We’ve already heard a lot about the iPhone 15 and other upcoming Apple gadgets, but so far there’s been little concrete news about the Apple Watch 9, but we’ve heard some rumors.
Early leaks suggest it could be the same size as the Apple Watch 8, for example, but we still know very little about it, so that could be wrong.
Either way, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the Apple Watch 9, followed by a list of things we’d like to offer. We will be updating it so check back soon to get the latest information.
get to the point
what is that? next apple watchWhen are you coming out? Probably September 2023How much will it cost? Probably at least $399 / £419 / AU$629
Apple Watch 9: Price and Release Date The Apple Watch 9 will probably launch in September. After all, the Apple Watch 8 he announced in September 2022. With two exceptions, all previous models were released in September of their release year.
More specifically, the Apple Watch 9 could be announced in early or mid-September, which is Tuesday or Wednesday, September 5, 6, 12, or 13, based on past history. It is likely to be announced with the iPhone 15 series, probably in about 10 days.
As for pricing, there’s no news, but given rising parts, fuel and labor costs, it’s likely to cost at least as much as the Apple Watch 8, which starts at $399 / £419 / AU$629.
Apple Watch 9 could cost at least as much as Apple Watch 8 (Image credit: TechRadar)
Apple Watch 9 news and leaks
Apple Watch 9: The main Apple Watch 9 leak so far comes from an analyst at tech firm Omdia via this MacRumors. (opens in new tab) The article simply states that the Apple Watch 9 will likely be the same size as the Apple Watch 8. That means it has screen sizes of 1.89 inches and 2.04 inches, which could result in cases of 41 mm and 45 mm respectively.
Then there’s a sketchy leak suggesting that the Apple Watch 9 might instead be called the Apple Watch X, skipping the number 9 entirely.This is according to a supply chain source who speaks to iPhoneSoft (opens in new tab) .
They suggest that this wearable will still land in 2023, so it would be a simple name change, but since X is the Roman numeral 10, it seems unnecessarily confusing. We have a conflicting account here, as we’ve heard from a leak that we’re expecting an Apple Watch X alongside the SE 3 in 2024. The SE 2 will be the first iteration of the Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra. Released together, there is no news that Ultra 2 will be released in 2024 to complete its three-game winning streak.
what we want to see
The Apple Watch 8 scored four stars in our review, so for the Apple Watch 9 to score five stars, we’d like to see the following:
1. Improved battery life
Apple Watch 8 battery life isn’t great (Image credit: TechRadar)
One of my main gripes with the Apple Watch 8, and indeed with all Apple Watches before it, was battery life. Not terrible, but this is a wearable that probably needs to be charged every day, at least every two days.
This is not ideal. All the more so for devices designed to keep track of aspects of your health, exercise and sleep. So, while we’re hoping the Apple Watch 9 will last at least three days between charges, it probably won’t, given that we ask for this every year.
2. Major chipset upgrade
The Apple Watch 8 is technically powered by the new Apple S8 chipset, but there’s little in the way of an upgrade here. In fact, it uses the same CPU as the S7 and the S6 in the Apple Watch 6.
Now, in all fairness, the Apple Watch 8 is a fast device, so it doesn’t feel particularly underpowered. But it can always be faster. Alternatively, Apple could work to significantly improve efficiency to extend battery life.
Apple Watch Ultra has a handy extra button (Image credit: TechRadar)
One of the key features of the Apple Watch Ultra is an extra button called the Action Button. It’s basically a shortcut to an app or feature of your choice, as it can be customized to do many different things.
This is a very useful addition and I hope the Apple Watch 9 makes it. Because I don’t think it should be added to the Ultra model.
4. Fine-tuned design
The Apple Watch 8 looks great, so I don’t think it needs a major design overhaul, but it looks pretty much the same as the Apple Watch 7, so a little tweaking and refreshing would be nice.
It could take a smaller bezel, a new case material, a slimmer body, or something else along those lines to give it a new, modern feel.
5. Low price
With a starting price of $399 / £419 / AU$629, it goes up if you want a larger size or cellular connectivity. SE2.
Therefore, we would like Apple to reduce the price of the Apple Watch 9. Either that, or make it a major upgrade anyway. Doing so will ensure that it ranks high among the best Apple Watches and best smartwatches.
