Apple’s Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 announced alongside watchOS 10

Apple's annual event is over with new iPhones, upgraded AirPods Pro, and new Watches - Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. It's the last mentioned that we find interesting due to their abilities to track one's fitness activities and health.

Here are the highlights:

Common features of the new Apple watches

• Apple's first carbon neutral products (select case and band combinations)
• Powered by the all-new S9 SiP chip for increased performance and capabilities
• New 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast, when compared with Apple Watch Series 8 and the original Watch Ultra
• New double tap gesture - tap the index finger and thumb of the watch hand together twice to perform many of the most common actions on Apple Watch Series 9
• Faster on-device Siri, now with the ability to access and log sleep & health data
• Precision Finding for iPhone and HomePod Integration
• Three months of Apple Fitness+ come included with the purchase
• Pre-orders have started, with availability beginning Friday, September 22

What's new in watchOS 10?

• Redesigned apps
• New Smart Stack that shows relevant widgets right when they're needed
• New watch faces, including Snoopy, Palette, Solar Analog, and a new Nike watch face (Nike Globe)
• Night Mode now uses the ambient light sensor to activate in the dark automatically
• Bluetooth connectivity for power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors
• New cycling and hiking features such as Compass Waypoints and Maps
• Tools to support mental health with state of mind logging in the Mindfulness app
• Available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later on Monday, September 18

Apple Watch Series 9

• Brighter display up to 2000 nits, which is double that of Series 8
• 18-hour battery life
• Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminum case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases
• Any aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 with a new Sport Loop band is carbon neutral

Apple Watch Ultra 2

• Brighter display up to 3000 nits, which is double that of the original Apple Watch Ultra
• New watch face - Modular Ultra that takes advantage of the large display to present real-time data, including seconds, altitude, or depth
• The same-as-predecessor 36-hour battery life with regular use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
• Tested for extremes - from 500 meters below sea level to explore the lowest valleys, and up to 9,000 meters to ascend the world's tallest peaks
• Good for recreational scuba diving and freediving, with the updated Oceanic+ app from Huish Outdoors
• Available in 49 mm, and is carbon neutral when paired with a new Trail Loop or Alpine Loop

On the record

"Apple Watch is an indispensable companion that helps millions of people with their health, fitness, communications, and safety," Apple's CEO Jeff Williams commented on the Apple Watch Series 8. "We're introducing our best Apple Watch lineup, with incredible new capabilities and technological advancements, including a new double tap gesture, brighter display, on-device Siri, as well as our first-ever carbon neutral products. Whether users are upgrading from earlier models or buying their first, there's never been a more compelling time to experience Apple Watch."

"This year we've made our most rugged and capable Apple Watch even better," he added. "Apple Watch Ultra 2 is our most advanced Apple Watch, with great performance and feature updates. It's perfect for anyone who wants our biggest, brightest display, longest battery life, and best GPS of any Apple Watch, all in a stunning design."