Good news: the new Apple Watch Series 9 retains the same RM1,899 starting price as its predecessor for the Malaysian market. Powered by the new S9 chip, the smartwatch also features a brighter display now with support for a “double tap” gesture.

To perform the double tap gesture – which is said to be coming next month – you just have to tap your index finger with your thumb twice. This gesture controls the primary button in any given app, so it can be used to, say, snooze your alarm when it rings.

It’s worth noting that the double tap gesture is enabled with the new S9 chip powering the Series 9, so it is unlikely the gesture support will be coming to older Apple Watches.

Beyond that, there’s also the aforementioned brighter display of the Series 9. The screen now has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is said to be doubled from the Series 8. There is also a new pink colourway for the smartwatch, along with “FineWoven” bands that are said to have a suede-like feel.

While we already know the Malaysian pricing of the Apple Watch Series 9, there’s no word yet on exactly when it can be purchased on our shores. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the new smartwatch.