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
Feature | Apple Watch 9 | Apple Watch 8 |
Processor | S9 SiP dual-core with 4-core NPU | S8 SiP dual-core |
Performance of WatchOS | WatchOS 10 | WatchOS 9 |
Neural Engine | 4-core Neural Engine | Not available |
Display Brightness | Max 2,000 nits | Max 1,000 nits |
Siri Processing | On-device with enhanced privacy | Cloud-based |
UWB (Ultra-Wideband) | UWB 2 | UWB 1 |
Double Tap Gesture | Available | Not available |
Find My Feature | Enhanced Precision Finding with UWB 2 | Basic “Find My” integration |
Storage Capacity | 64GB | 32GB |
Environmental Impact | Carbon-neutral models | Regular manufacturing |
On-Device Capabilities | On-device Siri, voice dictation | Standard cloud-dependent features |
Sustainability | More sustainable | Not a focus |
Precision Finding | UWB 2 enables advanced Precision Finding | Limited due to UWB 1 |
Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Haptic Feedback | More responsive and refined | Standard |
Gesture Controls | Added Double Tap gesture | Basic swipe and press controls |
Price | Check Watch 9 Price | Check 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
Feature | Apple Watch 9 | Apple Watch 8 |
Design | 41mm and 45mm | 41mm and 45mm |
Display | Always-On Retina Display | Always-On Retina Display |
Health Sensors | Blood Oxygen, ECG, Heart Rate, Temperature | Blood Oxygen, ECG, Heart Rate, Temperature |
Water Resistance | WR50 | WR50 |
Dust Resistance | IP6X | IP6X |
Temperature Sensor | Yes | Yes |
Blood Oxygen | Yes | Yes |
ECG | Yes | Yes |
Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
Crash Detection | Yes | Yes |
Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
Compass | Yes | Yes |
Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Low Power Mode | Yes | Yes |
Battery Life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
Fitness Features | Apple Fitness+ integration | Apple Fitness+ integration |
Magnetic Charging | Yes | Yes |
Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi, GPS, Cellular | Wi-Fi, GPS, Cellular |
Band Compatibility | Compatible with all Apple Watch bands | Compatible with all Apple Watch bands |
Cycle Tracking | Yes | Yes |
GPS Accuracy | (L1 + L5) | (L1 + L5) |
Price | Check Watch 9 Price | Check Watch 8 Price |
FAQ
Q: Are the designs of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 different? Q: Do both models have the Always-On Retina Display? Q: What health features are shared between the Series 8 and Series 9? Q: Are the Series 8 and Series 9 equally water and dust-resistant? Q: Do both models offer crash and fall detection? Q: Is sleep tracking the same on both watches? Q: How is the battery life on the Series 8 compared to the Series 9? Q: Do both watches support Apple Fitness+? Q: Are the Series 8 and Series 9 compatible with WatchOS 10? Q: Do Series 8 and Series 9 use the same charging system? Q: Can I use the same watch bands for both models? Q: Is the GPS tracking technology the same in both models? |