While we’ve heard a lot about the iPhone 15 and other upcoming Apple gadgets, so far there’s been little concrete news about the Apple Watch 9 — but we’ve heard a few rumors.
An early leak suggested it would be the same size as the Apple Watch 8 for example, although we know very little about it, that could prove wrong.
In any case, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the Apple Watch 9 below, followed by a list of things we’d like to offer. We’ll also update this article when there’s news about Apple’s upcoming wearable, so check back soon to stay updated.
Cut to the chase
- What is this? The next Apple Watch
- When will it come out? Maybe September 2023
- How much does it cost? Probably at least $399 / £419 / AU$629
Apple Watch 9: Price and release date
Apple Watch 9 is likely to launch in September. After all, the Apple Watch 8 was announced in September 2022, and with two exceptions every previous model also landed in September in their release years.
More specifically, the Apple Watch 9 will likely be announced on a Tuesday or Wednesday in early or mid-September based on previous form, which means September 5, 6, 12 or 13. It will likely be announced alongside the iPhone 15 series, and it will probably go on sale about 10 days later.
As for the price, there’s no news there, but it’s likely to cost at least as much as the Apple Watch 8, which starts at $399 / £419 / AU $629, given the rising cost of parts, fuel, and labor.
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 a new tab) article, and simply states that the Apple Watch 9 will likely be the same size as the Apple Watch 8. That means it will come in both 1.89-inch and 2.04-inch screen sizes, which is likely have 41mm and 45mm cases respectively.
Then there was a sketchy leak that suggested the Apple Watch 9 could be called the Apple Watch X, skipping the number nine altogether. This is according to a supply chain source who spoke to iPhoneSoft (Opens in a new tab).
They suggest that this wearable will still arrive in 2023, so it’s a simple name change, but the X is the Roman numeral for 10 which doesn’t seem like it should be confusing. Additionally, we’ve heard from the MacRumors leak that Apple Watch X is expected in 2024 alongside the SE 3, so there are conflicting accounts here. The SE 2 was released alongside the Watch 8 and the first iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra, but there’s no news of an Ultra 2 arriving in 2024 to complete the trifecta.
What we want to see
The Apple Watch 8 achieved four stars in our review, so for the Apple Watch 9 to get five stars we want to see the following things.
1. Better battery life
One of our main complaints with the Apple Watch 8 – and indeed with every Apple Watch before it – is battery life. While it’s not terrible, it’s a wearable that you’ll probably need to charge every day, and at least every two days.
That’s not good, especially for a device designed to constantly track aspects of your health, exercise and sleep. So we’d like to see the Apple Watch 9 last at least three days between charges, but given that we’ve been asking for it every year that’s not going to happen.
2. A big chipset upgrade
The Apple Watch 8 technically has the new Apple S8 chipset inside it, but there’s little in the way of upgrades here. In fact, it uses the same CPU as the S7 and even the S6 from the Apple Watch 6.
Now, in fairness the Apple Watch 8 is a fast device, so it doesn’t feel underpowered. But it can always be faster. Or Apple could work to improve efficiency, for better battery life.
3. An Action button
One of the key features of the Apple Watch Ultra is an additional button called the Action button. It can be customized to do different things, so it’s a shortcut to an app or feature you like.
It’s a very useful addition, and it’s one we’d like to see make its way to the Apple Watch 9 as well, as it doesn’t sound like something we’d need to shell out for on an Ultra model.
4. A tweaked design
The Apple Watch 8 looks great, so we don’t feel that the design needs to be changed too much, but it’s also similar to the Apple Watch 7, so some tweaks to change it would be nice.
That could take the form of even smaller bezels, a new case material, a slimmer body, or other lines to help it feel fresh and modern.
5. A low price
With a starting price of $399 / £419 / AU$629, which goes up if you want it in a larger size or cellular connectivity, the Apple Watch 8 is a relatively expensive wearable, even if it doesn’t offer a great deal more than the much cheaper Apple Watch. SE 2.
That’s why we’d like to see Apple reduce the price for the Apple Watch 9. Either that or make it a substantial upgrade though. Doing so will help ensure that it ranks high among the best Apple Watches and best smartwatches.