It is virtually September, which implies the rumored Apple Watch Collection 9 might be proper across the nook. If Apple’s subsequent smartwatch follows the identical sample as its predecessors, it is going to seemingly be a modest improve that brings minimal modifications.
Nonetheless, there are many methods Apple might push its subsequent flagship smartwatch even additional.
Above all else, I might prefer to see the Collection 9 inherit some traits from the pricier $799 Apple Watch Extremely, akin to longer battery life and the useful Motion button. These options are useful , even should you’re not an athlete, which is why they belong on Apple’s normal smartwatch and should not be reserved for its sports-focused watch.
Apple sometimes releases new smartwatches within the September time-frame alongside recent iPhone fashions, which means we seemingly will not have to attend lengthy to see what Apple has in retailer. Bloomberg experiences the upcoming watch might have a brand new chip and up to date coloration choices, whereas Apple is planning a bigger revamp of its mainline smartwatch that might arrive in 2024.
Longer battery life
The Apple Watch Collection 7 on its charger.
The Apple Watch’s largest shortcoming is battery life. And it is not simply Apple; competing Android watches just like the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 additionally final for little greater than a day on a single cost. The Apple Watch Collection 8 that I have been sporting sometimes dies within the early afternoon after being worn for a full day and night time.
That is lengthy sufficient should you do not care about sleep monitoring and plan to cost your watches in a single day. However should you do wish to log your slumber, you may have to carve out a while the subsequent morning to juice up your Apple Watch. Apple has made some enhancements lately to make this simpler, akin to quicker charging occasions and the introduction of low energy mode, which arrived final yr.
However there is not any doubt you may get longer battery life on the Extremely mannequin. In my expertise, the Apple Watch Extremely lasted for roughly two to 3 days. My colleague Lexy Savvides, who reviewed the Apple Watch Extremely in 2022, mentioned you’ll be able to count on to get virtually two full days out of the watch, though exercise and GPS options drain the battery extra shortly.
Apple has already proved it might probably prolong the Apple Watch’s battery life, because the Apple Watch Extremely reveals. Now it is time for Apple’s common smartwatch to catch up.
The Motion button
The Apple Watch Extremely’s Motion button could be very helpful.
I do not take into account myself to be an athlete, which is why I assumed the Apple Watch Extremely could be an excessive amount of for my style. However there’s one side of the Extremely that actually resonated with me: the Motion button.
It is the primary time Apple has considerably up to date the best way you’ll be able to work together with the Apple Watch for the reason that unique mannequin’s launch. The Motion button might be programmed to hold out particular duties, akin to beginning a exercise, working a stopwatch, launching navigation options like Backtrack or utilizing the watch’s display as a flashlight.
These small conveniences make leaping between apps on the watch a lot simpler, which is why the Motion button belongs on the common Apple Watch too. Similar to longer battery life, the Motion button improves the Apple Watch’s basic usefulness moderately than simply its performance as a sports activities watch. Apple has loads of different methods to tell apart the costlier Extremely from the usual Apple Watch, akin to its bigger display, extra sturdy design and depth gauge.
Extra makes use of for the temperature sensor
Temperature readings from the Collection 8 (pictured) and Extremely present up within the Well being app.
The Apple Watch Collection 8 and Apple Watch Extremely are the corporate’s first two watches to return with a temperature sensor. This permits each watches to measure nighttime wrist temperature, which Apple makes use of to supply retrospective ovulation estimates and improved interval predictions.
However should you do not use the Apple Watch’s cycle monitoring options, there’s little different use for the temperature sensor. Whilst you can view temperature fluctuations in Apple’s Well being app, there is not a helpful technique to make sense of that knowledge. I might like to see Apple mix temperature modifications with different knowledge factors to supply extra context about how rested you may be, just like the readiness scores that Oura and Fitbit supply.
An replace like this would not essentially require new {hardware}. Apple might seemingly add extra options that make use of the temperature sensor by a software program replace.
Updates to the always-on show
The Apple Watch Collection 5 (pictured) was the primary mannequin to characteristic an always-on show.
On a show as small because the Apple Watch’s, the best way display house is used is essential. As such, I might prefer to see Apple give you new methods to make the Apple Watch’s display extra useful, whether or not it’s by updates to the always-on show performance or new watch faces. Apple has carried out a whole lot of work on this space on the iPhone lately by options just like the Dynamic Island and Standby mode in iOS 17. Now Apple ought to carry that strategy over to the Apple Watch with the Collection 9.
We cannot know what to anticipate from the subsequent Apple Watch till the corporate declares it. However I can think about a couple of methods Apple might take the show on its smartwatch to the subsequent degree. For instance, the always-on show hasn’t modified a lot since Apple launched it with the Collection 5 in 2019. The present always-on show is already useful, however it could be nice if Apple might discover methods to point out much more knowledge on this mode with out impacting battery life.
When your wrist is down, the Apple Watch limits sure watch face capabilities to protect battery life. For instance, problems that present stay knowledge aren’t lively, and clock-themed problems just like the timer and stopwatch spherical as much as the minute in order that they do not must refresh every second. Maybe developments in Apple’s processors and show expertise will develop what you are able to do in always-on mode sooner or later, though that is simply hypothesis for now.
Sooner efficiency
The Apple Watch Extremely (left) and 45mm Apple Watch Collection 8 (proper).
The Apple Watch did not get a big efficiency increase final yr, leaving Apple a chance to make an even bigger impression on the Collection 9. The Apple Watch Collection 8 is already quick sufficient for primary duties akin to launching apps, beginning exercises and navigating again to the house display.
However for the reason that Apple Watch’s show is so tiny in contrast with different gadgets, interactions must be as snappy and easy as attainable. That makes me assume there’s at all times room to enhance efficiency on a tool just like the Apple Watch, particularly because it features new options like widgets in WatchOS 10.
Apart from the Apple Watch Extremely’s arrival final yr, Apple’s smartwatch has solely improved incrementally lately. And that is not essentially a criticism, it simply means the Apple Watch has matured. Like smartphones, year-over-year smartwatch upgrades aren’t as impactful as they as soon as had been as a result of options that had been as soon as thought of premium — like coronary heart price sensors, built-in GPS and mobile connectivity — at the moment are the usual. As such, it is more durable for brand spanking new gadgets to face out.
However there’s potential for Apple to develop the areas through which its smartwatch already excels, like well being monitoring, whereas addressing its weaker factors, akin to battery life. I am hoping it takes that strategy with the Apple Watch Collection 9.
