The Apple Watch Series 9 is the latest version of Apple's popular smartwatch and could be the ultimate bargain of the sale season.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch you can buy right now for several reasons. The upgraded processor improves performance and includes great features like the new double-tap gesture. Thanks to the new ultra-wideband chip, the Series 9 makes finding a misplaced smartphone easier than ever. Simply put, if you're an iPhone user, the flagship Apple Watch is the ultimate accessory.

However, if you have an older Apple Watch or are interested in using an Apple Watch for the first time, you may be wondering if the Apple Watch Series 9 is the right purchase for you during Black Friday.

Apple's smartwatches have already seen a lot of discounting, with the Apple Watch Series 9 holding steady at $389 on Amazon. More substantial discounts are expected as we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In fact, we know that the Apple Watch Series 9 will be available at Walmart on November 8 for $349.

Here are some reasons why you should consider buying the Apple Watch Series 9 on Black Friday.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best Apple has to offer in terms of health and fitness tracking. In addition to the optical heart rate sensor, the latest generation Apple Watch includes ECG, blood oxygen, and skin temperature sensors. Together, these sensors collect and analyze data to inform us of activity, sleep, menstrual cycles, heart health, and more.

Whether you want to be more active and close the Apple Watch ring, improve your sleep habits, practice mindfulness, or share your EKG with your cardiologist, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a comprehensive health tool. With three months of free access to Apple Fitness Plus when you purchase a new Apple Watch, you can start your New Year's resolutions with Apple's fitness platform.

One of the biggest upgrades to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Series 8 is the addition of an upgraded processor. Apple's S9 smartwatch chip delivers the most significant performance improvement in years, with a 25% increase in efficiency and 30% faster graphics.

The S9 processor virtually future-proofs the Apple Watch Series 9. since Apple will likely not overhaul the processor for several cycles, updates to the watchOS software will be optimized for the Series 9 chip should be optimized for the Series 9 chip. Your Apple Watch will ship with watchOS 10, but you can install software versions that include new Apple Watch features and experiences for several years afterward. (To learn more about the power of the S9 chip, see our interview with an Apple Watch executive.)

Perhaps the most significant feature of the Apple Watch Series 9 is a new gesture called Double Tap. Double-tap became available on the Apple Watch Series 9 (and Apple Watch Ultra 2) in watchOS 10.1, rolling out an innovative way to control the smartwatch with one hand.

You can perform certain actions by tapping your index finger and thumb together twice on the watch hand. My favorite uses are scrolling through the Smart Stack, activating Automatic Workout Tracking, and pausing the music playing in Apple Music. You can also double-tap to reply to a text message, answer a phone call, cancel the timer, or start a countdown in the Camera Remote app.

The reason we don't recommend buying the Apple Watch Series 9 during Black Friday is because you can buy another Apple Watch at a great price. On Black Friday, we expect the Apple Watch SE (2022) to sell for $199, $50 off full price.

Now, the Apple Watch SE does not have an S9 processor, so it is not as future-proof as the Series 9 and does not have double tap. It also does not have as many health sensors. However, if you are looking for a starter smartwatch, buying a smartwatch as a gift, or simply don't need the full-featured experience, it is easy to recommend the Apple Watch SE. Especially if you can get it for under $200, half the list price of the Apple Watch Series 9.