Apple Watch Series 9 (45 mm) Smartwatch in review – Gets brighter, lasts longer

The Apple Watch Series 9 features a 1.9-inch touchscreen, a rotatable and pressable crown, a physical button, and introduces the new double-tap gesture for operation. Users can navigate through menus by turning the crown, with a vibration motor providing tactile feedback. A short press on the crown opens the app overview, while a double tap displays all open apps, and a long press activates the Siri voice assistant.

Pressing the bottom button opens a short menu offering quick access to the flashlight, battery life, flight mode, and more. A double click on this button opens Apple Wallet, and a long press reveals the emergency menu, providing access to the emergency pass, compass trackback function, and emergency call.

Swiping from top to bottom opens the notification menu, where messages are listed by app and displayed in short form. Pressing on the respective card opens the complete message or notification of the app.

Swiping from bottom to top reveals the Smart Stack, displaying the date, current time, upcoming appointments, weather, and activity overview. Quick access to training, music, and notifications is also available in this menu, which can be opened by default using the double-tap gesture.

To initiate actions on the Apple Watch Series 9, wearers can now use the tap gesture, activated by tapping their thumb and index finger together twice in succession. Subsequent taps allow scrolling through the menu, and this gesture also serves various functions in apps, such as pausing music and answering calls. This gesture has been available on the Apple Watch for several years but now comes pre-activated with an expanded range of functions.

Users can customize the contents of the Smart Stack by adding additional widgets and rearranging their order. Notably, side swiping has no specific function on the Apple Watch S9.

In terms of build quality, the Apple Watch Series 9 is commendable. During our test period, we observed the first scratches on the protective glass without a clear reason for their occurrence. The buttons maintain a good pressure point and exhibit no play.