In addition to the iPhone, Apple on Tuesday introduced two new Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The update, at first glance, is small. Basically there is a new processor, the S9, in both watches and the brightness of the screen has increased considerably -2,000 and 3,000 nits of brightness respectively.
With the new processor, however, come some important changes. In addition to loading and moving apps faster, the new watches also have the ability to process some basic Siri commands on the watch itself, without the need to upload or download information from the cloud.
The sensors have a little more precision and the new processor also brings to the operating system an option that until now was only available within the accessibility options: controlling the watch using a gesture made with the hand on which it is worn.
The gesture is the same that allows you to “click” with Apple Vision, two quick taps between the index finger and the thumb. It is an intuitive gesture that in the tests we were able to carry out after the event is detected well and that allows you to accept or hang up a call, start a countdown or a timer or simply slide through the different open applications.
It is useful when the other hand is busy with a glass or bottle, cooking or holding the dog’s leash. End up touching the Apple Watch screen with your nose is more common than we users of the product like to admit and the new gesture puts an end to that need.
Otherwise, the changes are small. The new brightness of the screens is noticeable, and the fact that the Ultra 2 reaches 3,000 nits can be useful in emergency cases, but, in general – and as was the case with the last generation – anyone who has an Apple Watch with one or two years old you probably don’t see a solid reason to upgrade. At first glance it seems like a good watch, but so are the Series 8 and Series 7.
Apple, this year, has decided to give a greater boost to its environmental policy and the Watch is one of the products that benefits. Leather straps disappear from the catalog and in their place there are now various synthetic and plastic fabrics made from recycled materials. The new braided fabric, for example, is very pleasant, with a suede-like feel. Many of the special edition straps from Nike and Hermès, made from recycled and synthetic materials, also feel good.
A curious detail: with some case and strap combinations, these Apple Watch boast of being the first Apple products without any carbon footprint. Apple has not only reduced and offset the CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing and distribution of the product, but also the estimated energy expenditure during its useful life and its subsequent recycling.