00:00 Two new Apple Watches hit shelves for 2023,
00:03 the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
00:06 If you're an iOS user and looking to either buy a smartwatch for the first time
00:10 or upgrade from an older Apple Watch model,
00:13 you might be wondering which one is best suited for you
00:16 or if you should buy a new one at all.
00:18 The real question is, are you just looking for a helpful,
00:21 everyday accessory and extension of your iPhone
00:24 or are you looking for a big screen, adventure-ready companion?
00:28 Let's jump into it.
00:29 [MUSIC]
00:30 When you think of what an Apple Watch looks like, the Apple Watch Series 9 is it.
00:35 Starting at $399 for the 41mm size and $429 for the 45mm size,
00:42 it's a very standard, modern-looking smartwatch.
00:45 It's available in both aluminum and stainless steel
00:48 and there are a number of color options available to suit your own style.
00:51 I personally love the subtle new pink finish that's exclusive to Apple Watch Series 9.
00:57 Then there's the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2, which comes in just one size and one style.
01:03 The device has a more sporty design featuring a flat display,
01:07 protruding right side button array, and orange action button on the left side.
01:12 The screen is also 49mm, the biggest you'll find for an Apple Watch
01:17 and one of the biggest you'll find for smartwatches in general.
01:20 That display is also brighter than it was before, hitting 3,000 nits,
01:23 while the Apple Watch Series 9 is rated for 2,000 nits peak brightness.
01:28 Now you might not be able to tell the difference here in the studio,
01:31 but outside it's very, very noticeable.
01:34 If you're spending a lot of time in direct sunlight for sports and outdoor recreation,
01:38 that's something to take into consideration.
01:40 This family of Apple Watch devices is leading Apple's mission
01:44 to make all of its devices carbon neutral by 2030.
01:47 Both the Series 9 and Ultra 2, when paired with certain watch bands,
01:51 are the company's first carbon neutral certified devices,
01:55 featuring more recycled materials than previously used.
01:58 That is a big win for the planet and its consumers, if you ask me.
02:02 The most standout changes to this year's models are relative to performance with the new processor,
02:10 which is basically the brains behind the smartwatches.
02:14 Apple calls it the S9 chip and it promises up to 25% improvement in efficiency.
02:19 Think faster performance, smoother animations, better battery life management.
02:24 For reference, if you have an older Apple Watch model,
02:26 Apple hasn't made any substantial changes like this to the Apple Watch processor
02:31 since the Apple Watch Series 6.
02:34 This processor is also a big deal because it powers some handy new features
02:37 that have been introduced to the 2023 smartwatches.
02:40 Powered by a proprietary algorithm in the smartwatch processor,
02:45 Double Tap lets you carry out certain Apple Watch functions
02:48 by tapping together the index finger and thumb of your watch hand twice.
02:52 Double Tap can be used to answer phone calls, dismiss timers,
02:56 respond to texts, pause music, control the camera remote app, and more.
03:00 It's seriously my new favorite Apple Watch feature in years
03:04 and could be reason alone to upgrade.
03:06 And if that doesn't do it for you, there's an improved Siri experience.
03:11 Siri responds faster than before with complete on-device computing,
03:14 so nothing is being sent up to the cloud.
03:17 This means that Siri can execute certain commands
03:19 even when the Apple Watch Series 9 is disconnected from Wi-Fi or your smartphone.
03:25 I used to not even be able to set timers using Siri
03:27 when I was in my laundry room down the hall away from my smartphone,
03:31 and it was quite annoying, so this is a great upgrade as well.
03:35 A new ultra-wideband chip makes it a bit easier to find your iPhone
03:38 if you've misplaced it, which I do pretty much every single day.
03:42 Using the ping feature, you can track down your phone with directions now.
03:46 However, this feature does require an iPhone 15,
03:49 so keep that in mind when you're weighing which of these features matters most to you.
03:54 There are some features exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
03:57 that set it apart from the Apple Watch Series 9 as a rugged adventure watch.
04:02 The titanium frame and brighter screen mean it's well-suited
04:05 to surviving the knocks and dings of outdoor pursuits.
04:07 It's also better equipped to help you navigate the outdoors with a dual-frequency GPS.
04:13 In open water, it can go twice as deep as the Apple Watch Series 9,
04:17 and it could even be used as a dive computer with the built-in Depth app and the Oceanic Plus app.
04:23 The added action button on the side can help you with quick access to some of these sports features.
04:28 In terms of safety during all of these adventures,
04:31 the Apple Watch Ultra 2's built-in siren is a game-changer for emergencies.
04:36 Both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9
04:39 have other safety features like emergency SOS and fall detection.
04:43 Both also have a full suite of health sensors,
04:45 which can be used not just to monitor your activity for workouts,
04:48 but also provide some essential health information.
04:52 The skin temperature reader can provide cycle insights,
04:54 while the ECG sensor can detect signs of AFib.
04:57 The blood oxygen sensor is useful for sleep tracking as well.
05:01 To personalize your watch experience further,
05:03 you'll make use of WatchOS 10, the software version that ships on both watches.
05:08 This gives you a huge selection of watch faces to choose from,
05:12 some with many complications.
05:14 There are two exclusive watch faces for Apple Watch Ultra that make use of the big screen,
05:18 but that all comes down to preference.
05:20 When you hit the side button, you get your Smart Stack,
05:22 which you don't get as much control over,
05:25 but it does adapt the information you see on your wrist
05:27 based on what your watch expects you want to see.
05:30 I think the way for you to make the most of your Apple Watch experience,
05:33 no matter which watch you're wearing,
05:35 is to download third-party apps.
05:37 For Apple Watch Ultra 2 users,
05:39 you could download some excellent sports apps like SwingVision for tennis
05:42 and GolfShop for golf.
05:44 Runners get apps like Strava and Nike Run Club,
05:47 and I get to sync mine to my Peloton machine.
05:49 There are apps for smart home devices, airline tickets, news, and even games.
05:53 If battery life is your priority,
05:56 I'm going to go ahead and say you might want to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
06:00 Even with its brighter display,
06:01 the Apple Watch Ultra 2 gets 36 hours of battery life with normal use.
06:06 The Apple Watch Series 9 battery life is the same as the previous-gen Apple Watch Series 8,
06:11 and all the Apple Watch models before it, pretty much.
06:14 It lasts 18 hours with normal use.
06:16 That is a big, big difference,
06:18 especially if you're constantly on the go
06:20 and don't always have direct access to a power source.
06:23 That said, both watches support the Apple Watch Low Power Mode that debuted last year.
06:28 It extends the Series 9 battery life to 36 hours
06:31 and the Ultra 2 battery life to 72 hours.
06:34 Low Power Mode is available for all Apple Watch models running WatchOS 10.
06:38 So, which watch is going to be best suited for you?
06:45 With everything we talked about in mind,
06:46 I understand price is going to be one of the biggest deciding factors.
06:50 The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a high $799 price tag.
06:54 You can get the Apple Watch Series 9 for half the price.
06:57 Though if you want LTE support, that will bump the Series 9 starting price
07:01 from $399 to $499,
07:04 kind of narrowing the gap when you consider that LTE comes standard on the Ultra 2.
07:10 Still, the Series 9 is going to be the best smartwatch for most people
07:14 in the market for an everyday Apple Watch.
07:17 It's a great introduction to Apple Watch if you've never had one before.
07:20 And with that processor I rave so much about,
07:23 you know it's going to last you many years to come.
07:26 But if you can afford the premium and could use assistance far above
07:30 and below sea level, the Apple Watch Ultra may just be the right watch for you.
07:34 On the opposite end, if you just want the bare minimum,
07:38 there's always the $249 Apple Watch SE
07:41 that you can read my review of on Tom's Guide.com for more details.
07:45 So, what do you think?
07:46 Still not sure which Apple Watch is right for you?
07:48 Let me know in the comments below.
07:50 And if you're subscribed, I'll be sure to answer all of your questions.
07:54 You can also hit us up on social, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @tomsguide.
07:59 And as always, I'm @kaycoseach.
08:01 Thanks for watching.
08:02 I'll catch you next time.
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