The new iPhones were not the only stars of the Wonderlust show, Apple also introduced its Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 revisions and detailed some smart new capabilities they offer.
The latest Apple event, dubbed “Wonderlust,” has come and gone, bestowing us with a slate of new devices. You can catch all the details on the new iPhones over here, but they were not the only stars of the show. Apple also introduced its Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 revisions and detailed some smart new capabilities they offer.New Apple Watch Hardware Overview
First, we’ll give the hardware a quick overview. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 both sport the S9 SiP, a dual-core Apple Silicon CPU paired with a four-core Neural Engine. Apple says the new CPU features 5.6 billion transistors that represents a 60% increase from the S8, and should translate to a more responsive experience. The Neural Engine upgrade allows the watch to process more commands right on the device, ensuring it can still be useful even when a Wi-Fi or cellular network is unavailable.
A second generation Ultra Wideband chip gives the watches another way to communicate with other devices seamlessly. This can include controlling a HomePod smart speaker wirelessly, or enhancing the Find My experience by pinpointing your iPhone’s location and guiding you right to it. As you approach the lost device, it further provides haptic feedback and chirps in addition to the virtual indicator so you can’t miss it.
Connectivity is rounded out with Bluetooth connectivity and an optional cellular (LTE) configuration. While both offer GPS, the Watch Ultra 2 goes a step beyond with “Precision dual-frequency GPS” which ought to make it more reliable option in the back country, particularly when paired with the Compass app and new topographical maps for over 9000 national and regional US parks.
Both Watches feature brighter displays than their predecessors. The Series 9 can achieve a maximum brightness of 2000 nits (double the Series 8), while the Ultra 2 can reach an eye-searing 3000 nits to combat harsh lighting situations.
