The Apple Watch has been an enormous success for the corporate, just about tying up the wearables sector on the first try. With 2023 effectively underway, we’re wanting ahead to seeing what Apple will do with the following technology of its digital timepiece. So, right here’s all of the information, rumors we’ve found in regards to the Apple Watch Sequence 9 in addition to our expectations for the brand new machine.
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Launch date
Apple has a launch schedule for its Watches that, should you’ll pardon the pun, runs like clockwork. For years now, its newest iterations have made their debut within the second or third week of September, normally alongside the brand new iPhones, with on-sale dates a few week and a half later:
- Apple Watch Sequence 8: September 7, 2022
- Apple Watch Sequence 7: September 14, 2021
- Apple Watch Sequence 6: September 15, 2020
- Apple Watch Sequence 5: September 10, 2019
- Apple Watch Sequence 4: September 12, 2018
- Apple Watch Sequence 3: September 12, 2017
It appears extremely unlikely that Apple will change the cadence this yr, so we anticipate the Apple Watch Sequence 9 to launch at an Apple occasion in September 2023. The newest rumors counsel the occasion will both be held on Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13, with the brand new Watch happening sale on September 22.
Will there be a brand new Apple Watch Extremely?
The 2 loudest voices amongst Apple watchers: Mark Gurman of Bloomberg and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo each say Apple is planning to launch a second-gen Apple Watch Extremely within the fall.
A report from Kuo in mid-July 2023 mentions {that a} new Apple Watch Extremely is coming someday within the second half of this yr, whereas Gurman wrote in June that the second technology of the Apple Watch Extremely will arrive later in 2023 alongside the brand new Watch Sequence 9. Gurman wrote: “There can be two Apple Watch Sequence 9 fashions and an up to date model of the Extremely (the watches are codenamed N207, N208 and N210).”
Will there be a brand new Apple Watch SE?
The Apple Watch SE isn’t prone to be up to date till 2024. It’s normally the case that the SE is on a bi-annual replace schedule. The primary launched in 2020, the second in 2022, and the third is anticipated in 2024.
Apple Watch Sequence 9: Worth
Once more, Apple has been remarkably according to its pricing technique for the Apple Look ahead to U.S. consumers. Nonetheless, 2022 noticed European international locations take the brunt of a number of worth will increase. As such, the U.Okay. noticed the baseline mannequin rise by £50:
- Apple Watch Sequence 8: $399/£419
- Apple Watch Sequence 7: $399/£369
- Apple Watch Sequence 6: $399/£379
- Apple Watch Sequence 5: $399/£399
- Apple Watch Sequence 4: $399/£399
With a worth rise in Europe already in place, we’d anticipate the Sequence 9 to have the same worth because the Apple Watch Sequence 8 it replaces. So, it ought to be round $399/£419.
The Apple Watch Extremely prices $799/£849 and we don’t anticipate that to alter for the second technology.
Apple Watch Sequence 9: watchOS 10
One factor we all know for certain in regards to the Apple Watch Sequence 9 is that it’s going to ship with watchOS 10. This implies you may anticipate just a few new watch faces—probably a pair which can be unique to the brand new mannequin—and a brand new function or two.
Following WWDC on June 5 we bought a preview of quite a few new options and apps coming within the Apple Watch software program, from a brand new technique to navigate and redesigned apps throughout watchOS 10. There can be new Clocks to select from and new Watch faces in addition to new apps and updates to present apps, together with the Compass and Maps app and new Well being options. Examine watchOS 10 in our separate story.
We anticipate that watchOS 10 can be accessible for obtain round September 8. It will likely be accessible to put in on Apple Watch Sequence 4 and newer.
Apple Watch Sequence 9: New options
The Apple Watch Sequence 9 isn’t anticipated to be a serious improve over the 2022 fashions. In line with a tweet from Mark Gurman in April 2023, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 upgrades can be “something however main,” with the brand new mannequin “poised for a extra modest yr.” However even with out main adjustments, there are nonetheless a number of attainable new options that may make the Apple Watch Sequence 9 a worthy improve.
Design
No adjustments are anticipated for the Apple Watch Sequence 9 design, nevertheless, some adjustments could also be coming to the design of the Apple Watch Extremely.
One upcoming change coming to the Apple Watch Extremely might be to the display screen measurement. A DigiTimes report again in February instructed that the Extremely display screen measurement might enhance from 1.9 inches to 2.1 inches as a result of slimmer bezels. Moreover, a report by Gurman in July raised the potential of a new “darkish titanium” coloration for the Apple Watch Extremely, which was initially deliberate for the first-gen mannequin.
In July 2023, a Webo publish claimed that the Apple Watch Extremely will weigh lower than the present mannequin, which might point out a thinner or smaller case. It’s unclear whether or not the Sequence 9 watches may even have a lighter weight.
3D printing
One other change that might be coming to the 2023 household of watches is using 3D-printed components for manufacturing. This rumor comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says that Apple is planning to undertake 3D printing expertise for “among the titanium mechanical components” of the next-generation Apple Watch Extremely. It’s not clear whether or not that is strictly for the Extremely or can be used for some Sequence 9 parts as effectively.
The transfer to 3D printing ought to allow Apple to chop manufacturing instances and prices and if it really works out effectively the corporate might undertake the approach for extra merchandise sooner or later, in line with Kuo.
S9 chip
In the event you take a look at the tech specs for each new Apple Watch, you’ll see a brand new chip listed. The Sequence 8 has an S8 chip, the Sequence 7 has an S7, and the Sequence 6 has an S6. The one factor that’s bizarre is that they’re all the identical chip with totally different names. Gurman reported in July that the S9 chip will convey “important velocity enhancements.”
Whereas the S6 delivered a 20 % enhance in efficiency over the Sequence 5, the S7 and S8 are rebranded variations of the identical processor in line with teardowns and Apple’s conspicuous fee of any type of efficiency enhancements. However the S9 is rumored to be primarily based on a brand new A15 design that brings a lift in efficiency and battery life, and possibly a Neural Engine constructed into the chip.
New well being sensors
Apple has been working for years on a non-invasive technique to monitor glucose ranges without having further tools. A report in February claimed {that a} secret staff inside Apple has reached a number of “main milestones” within the venture, and the function is now thought-about to be at a “proof of idea” stage. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that it’s going to seem on this yr’s watch and will nonetheless be a number of years away.
Different attainable sensors for inclusion might be an electrodermal exercise (EDA) sensor for measuring stress ranges and a bioimpedance sensor for measuring physique composition.
MicroLED show
There have been loads of rumors about Apple doubtlessly utilizing MicroLED shows on numerous units over the previous few years, however the strongest are focusing on the Apple Watch as the primary machine to make the swap. In any case, the Apple Watch was the primary machine to have an OLED display screen—years earlier than the iPhone—so it’s probably that Apple will debut its MicroLED display screen on the Apple Watch too. Switching to microLED brings quite a few benefits: the panels are thinner, brighter, higher-res and extra power-efficient, and have quicker response instances.
Nonetheless, we might have a little bit of a look ahead to microLED watches, with the primary to undertake the expertise being the Apple Watch Extremely.
At one stage it was believed that the next-generation Apple Watch Extremely would sport a microLED at launch, however that change was predicted for 2024 and a brand new Apple Watch Extremely is now anticipated in 2023. Evidently Apple has encountered manufacturing issues with the brand new display screen expertise, so the Apple Watch Extremely mannequin with a microLED show is now thought unlikely to launch till 2026, in line with analysis firm TrendForce. Therefore we’re prone to be ready for the Third- or 4th-generation Apple Watch Extremely earlier than microLED options.
Motion button
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
May we see the Motion Button come to the Apple Watch Sequence 9?
Final yr Apple launched the all-new Apple Watch Extremely with a dizzying array of options and parts. The latest member of the Apple Watch household featured a extra rugged design, flat edges, and a barely bigger show (49mm vs 45mm on the Apple Watch Sequence 8), together with a shocking new function: the Motion button.
The Motion button is situated on the alternative aspect of the Digital Crown and would simply match on the Apple Watch Sequence 9. On the Extremely you may set it to set off particular duties equivalent to a stopwatch, exercise, or flashlight, performance that may be a wonderful improve to the present Apple Watch design.
Twin-Frequency GPS
Just like the iPhone 14 Professional, the Apple Watch Extremely upgraded its GPS to incorporate the L5 band along with the usual L1 for quicker and extra exact location monitoring. Even should you’re not mountain climbing in steep terrain, the additional band can be useful in busy metropolis areas the place the usual Watch can wrestle. Apple has a behavior of introducing new options on high-end fashions after which trickling them all the way down to the lower-end fashions, and we expect that very effectively might occur right here.
The Apple Watch might quickly have an excellent higher show. Will it debut with the Sequence 9?
Foundry
5G
To this point, Apple Watches are one of many few remaining Apple units that hasn’t been up to date to 5G—even the high-end Apple Watch Extremely has 4G LTE. With the Apple Watch shifting nearer towards full independence, having the quickest connection accessible looks as if a good suggestion. We’re certain there are little question just a few issues to beat, however Apple tends to be good at that.
We’ll preserve updating this text as extra info turns into accessible, so remember to test again frequently. Within the meantime, should you can’t wait till September, right here’s our roundup of the greatest Apple Watch offers presently round.
Additionally learn: Each new Apple product coming in 2023 and When is the following Apple Occasion?
