For almost a decade, Apple has released an Apple Watch every fall. Each release is greeted like the turning of the leaves; welcome, but not necessarily mind-blowing. 2022’s rugged Apple Watch Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends) was one of the biggest launches we’d seen in years. The Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which also debuted last year, introduced skin temperature sensing—nice, but we’ve seen similar features on wearables like the Oura ring for years.
For its tenth anniversary in either 2024 or 2025, Apple is rumored to give the Watch a complete revamp, and maybe even a new name (the catchy Apple Watch X). In the meantime, 2023 sees a few upgrades, including a faster processor, a new pink color, and a new feature called Double Tap that lets you play music or start and stop workouts with a little flick of your fingers.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.
Tippity Tap
Photograph: Apple
This year’s Series 9 looks basically the same as the Series 8. This year, it has a faster S9 chipset. (Apple has used the same chip for every watch since the Series 6, which includes last year’s Series 8 and Ultra.) This will theoretically make processing much faster than in the Series 8 and help improve the battery life. Siri requests can now be processed on-device, which means that requests don’t have to travel to and from the crowd. A blippy Wi-Fi connection or poor cell coverage can’t keep your from starting or stopping a workout with your watch. There’s also a new pink color. (Sweet.)
At $799, this year’s Watch Ultra 2 is still the priciest watch in Apple’s line-up. The Ultra 2 has a new, freakishly bright display that reaches 3,000 nits (for context, the iPhone 14 Pro maxes out at 2,000 nits). A new modular watch face display utilizes that bright display to check sports data that changes by the second, like your elevation.
Video: Apple
Both the Ultra Watch 2 and the Series 9 also have a new feature called Double Tap. Starting in a month, you can tap your index finger and your thumb together on your watch hand for simple actions like hanging up a call, starting a timer, or starting your music. The watch processes data from the gyroscope and accelerometer and uses machine learning algorithms to process minute changes in blood flow to detect your tiny motions. This is helpful if, as Apple predicts, you are frequently using your other hand to walk your dog or slurp gallons of coffee.
As some Apple products get older, their update cycles get longer and longer. This year the Apple Watch SE, the company’s entry-level option, didn’t see any upgrades at all. Last year it got a refresh with a new, lighter nylon back. Just like last year’s model, the SE is mostly defined by what it doesn’t have as compared to your spendier watch options (i.e. blood oxygen monitoring, temperature sensing, or dual-band GPS).
You can pre-order all the watches starting today. The watches will be available everywhere on September 22. The SE retails for $249; the Watch Series 9 for $399, and the Watch Ultra 2 will retail for $799.
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
Photograph: Apple
Sustainability was a huge focus for Apple this year. The company announced that the watches would use recycled cobalt in the battery and recycled materials in the case; however, it wouldn’t be an Apple Watch announcement if it weren’t accompanied by a bunch of new accessories that you can buy.
There are a ton of other multi-tools out there, and brands like Leatherman and Victorinox have models upon models that make it confusing to figure out exactly what to get. Here are some others I like.
Leatherman Skeletool CX for $90: This one is slightly smaller than the Wave Plus, but it’s still a standard-sized multi-tool. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles our top pick offers, you can probably make do with a less bulky gizmo that still has the basic, most-used tools, such as a knife, bottle opener, can opener, bit drivers, and pliers.
Victorinox Swiss Tool for $153: Yes, I did a double-take when I first saw the price tag too. At 10 ounces, it’s on the heavier side as well. But it’s beautifully made, and I dig the boxy, straight-edged handles. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a tool that doesn’t try to look modern. It’s beautiful.
Leatherman Style PS for $62: Try flying with any of the tools in this guide. It’s a good way to make it onto the no-fly list. For those who plan to step onto a plane and don’t want to go tool-less, you need a multi-tool without a knife. The Style PS packs pliers, scissors, a combination flat/Phillips screwdriver, and more into a tiny, pocketable 1.5-ounce size. Leatherman hasn’t officially discontinued the Style PS, but it’s nearly impossible to find. It pains me to recommend it at $62 when it’s retail price is $35, but among tiny, airport-compliant multi-tools, it’s far and away the best option. The Victorinox Jetsetter for $24 is light on useful tools, and Gerber discontinued its so-so Dime Travel, so the Style PS is pretty much the only game in town—for as long as you can find it.
SOG Parashears for $61: Joining the fray that Leatherman set off in multi-tool rescue shears, the SOG has a few more small, fold-away tools the Leatherman Raptors don’t have, including flathead and Philips screwdriver bit, tweezers, an awl, and a bottle opener. The blade is about a centimeter shorter than both Raptors’ blades, which is a slight bummer, but it weighs 0.7 to 1 ounce less, due to its more skeletal build, especially in the handles. They retail for $80 at Cabela’s and SOG’s own website, but you can easily find them on sale for less at Amazon and Walmart.
Leatherman Charge TTi for $190: This is a weak recommendation. It’s packed with 19 useful tools and comes with that stellar Leatherman build quality and warranty. I’ve been using one happily for years. That price, though. Even though it’s made of titanium, it’s no lighter than the Wave Plus that costs far less and comes with 18 mini-tools, many of them the same as the Charge TTi’s. Buy the Wave Plus, unless you really like the look of the dark titanium.
Leatherman Free P4 for $150: I was on the fence about this one. Like most of Leatherman’s lineup, the Free P4 is a quality, well-built tool, but is it worth a $40 increase over our top pick, Leatherman’s own $110 Wave Plus? The big differentiators are that the Free P4, with its 21 tools, uses magnets to open and lock the tool, and a new mechanism to unlock and close the mini-tools that doesn’t rely on putting your finger in the way of the blade. The magnets don’t take any less force to initially open the tool than other Leathermans, but once you get it started, the opening mechanism is very smooth and effortless.
Smallrig Universal Multi-Tool for Videographers for $30: If you find yourself lugging around a lot of videography equipment, like our product reviewer Eric Ravenscraft, you might want a multi-tool made for adjusting and maintaining cameras without knives and pliers. The Smallrig consists of nine tools, including hex keys in multiple sizes common to cameras, a Phillips-head screwdriver, and a pair of flat-head screwdrivers. Eric likes the wider flat head for screwing down and removing tripod heads, which he says typically get scraped and chewed up by smaller screwdrivers.
Leatherman Micra for $57: Instead of pliers, the Micra opens up into a pair of scissors. It feels like it’s made of cheaper materials and has thinner tool blades than the Victorinox Mini Champ, which is of a similar size, purpose, and price. The spring-loaded mechanism is tough to open and close without poking yourself. But it has character, and I like the little thing. It’s a good alternative to the Mini Champ, especially if you want a tiny multi-tool that revolves around scissors.
Leatherman Wingman for $70: The Wingman just feels great to use. No wildly textured surfaces, and no plastic anywhere. The smooth scales feel old-school, in a good, “remember back when” way, similar to the Victorinox Swiss Tool. It has 14 tools in its handles, all of which slide open and close as smoothly as if they were buttered. The whole package folds down to only 4 inches long and weighs 7 ounces. At this price, it’s a great bargain.
SOG Key Knife for $12: The best knife is the one you’ve got handy. That Leatherman Wave Plus won’t do you any good if it’s at home and you’re not. Micro-tools such as the Mini Champ and Micra are easy to stuff into a pocket, but you still have to remember them. The Key Knife goes right on your key ring, so it’s always with you. The blade flips out and measures 1.5 inches, which is enough for most minor cutting tasks. It’s a one-trick pony, though, and only has a blade. You’re not getting a premium product, but the stainless steel blade is reasonably sharp enough.
Kershaw Select Fire Multifunction Pocketknife for $31: This cheap Kershaw does a great job of opening packages and doing other knife-y things, but it has a special trick up its sleeve that most similarly sized utility knives do not: a surprisingly decent screwdriver. Flip down a built-in section in the body and flip out either a flat-head or Phillips-head tip. It’s even got a beer bottle opener, for the drink-and-Ikea types.
Vinyl’s biggest selling point isn’t the sound. It’s the physical experience: shiny, delicate records; liner notes writ large; covers you want to frame and hang on your wall; and the way the stylus spins across the jagged surface, reproducing your favorite artists’ music as if by magic.
Maybe you’ve always been interested in building a setup for listening to LPs and 45s, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re like WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu, who owned a record but no turntable to play it on. Maybe you’re just looking for an upgrade. No problem: There are tons of great record players to choose from, and most of them will easily connect to whatever audio system you already own. I’ve tested quite a few options, and these are my current favorites—from utilitarian, budget-friendly classics to more luxe options for those seeking audiophile-grade sound.
Be sure to check out our other audio guides, including the Best Gear for Learning Music and the Best Podcasting Gear.
Updated September 2023: We’ve added the Fluance RT81+ and Rega Planar 8.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a1-year subscription toWIREDfor $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
I’ll scream it from the mountaintops as many times as I have to: Your bedroom should have a bottle of lube! Ideally more than one. Whether you’re flying solo or with a copilot(s), too much friction is a bad time for everyone. Even if it doesn’t seem like you need a lubricant, you’d be better off using a little just to protect yourself from chafing and micro-tears on sensitive tissues.
We’ve tested a handful of different kinds of lube, and below you’ll find our top recommendations. Be sure to check out our Best Sex Toys and Best Vibrators guides for more picks.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
With the release of Android 14 creeping closer, Google just announced a makeover for the Android brand, which was last updated in 2019. The logo has been modernized, and the Android mascot, called Bugdroid, has a fresh 3D look. The company also unveiled a handful of new features for Google apps and Android devices, including a Google Assistant-powered widget and the option to store digital versions of library and gym cards in your Google Wallet.
Video: Google
The new look is designed to “reflect Android’s core ethos of being open, iterative, and inclusive.” From now on, it’s Android with a capital “A,” and the Android logo has grown curvier, bringing it closer to the style of the Google logo. The tiny green robot that has long served as Android’s mascot has been rendered in 3D and has a new visual identity, with fresh colors (including a natty rainbow finish), accessories (like a headband and hat), and some playful animations.
Hot on the heels of the Android rebrand comes Google’s quarterly Android feature drop. First up is the Assistant At a Glance widget for your home screen, a revamp of the existing At a Glance widget. It employs machine learning algorithms to offer snippets of relevant information, such as local weather, travel updates for your flights, and handy event reminders.
Video: Google
A new feature called Image Q&A on Google’s Lookout app uses artificial intelligence to generate detailed descriptions of images, so instead of relying on rudimentary alt tags, people who are blind or have low vision can get proper descriptions of an image and even ask follow-up questions to learn more about it. Google has also added another 11 languages to the Lookout app, including Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
Google Wallet is getting the much-needed ability to import and digitize passes with barcodes or QR codes. That means you can upload a photo of your gym pass or library card and store a secure, digital version of it in Google Wallet, which will come in handy when you forget your actual wallet again.
Android Auto is getting support for Webex and Zoom audio conference calls. Yes, that means you can join meetings on either platform and browse your schedules on your car display. You can mute your mic and end the call through Android Auto. Handy for when you’re running late but really need to join a call. Implementing it into your car’s system hopefully means you won’t use your phone while driving.
The final new feature is tied to Google Assistant—you can add sleep-tracking data from Fitbit or Google Fit into a Google Assistant Routine. Say, “Hey Google, good morning” after you set it up to get a recap of your sleep stats alongside your morning news, including when you fell asleep and how many hours of shuteye you managed to get.
These features are rolling out starting today and do not require an over-the-air system update. Instead, keep an eye out for app updates in the Google Play Store.
