With the advent of Apple’s 2023 autumn new product launch event, the highly anticipated highlights that Apple fans have been waiting for throughout the year were unveiled one by one. At this event, in addition to the headline iPhone 15 series, the latest smartwatch products from Apple, such as the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, were also introduced, and the AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging port made its appearance as well.
For watch enthusiasts, the anticipation of what new features the new generation of Apple Watch would bring was no less than that of the iPhone 15. This time, the two Apple Watch models shared some common changes.
Brand-new gesture control (Double-tapping with the index finger and thumb of the hand wearing the watch can perform actions such as answering calls, opening notifications, playing and pausing music, etc.)
Equipped with the second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for locating the iPhone
As for the Apple Watch Series 9, priced at NT$ 13,500, here are the key new highlights for you. Firstly, the watch size remains at 41mm and 45mm. In terms of colors, there are various case materials and colors to choose from, including silver, gold, graphite (stainless steel), and midnight, starlight, and pink (aluminum metal). One notable change in the Apple Watch Series 9 is that Apple has abandoned leather straps and instead introduced new woven straps with a novel texture.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is also at the forefront of Apple’s commitment to environmental protection. Through efforts in materials and low-carbon transportation, this model has become Apple’s first carbon-neutral product (the carbon emissions of each carbon-neutral Apple Watch have been reduced by at least 75%!). Moreover, the battery of the Apple Watch Series 9 uses up to 100% recycled cobalt metal. In fact, the strategy of replacing leather straps with the aforementioned “fine texture” fabric also aims to reduce the carbon emissions during the product manufacturing process. In conclusion, the overall environmental protection spirit of the Apple Watch Series 9 has evolved more concretely compared to previous generations.
In terms of the watch’s functions, the screen brightness of the Apple Watch Series 9 has been maximally increased to 2000 nits (and can be reduced to 1 nit at the minimum). The watch can be clearly and comfortably viewed in both very bright and very dark environments. Thanks to the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the Apple Watch Series 9 can also be integrated and used with the HomePod, providing a more convenient usage experience.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has many detailed evolutions, including a maximum screen brightness increase to 3000 nits, an extended standby time to 72 hours, and it is also a carbon-neutral product. 95% of the titanium in the case is recycled material. The pricing, like the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Series 9, has increased compared to the previous generation. The price of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has risen to NT$ 27,900.
In addition to the changes in the internal and external functions and designs of the watch, another hidden highlight that people look forward to every year for the Apple Watch lies in its strap accessories. In 2023, Apple still collaborated with HERMÈS to launch the Apple Watch Series 9 equipped with high-end straps. This year, HERMÈS has developed four new straps for the Apple Watch Series 9. They are:
- Toile H strap (Inspired by the distinctive cotton canvas first introduced by HERMÈS in 1930. Only available in Single Tour)
- Twill Jump strap (Also a woven strap, but the texture is different from Toile H and has colorful trims. Only available in Single Tour)
- Bridon strap (Adopting a continuous knitting process and hand-woven to create a three-dimensional herringbone pattern. Available in both Single Tour and Double Tour)
- Kilim strap (A rubber strap with an “H” shape. Only available in Single Tour)
The pricing of the four HERMÈS straps starts from NT$ 10,900, and each strap also has different color combinations to choose from. If you pair the watch with the HERMÈS concentric dial, the Hermès style of the entire watch can be maximized, giving the Apple Watch a touch of high-end luxury quality.
In addition to the four new HERMÈS straps, the brand has also created a Barénia calfskin strap. The strap design pays tribute to the equestrian world. However, this strap has relatively limited purchase channels and can only be bought at designated HERMÈS stores worldwide that sell the Apple Watch HERMÈS, giving it a sense of being a hidden gem and endowing the watch with a more elegant and mature taste.
Currently, the HERMÈS straps for the Apple Watch Series 9 are available for pre-order and will be officially launched from September 22. Those interested will need to wait a little longer.
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