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Apple introduces new Apple Watch Series 9 with new SI chip and for the first time ever, on-device Siri.

Apple Watch S9 hero 230912 Full Bleed

Apple has unveiled the latest version of its best-selling watch, the Apple Watch Series 9. The new version boasts a more powerful S9 SiP, which enhances performance and capabilities. It also comes with a new double tap gesture, brighter display, faster on-device Siri, which now has the ability to log and access health data. Additionally, it has Precision Finding for iPhone and more features. Apple Watch Series 9 runs watchOS 10, which offers redesigned apps, the new Smart Stack, new watch faces, new cycling and hiking features, and tools to support mental health.

Moreover, customers can now opt for a carbon-neutral version of any Apple Watch, marking a significant achievement in Apple’s journey towards carbon neutrality by 2030.

You can order the new Apple Watch from today, and it will be available from Friday, September 22 onwards.

“Apple Watch is an indispensable companion that helps millions of people with their health, fitness, communications, and safety,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We’re introducing our best Apple Watch lineup, with incredible new capabilities and technological advancements, including a new double tap gesture, brighter display, on-device Siri, as well as our first-ever carbon neutral products. Whether users are upgrading from earlier models or buying their first, there’s never been a more compelling time to experience Apple Watch.”

“At Apple, we are committed to making products customers love and protecting the planet at the same time, and this year, we hit a key milestone toward our Apple 2030 goal,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Our first carbon neutral products were made in a uniquely Apple way, steeply reducing carbon emissions from materials, electricity, and transportation through innovation and design.”

Powerful New S9 SiP

The Apple Watch Series 9 runs on a custom Apple silicon called the S9 SiP. This chip is the most powerful that Apple has ever made for its watches, and it provides various improvements and new features. For instance, it now has a double tap gesture and on-device Siri, which can access and log health data securely. The S9 SiP also comes with a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks twice as fast as the one in Apple Watch Series 8. Despite these upgrades, the S9 SiP remains power-efficient enough to keep the watch running for up to 18 hours without needing a recharge.1

Double Tap Gesture

Innovations like the Digital Crown and Taptic Engine, as well as gestures such as tap, swipe, wrist raise, and cover to mute, make using the Apple Watch simple and easy. With the new double-tap gesture, users can control the Apple Watch Series 9 with just one hand and without touching the display. By tapping the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice, users can easily and conveniently perform many of the most common actions on the Apple Watch Series 9.

The double-tap gesture controls the primary button in an app, allowing users to stop a timer, play and pause music, or snooze an alarm. The gesture also answers and ends phone calls and can even take a photo with the Camera Remote on the Apple Watch. Additionally, the double-tap gesture opens the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.

This new double-tap gesture is enabled by the faster Neural Engine in the Apple Watch Series 9, which processes data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor with a new machine learning algorithm. The algorithm detects the unique signature of tiny wrist movements and changes in blood flow when the index finger and thumb perform a double tap. The double-tap gesture will be available in a software update next month.

Brighter Display

The power-efficient S9 SiP and advanced display architecture increase the maximum brightness of the Apple Watch Series 9 display up to 2000 nits — double that of Series 8 — making it even easier to read text in bright sunlight. For dark rooms or early mornings, the display can also lower to just one nit so as not to disturb people close by.

On-Device Siri with Ability to Access and Log Health Data

Apple Watch now offers on-device processing for Siri requests. This means that for requests that do not require internet information, such as starting a workout or setting a timer, Siri can respond more quickly and reliably without relying on Wi-Fi or cellular networks. In addition, the Neural Engine technology has made dictation up to 25% more accurate than with Apple Watch Series 8.

On-device processing is secure and private, and this update allows Siri to access data from the Health app for health- and fitness-related queries. For example, users can now ask about the number of hours of sleep they had the previous night, check their progress on closing their Activity rings, or inquire about their blood glucose level if they have a connected monitor. Users can even use Siri on Apple Watch Series 9 to log health data such as their weight, period, or medications taken.

Precision Finding and HomePod Integration

The ability to use Apple Watch to find iPhone is a favorite user feature. Now, the S9 SiP includes a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip to enable Precision Finding for the iPhone 15 family, which has the same chip. Precision Finding provides distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone, even if it is in a different room.

UWB also brings deeper integration between Apple Watch and HomePod. When an Apple Watch user gets within 4 meters of a HomePod playing audio, Apple Watch Series 9 will launch Now Playing to control the media. Or if nothing is playing on HomePod, media suggestions will appear at the top of the Smart Stack.

Featuring watchOS 10

Apple Watch Series 9 runs watchOS 10, a milestone update that includes:

  • A fresh approach to quickly view information with redesigned apps and a new Smart Stack to show relevant widgets right when they’re needed.
  • Delightful new watch faces: Snoopy, Palette, and Solar Analog. A new Nike watch face, Nike Globe, lights up the lines on the globe with each passing second.
  • Bluetooth connectivity for power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors arrives for cyclists, unlocking new metrics and Workout Views, and cycling workouts.
  • A cycling workout can automatically show up as a Live Activity on iPhone and utilize the full screen when tapped.
  • New Compass Waypoints and Maps capabilities to further help during outdoor adventures.
  • Additional tools to support mental health with state of mind logging in the Mindfulness app.
  • The ability to measure time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor to help reduce the risk of myopia and provide additional benefits to physical and mental health for all ages.

Carbon Neutral Models

Select case and band combinations of Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE are Apple’s first-ever carbon neutral products. As part of Apple 2030, the carbon footprint of Apple Watch has been significantly decreased. Emissions were reduced from the three biggest sources of greenhouse gases — materials, electricity, and transportation. The small amount of emissions remaining are offset with high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects. Apple Watch packaging has been redesigned to be 100 percent fiber-based, and a new logo on the packaging indicates models that are carbon neutral.

Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE continues to deliver the core Apple Watch experience at a more affordable price point, and is a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, use with Family Setup, or gift to their loved ones. Additionally, Apple Watch SE offers Activity tracking, high and low heart rate notifications, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, and watchOS 10.

Lineup

  • Apple Watch Series 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminum case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases.
  • Any aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 with a new Sport Loop band is carbon neutral.
  • Apple Watch SE is available in 40mm and 44mm aluminum cases, and is carbon neutral when paired with a new Sport Loop band.
  • Apple Watch Hermès is available in stainless steel in silver and space black.

Bands

Apple is introducing FineWoven, a luxurious and durable microtwill made of 68 percent post-consumer recycled content that has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather. FineWoven has a suedelike feel, and is available with the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands. Starting today, Apple will no longer use leather in any new Apple product, including watch bands.

The popular Sport Loop band has been redesigned to include 82 percent recycled yarn. All new Apple Watch Sport Loops are carbon neutral.

Apple worked with Nike and Hermès on more environmentally friendly band collections. The Nike Sport Band now contains 32 percent or more recycled fluoroelastomer, including colorful flakes made from excess bands that create a randomized pattern, making each band unique, while the Nike Sport Loop with a space-dye pattern repurposes yarn from previous seasons.

A new collection of Hermès bands draws on the house’s rich history in textiles and craftsmanship. Two new woven bands are introduced: Toile H is an interpretation of the brand’s signature checked canvas, and Twill Jump is a rich solid color with contrasting details. The first-ever knitted band for Apple Watch, Bridon, is hand-braided with a bold chevron pattern, while Kilim is made of sporty, waterproof molded rubber and has a deployment buckle. A classic new watch face, Hermès Radial, complements these four new band styles.3

Pricing and Availability

  • Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the U.K., the U.S., and more than 40 other countries and regions can order Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
  • Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $399 (U.S.), and Apple Watch SE starts at $249 (U.S.).
  • Apple Watch bands, Apple Watch Nike bands, and Apple Watch Hermès bands will be available to order today from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
  • watchOS 10 will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later on Monday, September 18, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 17. Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions.
  • Three months of Apple Fitness+ are included for customers who purchase Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or a new Apple Watch Series 4 or later.
  • For more information on Apple 2030, visit apple.com/2030.

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