Apple Watch Series 9: Worth Buying in 2025 vs Series 10?

When a smartwatch gets discontinued just over a year after launch, the natural question is whether it’s still worth picking up. The Apple Watch Series 9, pulled from Apple’s own shelves in late 2023 over a patent dispute with Masimo, remains widely available from third-party retailers — often at tempting discounts.

Price (Ireland, new): from €459 ·
Chip: S9 SiP ·
Display brightness: 2000 nits ·
Battery life: up to 18 hours ·
Storage: 64GB

Six key specs define where the Series 9 sits in Apple’s lineup — and why it still competes credibly with the newer model.

Is it still worth buying the Apple Watch Series 9?

What are the key features of Apple Watch Series 9?

• S9 SiP chip: Enables on-device Siri processing and the double tap gesture — index finger and thumb tap to answer calls, stop timers, or control playback without touching the screen (Wareable).
• 2000-nit display: Twice the brightness of Series 8, readable in direct sunlight (Better Roaming).
• watchOS 11 support: Brings sleep apnea detection, Vitals app, and Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates to both Series 9 and Series 10 (Wareable).
• 64GB storage: Ample for music, podcasts, and apps offline (Better Roaming).
• 100% recycled aluminum case: Same environmental commitment as Series 10 (Better Roaming).

Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 9 in 2025?

The Series 9 makes sense for three buyer profiles in Ireland right now.

• Budget-conscious upgraders: Refurbished units start around €250–€300 — roughly €150–€200 less than a new Series 10 (UpTrade). You lose the larger screen and faster charging, but gain identical health tracking and software support.
• First-time smartwatch buyers: The S9 chip ensures smooth performance for at least another 3–4 years of watchOS updates (UpTrade).
• Swimmers and casual fitness users: The 50m water resistance and swim-proof design cover most workouts; you only miss the depth gauge if you snorkel regularly (Wareable).

The decision ultimately depends on whether those extra features justify the cost for your specific needs.

What is the difference between the Apple Watch 9 and 10?

Five differences, one pattern: the Series 10 refines the physical experience (screen, weight, charging) while leaving the core feature set largely unchanged.

Data compiled from Wareable (wearable tech specialist) and Better Roaming (travel tech blog).

What can the Apple Watch 10 do that the 9 can’t?

• Play music through its speaker: The Series 10 speaker supports media playback; Series 9 limits speaker output to phone calls (Better Roaming).
• Measure water depth and temperature: The depth gauge works to 6m and pairs with a water temperature sensor — useful for snorkeling, not for scuba (Wareable).
• Charge to 80% in 30 minutes: That’s 15 minutes faster than Series 9 — a meaningful gap if you charge daily before bed (Wareable).
• Shows a slightly larger, wider-angle display: The LTPO3 OLED panel improves off-angle visibility, though peak brightness remains identical (Wareable).

The implication: Series 10 offers genuine hardware upgrades — but none of them change how the watch handles health tracking, notifications, or fitness logging. The two watches feel identical in daily use for the vast majority of owners.

Can an Apple Watch help with ovulation?

Yes — through the Cycle Tracking app combined with wrist temperature sensing. The Series 9 and Series 10 both support retrospective ovulation estimates based on temperature data collected overnight (Wareable). The watch measures baseline wrist temperature every five seconds during sleep and flags shifts that indicate ovulation has likely occurred.

Can my Apple Watch know if I’m pregnant?

The Cycle Tracking app can be used to log pregnancy and track gestational weeks, but the watch itself does not detect pregnancy. Apple’s health documentation (via Wareable) explains that temperature sensing can show sustained elevation after conception — a pattern some users notice — but it is not marketed or cleared as a pregnancy detector. Anyone relying on this for early awareness should confirm with a medical test.

Can an Apple Watch help with asthma?

The Vitals app on watchOS 11 — available on both Series 9 and Series 10 — tracks respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and blood oxygen (where available) to flag deviations from baseline (Wareable). According to Better Roaming (travel tech analysis), these metrics can alert users to early signs of respiratory distress. However, Apple has not marketed the watch for asthma management, and the feature is not FDA-cleared for that specific use. Think of it as a general wellness monitor, not a medical device.

The real value lies in early detection of pattern shifts, not clinical diagnosis.

Why is the Apple Watch 9 discontinued?

The Apple Watch Series 9 was removed from Apple’s store because of a patent dispute with Masimo, a medical technology company that holds patents on pulse oximetry technology (Wareable). In December 2023, the US International Trade Commission issued an import ban on Apple Watches with blood oxygen sensors, forcing Apple to halt sales in the United States. Apple later removed the Series 9 from its lineup entirely.

Key timeline:

• September 2023: Series 9 launches with the SpO2 sensor active.
• December 2023: US import ban takes effect; Apple stops selling Series 9 in the US (Wareable).
• 2024: Apple discontinues Series 9 globally, replacing it with Series 10.

The pattern: the ban was specific to the US, but Apple chose to discontinue the model worldwide rather than maintain a two-tier lineup. Third-party retailers and refurbishers still stock Series 9 units, including models with active SpO2 sensors for markets outside the US (UpTrade).

Is the Apple Watch too much radiation?

No — the Apple Watch Series 9 operates within the radiofrequency (RF) exposure limits set by the FCC and equivalent international bodies. Apple publishes RF exposure data showing the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for the Series 9 remains well below the 1.6 W/kg limit for the head and body (Better Roaming).

For context:

• Apple Watch Series 9 SAR values are comparable to other major smartwatches and Bluetooth headsets (Better Roaming).
• The watch uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi — both low-power, short-range technologies that emit far less RF energy than a phone held to the ear.
• Regulatory agencies worldwide (FCC, CE, IC) have certified the Series 9 as safe for daily wear.

That means no special precautions are needed beyond normal use.

Pros and Cons of Apple Watch Series 9 in 2025

The watch shines for its core strengths, but the missing extras matter to specific users.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Based on available data, the confirmed facts carry strong sourcing, while the unclear areas reflect gaps in regulatory clarity and long-term data.

“Apple Watch Series 9 is more powerful than ever with the new S9 SiP, which increases performance and capabilities; a magical new double tap gesture; a brighter display.”

— Apple Newsroom, September 2023

“Don’t Buy the Wrong One” — the headline from CNET’s Series 10 vs Series 9 comparison underscores how similar the two watches are, and how easy it is to overpay for features you may never use.

— CNET

“Can an Apple Watch improve asthma management? The Vitals app on watchOS 11 tracks respiratory rate and can alert users to deviations — but it is not a medical device and should not replace standard asthma care.”

— Medical Economics

The thread through all three quotes: the Apple Watch Series 9 delivers genuine utility, but its value depends entirely on matching the right model to what you actually need. Marketing language promises a “magical” gesture. The practical advice from reviewers is more measured: buy the watch that fits your habits, not the one with the most features.

For the Irish buyer in 2025, the choice between Series 9 and Series 10 comes down to a single question: does a larger screen and 15 minutes faster charging justify a €150–€200 premium? If health tracking, software support, and core performance are what matter — and they are identical on both — the Series 9 remains the smarter buy. Refurbished stock will dry up eventually, but for now, the window to grab a capable, well-supported smartwatch at a real discount is still open.

Frequently asked questions