Apple is holding a special event called “Wonderlust” on 12 September 2023 at 10am Pacific Time (13 September, Wednesday, 1am Malaysia Time).
We know Apple is definitely going to launch its iPhone 15 series at the event, but according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will also introduces Apple Watch Series 9 (WS9) and Watch Ultra 2 (WU2) at the event.
Bloomberg claims that a new version of Apple’s optical heart rate sensor will be used in these watches, replacing the third-gen heart rate sensor found in the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra.
Furthermore, the WS9 and WU2 will undergo various upgrades in sensors and internal components, prioritising improvements in speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
In addition to these enhancements, akin to the iPhone 15 series, they will incorporate the new U2 ultrawide-band chip to enhance Find My capabilities.
However, the Gurman reports that Apple will place a significant emphasis on performance this year for the Apple Watch, with the Cupertino-based tech giant intending to “heavily tout major gains in processing speed”.
The WS9 will be available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, while the WU2, expected to feature increased use of recycled materials and offer a black colour variant, will come in a single 49mm size.
Apple is also in the process of testing 3D-printed cases for the WS9’s stainless steel models, with the Ultra line anticipated to make the transition starting next year.
Moreover, Gurman also reports that Apple is moving away from certain leather watch bands and may either update or discontinue its stainless steel link bracelets.
Other than that, Apple is also introducing a new Airpods Pro with USB-C port, but with no major hardware improvements.
However, a software update is on the horizon, which will introduce enhancements like improved automatic device switching, the capability to mute and unmute directly from the AirPods, and the introduction of a new feature called Conversation Awareness, which will automatically mute media when someone starts talking to the wearer.
