Apple has finally launched the next generation of Apple Watches at its Wonderlust event. The company unveiled the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple has launched the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, focusing on better performance with new chipsets and improved sensors.
Apple Watch Series 9: Specifications And Price
The Apple Watch Series 9 has received some serious upgrades in the performance department thanks to the new S9 chipset. It uses a 5nm architecture and is a substantial improvement over the previous S8 chip. Apple claims it is the most powerful chipset with 5.8 billion transistors, which is 60 per cent more than Series 8 and 30 per cent faster.
It also has a four-core Neural Engine that can process tasks like Siri requests on the device without requiring cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. This is the biggest performance upgrade since the S6 processor used in the Series 6. Furthermore, it is also more power efficient, offering an 18-hour battery life.
In addition, the Apple Watch Series 9 also gets the new U2 Ultra WideBand (UWB) chip, which enables Precision Finding for iPhones.You can navigate to your iPhone with directions and a vibration to help you locate the device. This offers improved location accuracy and more reliable FindMy capabilities. Both the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Ultra 2 have been launched with these new chips.
The Series 9 has an Always-On Retina Display with slim bezels that can go as bright as 2,000 nits and as low as one nits. This is more than twice the brightness of the Series 8. You can activate a new Double Tap gesture by tapping your index finger and thumb together twice.
You can use this gesture to answer a call, stop a timer, snooze alarms or scroll through widgets. This is useful if your other hand is occupied and you want to perform actions on your watch. The feature will be available on Series 9 starting next month.
WatchOS 10 has a new Name Drop feature, which can help share your personal information with another user when in the vicinity of their device. The new operating system also allows interaction with HomePod devices and improved Find My functionality.
The Series 9 will be available in Aluminium options of Pink, Starlight, Silver, Midnight and Product Red and stainless steel options like Silver, Gold and Graphite. It is available in India for a starting price of Rs.41,900 and will go on sale in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, respectively.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specifications And Price
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is lighter and faster than before. Similar to the Series 9, it uses the new S9 chip apart from the U2 Ultra Wide Band Chip. It features a 49mm titanium case with MIL-STD 810H certification, IP6X dust resistance, and 100 meters of water resistance.
The Ultra 2 has the brightest display on the smartwatch, with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. It offers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge and 72 hours on the low power mode. The Night Mode will be automatically enabled in a dim environment, and the new watch face will show you information like Altitude, Depth and Seconds.
Like its predecessor, it retains the customizable action button for quickly starting workouts or using the compass. The Ultra 2 features the S9 chip with 5.6 billion transistors and a 60 per cent performance improvement over the previous generation. Thanks to the dual-frequency GPS, it can now track your workout sessions and location more accurately.
It also gets all WatchOS 10 features, like the Double Tap gesture, which will be available in October. Apple has also focused on sustainability by promising to make all products carbon-neutral by 2030. The watch’s Alpine Loop and Trail Loop bands are made from recycled materials. The Apple Watch Ultra starts at Rs.89,900 in India and will be available in a single size of 49mm from September 22.
Apple Watch SE: Specifications And Price
Apple announced a refresh of the Apple Watch SE made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium. The new watch has a Sports Loop strap that offers 75 per cent carbon footprint reduction.
It runs on the older S8 chip and has a Retina display with 1,000 nits of brightness. The watch also offers GPS connectivity and up to 18 hours of battery life. It runs on watchOS 10 and provides safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS.
The watch is water resistant up to 50 meters and has GPS and cellular connectivity options. It lasts 18 hours on a single charge and comes with a Low Power Mode. It will be available for a starting price of Rs.29,900 from September 22.