This means you can use the watch to keep you running on time, while keeping all of your responsibilities organized.
Oh, and don't worry about having your wallet with you when you shop at a store or eat out. Apple Watch is fully compatible with Apple Pay and virtually all apps for restaurants, like McDonald's and Starbucks.
Instead of having to constantly look at your phone when you receive notifications, all of this information is well organized and easily accessible. The enhanced performance of the Apple Watch Series 9, in conjunction with new functionality integrated into WatchOS 10, makes handling these productivity, time management and organizational tasks that much more convenient.
Another useful tool is the Apple Watch's integration with Apple News. This allows you to read news headlines, stay up-to-date on breaking news events and even read more in-depth articles directly from the watches screen.
And when the Apple Watch has Internet access, it can be used to remotely control other smart equipment, such as your smart TV, video doorbell, smart lights, home security system, or even your smart coffee maker.
Apple Watch 9 is great at streaming
If you get the GPS-only version, as long as your iPhone is nearby, you can use the watch to stream music or podcasts, play simple games and share pictures stored in your iCloud Photo Library. The Apple Watch works with Audible for listening to audio books. There are also plenty of other streaming music apps you can use with the watch.
With the GPS + Cellular version of the watch, these functions can be used anytime and virtually anywhere. So you can hear your favorite playlist while on a run, listen to a podcast as you walk your dog, or browse through your photos while you're waiting in line at the checkout counter of a supermarket.
Plus, when you install the official apps for the various social media services, you can use Apple Watch to check your accounts anytime, although interactive functionality and posting capabilities are limited from the watch.
Why we like the Apple Watch Series 9
- It's versatile. Beyond just a timepiece, it's communications, productivity, health, fitness, safety and entertainment tool. What it did before, it now handles more efficiently.
- Between its hardware configurations, watch bands, watch faces and apps, Apple Watch Series 9 is more customizable than ever.
- The enhanced performance of the S9 processor, combined with the brighter screen, better battery life, the enhanced capabilities of the WatchOS, and the improved preinstalled apps make the watch more reliable.
- The vast selection of apps and accessories, including Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, give users plenty of options for how they can best enjoy the watch.
- While Apple Watch Series 9 is a more powerful smartwatch than previous models, Apple has kept the pricing of the watch consistent with older versions.
Why we don't like about the Apple Watch Series 9
- For the watch to perform autonomously from an iPhone, the GPS + Cellular version of the watch is required. This means spending more money taking on the additional monthly fee (of about $10) for cellular service.
- The Series 9 version of the watch is really only an incremental upgrade from the Series 8, so many users might not want the performance boost offered by the new model.
Want to learn even more about the Apple Watch Series 9? Be sure to check out our coverage of the nine things we love about the Apple Watch Series 9 and the eight best premium Apple Watch bands for 2024. For more tech-related product reviews, buyer's guides, deals and information, be sure to check out our ongoing tech coverage.
