Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 8: Which model should you buy?

The Apple Watch Series 9 remains one of the best smartwatches on the market, even though the Apple Watch 10 is widely available. This is thanks to the wearable’s improved health-tracking capabilities and key features such as Double Tap, which is a one-handed gesture input that lets you answer calls, pull up apps, and more by just tapping your thumb and forefinger together.

Double Tap is great if you have fine motor issues and cannot effectively use touch-based inputs or operate the digital crown easily. If you’re looking to score a great deal, you can currently pick up a Series 9 from Walmart on sale for $249.

Also: The best Apple Watch you can buy

But what if you already have an Apple Watch Series 8? The older wearable is still a solid pick to this day. It boasts an impressive battery life, temperature tracking which can provide valuable insight into women’s health, and accurate sleeping tracking. With this in mind, is it worth upgrading to the Apple Watch 9? 

Let’s examine the main differences and help you make this decision.

Specifications

You should buy the Apple Watch Series 9 if…

1. You will benefit from the one-handed Double Tap gesture input

The Apple Watch has a tiny display and buttons, which can be a pain to navigate and operate — especially if you have fine motor issues.

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With the one-handed gesture, you can perform tasks normally assigned to the digital crown and action button, such as launching apps, answering calls, or snoozing your alarm.

2. You need a brighter display

The updated Retina display on the Apple Watch Series 9 is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. This means you’ll be able to read texts, use FaceTime, and work with apps more easily in harsh overhead lighting or direct sunlight.

Review: Apple Watch Series 9 review: Why I’m not settling for the less expensive models

The display can also be set to just one nit for an ultra-dim display when you need it, such as when you’re getting ready for bed and don’t want notifications waking you up or when you’re in a movie theater.

3. You’re looking for a more eco-friendly smartwatch

The Apple Watch Series 9 is made with a case produced from 100% post-consumer aluminum, and the new woven watch bands are made with up to 68% post-consumer material. This means that Apple is helping to reduce the amount of metal and e-waste entering landfills, as well as lower the company’s carbon footprint.

You should buy the Apple Watch Series 8 if…

1. You don’t need the faster S9 chip

The Series 9 is made with the new Silicon S9 chip and a four-core neural engine processor for faster, smoother animations as well as on-device Siri request processing.

Also: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 8: Is it time to level up?

It’s impressive hardware. However, if you don’t use Siri on your Apple Watch very often or pay much attention to how pretty your apps look, the new S9 chip will not be much of benefit.

2. HomePod integration is not your thing

The Series 9 is built to work with the Apple HomePod in order to enhance and expand your smart home’s device network.

Similarly to the previous entry, if you don’t use smart speakers or prefer that your home be as disconnected from the internet as possible aside from your phone, TV, and computer, then it’ll feel like a wasted feature. You won’t get much out of it, so why purchase a device that has it?

3. You don’t need one-handed gesture inputs

The biggest change to the Series 9 is the ability to use Double Tap to launch apps and control your new Apple Watch. While this is great from an accessibility standpoint, it may feel like a gimmick for anyone who won’t see any real benefit. The expanded gesture input support may become a must-have feature in future Apple Watches, but it’s up to personal preference.

Alternatives to consider