Apple Watch 8 Vs 9 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Apple Watch 9 & 8 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Apple Watch 9 rather than the Apple Watch 8.

Why Do I Recommend The Apple Watch 9

  • The Apple Watch 9 has an advanced S9 chip with a 4-core Neural Engine for faster performance, improved health monitoring, & smoother app navigation, compared to the S8 chip in the Apple Watch 8
  • Apple Watch 9 has a maximum of 2,000 nits brightness to read in harsh sunlight & perfect for outdoors, which is twice the specification of the Series 8’s 1000 nits.
  • It introduced the UWB 2 chip, which improves the accuracy of location-based services like Find My Device and supports precision finding to locate lost nearby devices, but the Apple Watch 8 has a UWB 1 chip.
  • It features a Double Tap gesture, which performs actions like answering calls, stopping alarms, or interacting with notifications without physically touching the screen, while the Apple Watch 8 has basic swipe and press controls.
  • In Series 9, Siri is processed on the device itself without connecting to the internet, offering faster command responses, & controlling smart home devices, while the Apple Watch 8 is slow.
  • The Apple Watch 9 has 64GB of storage for more space to store a lot of music, podcasts, apps, and fitness data offline, but the Series 8 offers only 32GB storage.
  • It also offers Bluetooth 5.3 to improve connectivity stability and reduce power consumption, ensuring better performance during calls or listening music compared to Bluetooth 5.0 in Series 8. 

Maybe the Apple Watch 8 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Apple Watch 9. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

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Side By Side Comparison

FeatureApple Watch 9Apple Watch 8
ProcessorS9 SiP dual-core with 4-core NPUS8 SiP dual-core
Performance of WatchOSWatchOS 10WatchOS 9
Neural Engine4-core Neural EngineNot available
Display BrightnessMax 2,000 nitsMax 1,000 nits
Siri ProcessingOn-device with enhanced privacyCloud-based
UWB (Ultra-Wideband)UWB 2UWB 1
Double Tap GestureAvailableNot available
Find My FeatureEnhanced Precision Finding with UWB 2Basic “Find My” integration
Storage Capacity64GB32GB
Environmental ImpactCarbon-neutral models Regular manufacturing
On-Device CapabilitiesOn-device Siri, voice dictationStandard cloud-dependent features
SustainabilityMore sustainableNot a focus
Precision FindingUWB 2 enables advanced Precision FindingLimited due to UWB 1
Bluetooth VersionBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.0
Haptic FeedbackMore responsive and refinedStandard
Gesture ControlsAdded Double Tap gestureBasic swipe and press controls
PriceCheck Watch 9 PriceCheck Watch 8 Price

What Common Both Can Do?

  • Design and Dimensions: Both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 have identical designs, with 41mm and 45mm case options. They share the same durable build with an aluminum or stainless steel finish, offering users a sleek, premium look without any change in physical form factor.
  • Health Sensors and Tracking: The two models offer a comprehensive suite of health tracking features, including ECG, Blood Oxygen monitoring, temperature sensors (for cycle tracking and sleep monitoring), and continuous heart rate monitoring. The sensor array is identical, ensuring both watches provide the same level of health insights and accuracy.
  • Water and Dust Resistance: Both the Series 8 and Series 9 have a WR50 rating for water resistance (up to 50 meters), allowing users to swim, shower, and handle day-to-day water exposure without worry. They also share IP6X dust resistance, making both watches highly durable in different environments.
  • Crash and Fall Detection: Both models are equipped with advanced sensors that enable Crash Detection and Fall Detection, critical safety features that can call emergency services automatically in the event of a severe car accident or a hard fall, ensuring users have a safety net in risky situations.
  • Sleep Tracking: Sleep tracking is a key feature in both Series 8 and Series 9, providing users with insights into their sleep stages (REM, core, and deep sleep), sleep duration, and overall sleep quality. They use the same algorithms and sensors to ensure accurate monitoring of sleep habits.
  • Low Power Mode and Battery Life: Both models feature a Low Power Mode that helps extend the battery life by disabling non-essential features, like the Always-On display. Despite improvements in the S9 chip, both watches deliver up to 18 hours of battery life in standard use, with potential extensions in Low Power Mode.
  • Fitness Features & Apple Fitness+ Integration: Both models have robust fitness tracking capabilities, including support for Apple Fitness+, offering guided workouts and real-time metrics such as heart rate and calories burned. Whether for casual activity tracking or more advanced fitness goals, both watches deliver the same workout experience.
  • WatchOS Compatibility: Both the Series 8 and Series 9 run WatchOS 10. Although Series 9 is introduced with WatchOS 10, Series 8 is fully compatible, ensuring that users of both models benefit from the latest software features and improvements.

Common Features

FeatureApple Watch 9Apple Watch 8
Design 41mm and 45mm 41mm and 45mm
 DisplayAlways-On Retina DisplayAlways-On Retina Display
Health SensorsBlood Oxygen, ECG, Heart Rate, TemperatureBlood Oxygen, ECG, Heart Rate, Temperature
Water ResistanceWR50 WR50
Dust ResistanceIP6XIP6X 
Temperature SensorYes Yes
Blood Oxygen Yes Yes 
ECG Yes Yes 
Heart RateYesYes
Crash DetectionYesYes
Fall DetectionYesYes
Emergency SOSYesYes
CompassYesYes 
Sleep TrackingYes Yes
Low Power ModeYesYes
Battery LifeUp to 18 hoursUp to 18 hours
Fitness FeaturesApple Fitness+ integrationApple Fitness+ integration
Magnetic ChargingYes Yes 
Wireless ConnectivityWi-Fi, GPS, Cellular Wi-Fi, GPS, Cellular
Band CompatibilityCompatible with all Apple Watch bandsCompatible with all Apple Watch bands
Cycle TrackingYes Yes 
GPS Accuracy(L1 + L5)(L1 + L5)
PriceCheck Watch 9 PriceCheck Watch 8 Price

FAQ

Q: Are the designs of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 different?
A: No, both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 have the same design and dimensions. They come in 41mm and 45mm case sizes, with similar options for aluminum and stainless steel cases. The design language, weight, and overall look are identical between the two models.

Q: Do both models have the Always-On Retina Display?
A: Yes, both Series 8 and Series 9 feature the Always-On Retina Display, allowing users to see information like time, notifications, and complications without having to raise their wrist. The Series 9, however, has a brighter display, making it more visible in direct sunlight, though the underlying technology is the same.

Q: What health features are shared between the Series 8 and Series 9?
A: Both watches share the same suite of health features, including heart rate monitoring, Blood Oxygen (SpO2) monitoring, ECG (electrocardiogram), temperature sensing for women’s health tracking, and sleep tracking. The sensors and health tracking capabilities are identical, providing the same level of insight into your health.

Q: Are the Series 8 and Series 9 equally water and dust-resistant?
A: Yes, both models are rated WR50 for water resistance, meaning they are water-resistant up to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming. Additionally, both have IP6X dust resistance, ensuring durability in dusty environments.

Q: Do both models offer crash and fall detection?
A: Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 include Crash Detection and Fall Detection. These safety features use a combination of sensors to detect severe car accidents or hard falls and can automatically contact emergency services if needed.

Q: Is sleep tracking the same on both watches?
A: Yes, sleep tracking features are identical on both models. Both watches offer advanced sleep monitoring that tracks sleep stages (REM, core, deep), sleep duration, and quality, providing users with detailed insights into their sleep patterns.

Q: How is the battery life on the Series 8 compared to the Series 9?
A: Both Series 8 and Series 9 offer up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge under normal usage. They also feature Low Power Mode, which can extend battery life by disabling features like the Always-On display. Despite the performance improvements in Series 9, the official battery life is the same for both models.

Q: Do both watches support Apple Fitness+?
A: Yes, both models fully support Apple Fitness+, providing personalized workout metrics and guided exercises. Whether using Series 8 or Series 9, users can enjoy real-time metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, and workout duration while following Fitness+ workouts.

Q: Are the Series 8 and Series 9 compatible with WatchOS 10?
A: Yes, both models are compatible with WatchOS 10. While Series 9 comes with WatchOS 10 out of the box, Series 8 can also be updated to WatchOS 10, ensuring that both watches can access the latest software features and improvements.

Q: Do Series 8 and Series 9 use the same charging system?
A: Yes, both watches use Apple’s magnetic charging system, which is MagSafe-compatible. The charging experience is identical, and users can use the same charging accessories for both Series 8 and Series 9.

Q: Can I use the same watch bands for both models?
A: Yes, both Series 8 and Series 9 are compatible with all Apple Watch bands, so you can switch bands between the two models without any issues. This makes it easy for users to personalize their watch and use existing bands if upgrading from Series 8 to Series 9.

Q: Is the GPS tracking technology the same in both models?
A: Yes, both the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 feature dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), which improves the accuracy of location tracking, especially in environments where traditional GPS might struggle, such as dense urban areas or forests.

 

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