The Apple Watch Series 9 VS the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10: which one is better and which one deserves your money? These are the questions I’m looking to answer today, and I think there are plenty of reasons that both have a good chance of being in the running.
As someone who absolutely needs their Watch, I want to take a quick look at the Series 9, discuss what we know about the Series 10 so far, and then determine which one is the best for your life and money. My answer may surprise you, so stick around until the end. Let’s dive in.
Apple Watch Series 9: Style and Substance
The Apple Watch Series 9 was released alongside the iPhone 15, and it brought some pretty great features with it. Along with the more powerful S9 SiP (system in package) which includes a four-core neural engine that’s twice as fast as the prior model, the Series 9 also introduced the Double-Tap gesture, making answering messages and completing certain tasks even easier. Of course, the Series 9 also includes a brighter display over the Series 8, featuring an always-on display capable of up to 2000 nits.
The Series 9 also comes with some improvements to Siri, which is now able to access health care data. This isn’t all that surprising as Apple continues to focus on the health benefits of the Apple Watch. However, you don’t just gain access to health metrics with the Series 9, as it also includes plenty of emergency features. These features include Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and Emergency SOS among others.
All of this is on top of the traditional features you can expect from an Apple Watch, including flawless integration with your iPhone, the ability to track your workouts thanks to the Activity app, a walkie-talkie feature, and more. A great thing about the Series 9 is that it’s also capable of running watchOS 11, which means you not only get access to everything the device offers, but the device will also continue to receive software updates for a good while too.
While I’ve compared the Series 9 to the Apple Watch SE second-gen, I think the SE is a great introductory Watch, and the Series 9 is good for those looking for more features without plunking down for the Apple Watch Ultra.
In short, there’s a lot to like about the Apple Watch Series 9, but what about the next generation?
Apple Watch X: What May Come Soon
Considering this is the ten-year anniversary of the Apple Watch, many are expecting Apple to pull out all the stops to celebrate this milestone. However, in terms of what we officially know about the device, details are scant. While the rumor mill continues to churn out ideas, nothing is going to be set in stone until Apple makes an official announcement.
While mum’s the word on what’s coming soon to the Apple Watch Series 10, that doesn’t mean some educated guesses don’t have credence. For example, it’s pretty likely that the Series 10 is going to have a slimmer design, larger screen, and brighter display. It’s also pretty likely that whatever is under the hood in terms of SiP will be able to support a longer battery life than the current capabilities of the Series 9, which boasts up to 18 hours with regular use and 36 hours in Low Power Mode.
In terms of new features, Bloomberg suggests that Apple may introduce an alert that lets a user know when their blood pressure is high. There are also reports that the new Series 10 is looking to expand its sleep tracking features, potentially to look for signs of sleep apnea and other related issues. There are also rumors that Apple is developing a tool for blood glucose monitoring that doesn’t require jabbing a finger with a needle, though it is unlikely that this feature will make it to the Series 10 — if it goes anywhere at all.
Keeping things in reality, it’s likely that the general public won’t know the facts about the Series 10 until Apple announces it, which should happen around a month or sooner before the release of the device.
Series 9 VS. Series X: What’s the Best Decision?
If you ask me, what you should purchase next would really depend on what you have now. Personally, if you don’t need a new Watch this very second, I would wait to see the news about the Series 10 and what it plans to deliver. However, if you’re new to the world of Apple Watch, then I think going with the Series 9 is a good move. But I will warn you should consider the price first.
Those looking to buy should know that Apple is still charging full price for the Series 9, which means it starts at $399 with GPS and $499 with GPS and cellular, with prices rising based on going with the 41mm or 45mm model. You’d do well to find a better deal on the Series 9 if you plan on picking it up today. While I can’t link to any deals, it isn’t hard finding the 41mm Series 9 for around $300 through Google. You can also see what Apple has in terms of refurbished Apple Watch models.
You should also consider the health factors of an Apple Watch. If you’re looking to purchase the device to track your health or perhaps the health of a relative, then waiting to see what the Series 10 delivers is a pretty good idea. However, remember that the Series 9 includes plenty of health tracking features and metrics as well.
The Final Word
As someone who adores the Apple Watch and bought a new one the moment their old one broke, I don’t think you have much to lose no matter what you go with. However, at this point in time, I would really only consider the Series 9 if you’re new to the world of wearables, your older Watch broke or you can find it for a good price.
Outside of that, I would simply wait to see what the Series 10 delivers. While not much is known about it now, it’s pretty likely that it will be superior to the current Series 9. For those who can, I would suggest waiting to see what the next generation of wearables from Apple delivers.
You may also want to know why one of our writers switched to an Apple Watch and never looked back.