It makes sense that 2023's updates are quiet compared to last year when Apple effectively kicked down the door with not one, not two, but three new smartwatches. This year, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 are nearly identical in design to their predecessors, save new colors, strap options, and carbon-neutral packaging. Instead, the big updates this year are the S9 SiP, the addition of a second-generation ultra wideband chip, and watchOS 10. The former promises a 30 percent faster GPU and a four-core Neural Engine with twice the performance of the Series 8. That, in turn, enables onboard Siri processing, greater power efficiency, and the handy double-tap gesture. The upgraded UWB chip enables Precision Finding, much like AirTags. Meanwhile, watchOS 10 reintroduces widgets to Apple's smartwatch landscape.
After a few months with watchOS 10 and about a week with the Series 9 and Ultra 2, I genuinely like the new updates. But whether the latest Apple Watches are the best options for iOS users isn't the point anymore. They are. The real questions are whether the new updates are worth the cost to upgrade, and if you're going to buy a new Apple Watch, which one makes the most sense for you?
Pink is in, leather is out
The aluminum Series 9 comes in a new pink color — and as far as design goes, that's all that's visibly new. Otherwise, you're looking at the same design and 41mm / 45mm sizes as the Series 8 and the Series 7 before that.
Pink is easily the best new color Apple's introduced for the watch in years. First, it's actually pink, unlike the green Series 7, which only looked green if the light hit just right. Second, this is the year of our queen and savior Barbie. Technically, it's more Millennial pink than Barbie pink, but that's probably a good thing. Normally, I kvetch about how Apple shies away from saturated color, but the extra subtlety here makes for a more versatile watch. Depending on the strap, you can either emphasize or de-emphasize the pinkness for whatever the situation calls for.
The Ultra 2 is even harder to differentiate from the Ultra. When I got my hands-on at Apple Park, a representative advised I stow my Ultra in my bag — lest I accidentally leave it behind. Even the back crystal on the Ultra 2 just reads "Ultra," unlike the Series watches, which always specify which Series they are. This entire week, I've had to rely on very minimal signs of wear and tear on my original Ultra to tell these two watches apart.
Even less visible is the fact that Apple is using more recycled materials in both the Series 9 and Ultra 2. The Sport Loop, for example, is made of 82 percent recycled yarn, up from 0 percent. The aluminum Series 9 is made from 100 percent recycled aluminum, while the Ultra 2 is made from 95 percent recycled titanium. The speckled flecks in silicone Nike straps you'll see throughout this review are also recycled. Apple also sent me its FineWoven strap, which is made of 68 percent post-consumer recycled material and is meant to act as a leather alternative. 'Cause Apple doesn't do leather anymore.
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