Should you buy? Reviews, features, comparisons and more

The Apple Watch Series 9 has not received any design updates. It continues to use the same rounded, square look as the previous generation Series 8 and comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes that were introduced in 2021.

The Apple Watch display has soft, rounded edges and the weight is between 32 and 51.5 grams, depending on the case size and material. The heaviest are the stainless steel models of the Apple Watch Series 9.

All Apple Watch Series 9 models feature a black ceramic and crystal glass back that houses four LED clusters and four photodiodes to enable health monitoring features such as heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, and ECGs.

On the side of Apple Watch there is a Digital Crown for scrolling and navigating and a side button for launching frequently used apps, accessing emergency services, confirming Apple Pay purchases, and more.

The Digital Crown features haptic feedback that provides a precise, mechanical feel when scrolling through lists and controlling various aspects of the Apple Watch. It's also crucial for the ECG app, as it has a built-in electrode that works in tandem with the rear sensors.

Note that the Digital Crown looks different depending on the Apple Watch model you purchase. LTE models have a red ring around the Digital Crown to let you know they have cellular functionality, while GPS-only models don't have a red ring.

Colors and materials

The Apple Watch Series 9 is available in aluminum and stainless steel. The aluminum models of the Apple Watch are the cheapest, while the stainless steel models are more expensive.

Aluminum colors include Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink and (PRODUCT)RED. Stainless steel colors include Silver, Gold, Graphite and Space Black.

Made from 100 percent recycled 7000 series aluminum, the aluminum models of the Apple Watch are lightweight, affordable and designed for an active lifestyle, while the stainless steel models are heavier and more expensive and designed more for everyday wear than activity-focused.

41mm

• Aluminum: 31.9 grams
• Stainless steel: 42.3 grams

45mm

• Aluminum: 38.7 grams
• Stainless steel: 51.5 grams

durability

Apple Watch Series 9 models feature the same stronger front glass first introduced on Series 7, which is more shatter-resistant than the glass on previous Apple Watch models.

The aluminum models of the Apple Watch feature Ion-X glass to protect the display, while the stainless steel models use sapphire glass. Sapphire glass offers better scratch resistance than Ion-X glass because it is a harder material. This means the sapphire glass models are more scratch-resistant and more resilient to everyday wear and tear.

All Apple Watch Series 9 models are IP6X dustproof, making them suitable for use in environments such as the beach or desert. Thanks to seals and adhesives, they are also WR50 waterproof, making them suitable for immersion in water up to a depth of 50 meters. The speaker, which requires air to produce sound, is the only entry point and is designed to release water through sound vibrations after contact with moisture.

Because Apple Watch is rated for a depth of 165 feet (50 m), it can be used while swimming in the ocean or pool. It is only intended for shallow water activities and cannot be used for scuba diving, water skiing, showering, or other activities that involve high water speeds or deep submersion. Apple Watch Ultra is recommended for these water activities.

Water damage is not covered by the Apple Watch warranty, so be careful when exposing the device to water.