In a press release, the environmental impact of a product is sandwiched at the end of the page between the last feature and price. With the Apple Watch Series 9 being Apple’s first carbon-neutral product, it is impressive how it brought the message forward. While important, let’s begin with what matters: price and availability.

Price & Availability

According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE have no release dates in Malaysia, but it is coming soon.

The Apple Watch Series 9 starts at RM1,899. This is for the Aluminium, 41mm, GPS-only model with a textile —to get the carbon neutral mark— or rubber band. Alternatively, some models are made of stainless steel, with a face that measures 45mm and can connect to a cellular network and other band options.

The Apple Watch SE starts at RM1,199. This is for the 40mm, GPS-only model with a textile or rubber band. Again, the carbon-neutral option is textile. Alternatively, there is the 44mm model, with cellular and other band options.

For easy cleaning, I prefer the rubber band option.

Why Being Carbon Neutral Matters

I’ll keep this short. Looking at the global weather and natural disasters, it was evident that taking care of the environment is more critical than ever. For significant changes to happen, it is up to big organisations, not individuals. So, being carbon-neutral with the Apple Watch Series 9 is an excellent move. You can also bet that journalists in the US are going to make sure Apple keep their word

At the same time, it is a luxury. There is no compulsion, but knowing the option is there is good.

What Can It Do?

With the powerful new S9 SiP (System in a Package), “Apple’s most powerful watch chip yet”, Apple says the Apple Watch Series 9 gets systemwide improvements (reads as it’s faster) and brand-new features, including a new double tap gesture and on-device Siri with the ability to access and log health data privately and securely. Along with an 18-hour battery life, of course.

You know what? SiaP would have been a more fantastic acronym.

Anyway, as is, the Apple Watch Series 8 already feels snappy. How much faster can the Series 9 be? We’ll have to see. The double-tap gesture is genius. However, we’ll have to see its accuracy when it becomes available as a software update in October. False triggers and insensitivity would make the feature useless.

Also, I don’t think it is not for everyone. I don’t know if my mum, with her arthritic hand, could manage the gesture. But I know that I’ll first remove the ability to snooze or turn off the alarm with the double tap. An easy way to turn off the alarm is as good as no alarm.

On the other hand, that on-device Siri feature is one of Apple’s signature “new features that feels like it should have been there or have been there all along”.

The display gets bigger and brighter with every Apple Watch, and it is no different with the Apple Watch Series 9. But the dark-friendly one nit’ll be more valuable than the battery-guzzling 2000 nits. Still, I wonder how legible it will be.

Precision Finding also comes to the Apple Watch because of the second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip. But I’ll reserve my judgment when I see it for myself. Finding misplaced iPhones is helpful, but the accuracy over the current generation needs improvement.

watchOS 10 Is Coming On Monday (Sept 18)

Coming to all Apple Watch Series 4 and later is the watchOS 10. It will bring a new interface with a new Smart Stack (for displaying relevant widgets), new watch faces, and additional health features. Don’t expect all the elements to be available at the release of the new watchOS; of course, Apple Watch 9 could take full advantage of the update.

What In Microtwill is FineWoven?

Apple’s answer to removing leather materials from its lineup is a low carbon fabric made with recycled material. For the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple is using this material to make watch bands. Microtwill is a fabric type, and FineWoven is a brand name. Apple will have to convince me that it won’t stain, fray, washable, and won’t get disgusting with use. Also, it doesn’t mean other folks won’t go and make those leather bands if there’s a demand.

Thoughts

An option for sapphire crystal would be excellent. Other than that, the Apple Watch Series 9 looks to be the best Apple Watch ever made for most people. Taking a step back, the improvements over the Apple Watch Series 8 seem small. But, in my experience, never underestimate Apple’s ability to make significant impacts by making subtle quality-of-life improvements. And charged posts bashing Apple are popular, so read those with unhealthy amounts of salt. Go to an Apple Store and try it for yourself.

https://www.apple.com/my/newsroom/2023/09/apple-introduces-the-advanced-new-apple-watch-series-9/