Apple has unveiled its latest smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, at its “Wonderlust” event on Tuesday. The new models offer significant improvements in performance, display, battery life, and connectivity, as well as a new gesture control feature. Here are some of the highlights of the new Apple Watch models.
The S9 Chip: Faster and Smarter
Both the Series 9 and Ultra 2 are powered by the new S9 chip, which has 60 percent more transistors than the previous generation S8 chip. This means faster processing speed, better machine learning capabilities, and more power efficiency. The S9 chip also enables some of the new features of the Apple Watch, such as on-device Siri requests, health question answering, and double tap gesture.
Double Tap Gesture: A Hands-Free Way to Interact
One of the most innovative features of the new Apple Watch models is the double tap gesture, which allows users to perform various actions by simply tapping their index finger and thumb together. The gesture uses the sensors in the Apple Watch to detect the movement and vibration of the fingers, and can be customized to different functions. For example, users can double tap to answer a call, play and pause music, open a notification, or activate Siri. The double tap gesture will be available in October as a software update.
Brighter Displays: Better Visibility in Any Lighting Condition
The new Apple Watch models also feature brighter displays than their predecessors. The Series 9 has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, while the Ultra 2 has a whopping 3,000 nits. This means that users can easily see the screen even in bright sunlight or dark environments. The displays also have adaptive brightness technology, which automatically adjusts the brightness level according to the ambient light. Additionally, the displays can drop down to 1 nit at night or when in a movie theater mode, to save battery and reduce eye strain.
U2 Chip: Enhanced Connectivity and Precision Finding
Another new component in the new Apple Watch models is the U2 chip, which is an ultra wideband chip that enables more accurate and secure wireless communication. The U2 chip can be used for finding your iPhone with Precision Finding, which shows you the distance and direction of your iPhone on your Apple Watch screen. The U2 chip also supports digital car keys, which let you unlock and start your car with your Apple Watch. Furthermore, the U2 chip improves AirDrop functionality, allowing you to share files with nearby devices more easily.
New Colors and Materials: More Options to Suit Your Style
The new Apple Watch models also come in new colors and materials to match your personal preference. The Series 9 is available in pink aluminum, starlight aluminum, midnight aluminum, and PRODUCT (RED) aluminum. The stainless steel models are available in graphite, gold, and silver. The Ultra 2 has a rugged design with a titanium shell and a sapphire crystal screen. It comes in black titanium and silver titanium. Both models have a variety of bands and cases to choose from.
The new Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models are available for pre-order starting today, and will launch on September 22 alongside the new iPhone 15 models.