The MacRumors Show: Should You Buy the Apple Watch Series 9?

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest Apple Watch models, who should upgrade, and consider whether it is worth waiting for the rumored "Apple Watch X."


After spending several days with the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, we discuss our initial experiences with the new devices, their design, and some of their standout features such as the Action button and USB-C port. We also return to the matter of Apple's FineWoven accessories, which appear to have been received relatively poorly by customers.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 feature brighter displays, a Double Tap gesture for touch-free control, the S9 chip, locally processed Siri for faster responses and access to health data, the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding and deeper HomePod integration, and 64GB of storage. We talk through some of our favorite features of the new devices and weigh up who should consider upgrading.

On a related matter, we take a look at the "Apple Watch X," a complete overhaul of the device expected to launch next year. It is rumored to feature thinner casings, larger displays, microLED technology, larger batteries, blood pressure monitoring, and a new mechanism for connecting bands.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about Apple's new FineWoven accessories, some of our favorite ‌iPhone 15‌ features, and who should consider upgrading.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Kevin Nether, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

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Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher Avatar
23 months ago

The MacRumors Show: Should You Buy the Apple Watch Series 9?
Cliffs: No ?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TzTerri Avatar
23 months ago

I think you would have gotten $50-$70 more on Swappa/Craigslist.
Not worth the hassle to make a couple extra bucks.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sleven Avatar
23 months ago

If you have a series 3 or lower and don't want an Ultra? Yes.

Any other model? No.
I’m sitting with a 4 and thinking I’d better just wait for the 10/X. I want all of the features of the models above, but think I can wait until this battery life is less than 80% capacity. (I’m at 93% currently.)

I definitely appreciate your comment.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
23 months ago
I have a 7, and it works for me. I'll buy a new one when the battery dies, maybe earlier if Apple (finally) adds glucose reading as I'm diabetic.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
23 months ago

What I do not get is — the ONE feature Apple touts as big news (double tap)…
Yeah, a few features Apple touts as major new features (like this and the dynamic island on newer iPhones) seems so… meh and "Seriously?" to me.

…is not ready at the roll-out
Seems like this describes *WAY* too many features Apple has announced the last few years. Always announced at WWDC, but takes several months to actually release it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and yes, I realize I'm probably 1 of only few who think this way): I really wish they'd skip a year between major product announcements. For its various OSes, redo as many low level frameworks & OS functions as possible in Swift like they did going from Core Data > SwiftData, and then rebuild the OS and then built-in/1st party apps with these new frameworks. Fix bugs along the way of course, but do a major new WWDC or whatever presentation 2 years after the last one. Have a real big, massive change & reason to upgrade instead of a "meh" upgrade.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparkinstx Avatar
23 months ago
I just bought a Series 8 last December, so no. I really want to see blood pressure measurement first, and optionally blood glucose monitoring.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)