Apple announced a new Apple Watch at the Wonderlust event, but is it really worth paying more money and upgrading your Apple Watch Series 8? Today, we will take a look at the Apple Watch Series 9 vs. 8 comparison and try to help you find an answer to the question!
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. 8
In 2022, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8, which brought new features like body temperature sensing and Crash Detection. Apple has now stopped selling the Apple Watch Series 8, and prices for this one-year-old model are dropping at third-party sellers. This might lead some customers to consider upgrading to the discounted Series 8 or going for the latest Series 9.
Let’s see which device will win the Apple Watch Series 9 vs. 8 battle!
Apple Watch Ultra 2: Brighter, bolder, and better
Design
Apple didn’t make any changes to the Series 9’s design; it’s essentially the same as last year’s Apple Watch. Both the Series 9 and Series 8 come in two case sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and can use the same bands.
You can choose between aluminum and stainless steel models, and they come in various colors. If you want a pink Apple Watch, you’ll have to go for the Series 9. Otherwise, you can pick from Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), and Silver.
With the Series 9, Apple is highlighting some new bands like the redesigned Solo Loop, FineWoven Magnetic Link, Modern Buckle, recycled Nike options, and updated Hermès collection. However, these bands also work with the Series 8. Apple offers both Wi-Fi only and cellular models for both watches, so you have options for connectivity with either model.
Comparison: Apple Watch Ultra vs Ultra 2
Performance
In the past three Apple Watch generations – Series 6, Series 7, and Series 8 – Apple used different chip names (S6, S7, and S8), but these chips were quite similar. They all had a dual-core CPU with the T8301 identifier, and they were based on the design of the Apple A13 Bionic chip. The only performance boost Apple mentioned was with Series 6 and the S6 chip, which they claimed made apps launch 20% faster.
Now, with the Apple Watch Series 9, a new S9 chip is based on the A15 Bionic. This chip is much faster and more efficient, making apps launch quicker and extending battery life. The Series 9 also comes with an upgraded quad-core Neural Engine, which can handle machine learning tasks twice as fast as the Series 8. This same S9 chip also powers the Apple Watch Ultra Gen 2.
Battery and storage
Both Series 8 and Series 9 Apple Watches can last for 18 hours on a single charge. The Series 8 introduced a Low Power Mode that, when used with an iPhone, can extend battery life to 36 hours, so you can stay connected longer without needing to charge.
The Series 9 maintains the same 18-hour battery life but uses the new S9 chip to make better use of the battery, even with new features and a more powerful processor.
The new Apple Watch Series 9 also comes with 64GB of storage, doubling the amount compared to the Series 8’s 32GB. This means you can store more high-resolution images, music playlists, and apps, keeping all your important data easily accessible.
Price
Apple didn’t increase the starting price of $399 for the 41mm aluminum model, but they raised the starting price of the stainless steel model by $100 because it now only comes with GPS + Cellular capability.
- $399/$429 for the 41mm/45mm aluminum Wi-fi model
- $699/$749 for the 41mm/45mm stainless steel cellular version
Featured image credit: Apple
