We've been writing about the best Apple Watch models ever since Steve Jobs debuted the very first one in September 2014. Since then, we've covered every release, documenting the device's shift from a simple extension of the iPhone to what it is today, an advanced wellness monitoring tool designed to help you live a healthier, smarter and better-connected life.
Over the past decade, we've put hundreds of hours into assessing the best Apple Watches while we sleep, exercise and go about our day-to-day activities. Of the current releases, the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best model for fitness and wellness tracking thanks to its comfy design, easy-to-view screen and Apple's latest holistic features, like sleep apnea detection.
The Series 10 isn't the only option, though. For the budget-minded, the Apple Watch SE (2022) represents exceptional value, with a starting price of $250 — it's also frequently on sale for as low as $200. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, is the best option for longevity, with up to 72 hours of battery life in low-power mode.
The quick list
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for fitness and health tracking. It boasts Apple's latest holistic tech and features, including sleep apnea detection, and a gorgeous new display that's easy to read while working out. Thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the Apple Watch 10 comes in two sizes and is especially comfy when paired with an Apple Sports Loop.
The Apple Watch SE (2022) is the best budget Apple Watch offering many of the same health and smart features found in far pricier models for less than $250. Available in two case sizes, the more diminutive 40mm model is perfect for folks with smaller wrists while the 44mm is optimal for those who prefer greater screen real estate. Either way, both are quite comfortable and easy-wearing.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the battery life king boasting 36 hours of life per charge in normal mode and up to 72 hours in low-power mode. That's double what you can expect from the Series 10 or SE. The Ultra 2 is also Apple's toughest-built smartwatch with double the water resistance of its siblings and an all-titanium design. That said, at 49mm, the case wears somewhat large, even on an average-sized wrist.
The best Apple Watch you can buy today
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The best Apple Watch for fitness
The Apple Watch Series 10 supports all the same marquee health and fitness tracking features as the higher-end Apple Watch Ultra 2 but at a more wallet-friendly price. The Series 10 is also thinner, lighter and all-around more comfortable on the wrist than the Ultra 2, which only comes in a 49mm case size.
All the best Apple Watch models support workout tracking for an enormous range of activities, including the Series 10. The devices all incorporate motivational tools to help get you out and active, like Activity Rings and movement reminders.
While testing the Apple Watch 10 on a bike ride, I found the screen easier to view both in direct sunlight at a glance than the Series 9 thanks to its upgraded wide-angle OLED screen which boasts improved viewing angles. The Series 10 is also a tad lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Here's a closer look at the Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch 9.
Due to a patent dispute between Apple and Masimo, the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2's Blood Oxygen apps are disabled. We will publish an update when (and if) the dispute is resolved.
The case size has increased by 1mm on both models compared to the Series 9. Instead of a 41mm and 45mm option, the Series 10 comes in 42mm and 46mm; the larger one has slightly more screen real estate than even the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Only the Apple Watch Series 10, Series 9 and Ultra 2 support Apple's new sleep apnea detection feature, which requires a commitment to wearing the device to bed most nights of the week. The watch additionally offers detailed nightly sleep analysis.
Plus, all the latest watchOS 11 features are supported including a new Vitals health app, on-wrist translations, the ability to pause activity rings and access to Apple's excellent check in safety tool.
However, battery life is stubbornly still stuck at just 18 hours but the Series 10 does charge quickly. I've been able to juice it up from 0% to 75% in roughly thirty minutes. Also, in low-power mode, you can push its longevity to closer to 36 hours per charge.
- Read our full Apple Watch Series 10 review
The best budget Apple Watch
The Apple Watch SE — 2nd edition/2022 release — is the best affordable smartwatch on the market today and the best budget Apple Watch. Starting at $249, the SE doesn't have all the same bells and whistles found on its pricier siblings but it's still a mighty capable, handsome and easy-wearing smartwatch for the money.
Like the Ultra 2 and Series 10, the Apple Watch SE plays nicely with the latest watchOS 11 release, giving you access to loads of useful features and tools including one of my favorites, the new Tides app for tracking ocean swells and currents. There aren't as many health-monitoring sensors but the cheaper Apple Watch still offers plenty of useful insights into fitness and rest.
It even comes with optional LTE for on-the-go connectivity without the need to carry a paired smartphone. However, that requires a monthly data plan, which may not appeal to the most cost-conscious shoppers.
The SE doesn't offer as bright or large a display as the Series 10 and Ultra 2, nor does it have an always-on screen option. Battery life is also an unimpressive 18 hours. But, if those factors aren't deal-breakers for you, then the SE is a tremendous amount of smartwatch for the cash. The 40mm model is also the smallest Apple Watch currently on offer, for folks who prefer a diminutive design.
- Read our full Apple Watch SE (2022) review
The best Apple Watch for battery life
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best Apple Watch for battery life. Despite its large, bright and immersive display, you can expect roughly 36 hours of use per charge. In power-saving mode, that number jumps to around three full days of usage on a single charge. If you're considering the Apple Watch 10 vs. Ultra 2, know that the former lasts only half as long as the latter.
Available in one size, 49mm, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the largest wearable the brand has on offer; it's also the heaviest, despite an all-titanium case. If you have a large wrist or prefer a big screen to interact with, this certainly isn't a bad thing. However, if you're like me and prefer a smartwatch that doesn't feel bulky on the wrist, then you may want to consider the Series 10 instead.
That said, the Ultra series does have other benefits over the standard Apple Watch line, including double the water resistance — 100 meters vs. 50 meters — making it suitable for wearing during all but the most extreme watersports.
Speaking of extreme, safety features are in abundance. All of the models here offer crash and fall detection, which can alert help in the event you take a tumble or are in an accident. However, only the Ultra series has a built-in emergency siren that can be triggered via the watch's customizable Action button. That said, I prefer to assign that button as a quick and easy method to start and stop workout tracking.
Like the Apple Watch 10 and SE, the Ultra 2 additionally benefits from all the best Apple Watch features released with watchOS 11, including the new Vitals app, check in safety feature and more.
- Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
Also tested
We've only included Apple's current watch releases in this buying guide, however, you may still be able to find recently replaced models, like the Series 9 and original Apple Watch Ultra, available for a bargain. Not a ton of tech separates these older models from their newer editions, so depending on the size of the discount, they may be worthy of your consideration.
Best Apple Watch: features compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Apple Watch Series 10 | Apple Watch SE 2022 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $399 (41mm, GPS) | $249 (40mm, GPS) | $799 |
| Size(s) | 42mm, 46mm | 40mm, 44mm | 49mm |
| Weight | 30 g (42mm), 36 g (46mm) | 26 g (40mm), 33 g (44mm) | 61 g |
| Battery life | 18 hours | 18 hours | 36 hours |
| Waterproof rating | 50 meters | 50 meters | 100 meters |
| Onboard storage | 32GB | 16BG | 32GB |
How to choose the best Apple Watch for you
Choosing the best Apple Watch for you doesn’t need to be a hard decision. In most cases, it will come down to the newest Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch SE might be a better option for first-time users, though.
No matter which you choose, you’ll benefit from the latest watchOS 11 software, meaning all three watches will have several features in common. Just be sure to review our Apple Watch guide so you know how to make the most of your smartwatch.
And, if you’re still questioning which Apple Watch is best, or whether the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch for you, take a look at our smartwatch buying guide. It includes our face-offs, which may help you determine whether a fitness tracker from Fitbit better suits your needs.
How we test the best Apple Watches
We've been assessing smartwatches since the debut of the very first Apple Watch more than ten years ago and as these devices have gotten more advanced so too has our testing methods.
It begins with setting up the smartwatch just like we would any other exciting new piece of tech. Once charged up and paired, we slap it on our wrist and go about our daily routines. Our testing team is a mix of tech and fitness geeks, so workout, recovery and sleep tracking are a huge part of our assessment.
To test fitness tracking accuracy, we pit the latest Apple Watch models against other established models that have proven precision in prior testing. For example, I walked 5 miles with the Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 3 on either wrist to see how heart rate, distance, pace and more compare.
These challenges help us understand things like which models excel at tracking which metrics. As we test fitness features, we're also assessing comfort, durability and battery life claims. How does the screen hold off to occasional knocks and bumps? Is the strap comfortable when you get sweaty or does it tug at your arm hair? Does the battery last for the duration of an especially lengthy hike/run?
We additionally try any new apps or features, particularly wellness monitoring tools, including tools that scan for health anomalies like an irregular heartbeat or sleep apnea. If there's an app store, we'll install the most popular third-party apps to see how that impacts the experience of the watch.
Finally, we consider how the latest Apple Watch stacks up against the competition in terms of cost, features, tech and design. This means comparing it both to its siblings but also the completion, particularly models from Google and Samsung. All of this information and testing then gets refined into a product review before appearing in this buying guide.
FAQs
Do I need cellular for my Apple Watch?
Select models of the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE (2022) support LTE cellular service. LTE-capable models come at a $50 (AU$80) or $100 premium. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with LTE by default.
It’s important to know that the cost of liberating your Apple Watch from your iPhone won’t end there. You’ll need to pay a monthly fee to your cellular provider to support your watch’s phone-free features.
We still bring our iPhones everywhere, so we haven’t felt like LTE is a must for Apple Watch users yet. That said, as the Apple Watch becomes more autonomous, there could be more scenarios in which leaving your phone behind makes sense.
There’s a safety benefit to having LTE, too — if your phone dies or gets lost, your Apple Watch is able to keep you in touch. It's also helpful if you know how to use Apple Pay on Apple Watch.
What size Apple Watch should I get?
The current generation of Apple Watch models range in size from 40mm to 49mm; those numbers refer to the length of the case. The entry-level Apple Watch SE is offered in 40mm and 44mm and the Apple Watch 10 comes in 44mm and 46mm. The Apple Watch Ultra 2, meanwhile, is available in only a 49mm case size.
For folks with smaller wrists, the 40mm Apple Watch SE will likely feel most comfortable for day-in and day-out wear. However, the Apple Watch SE and Series 10 in 44mm are both pretty manageable in size and weight.
For folks who prefer a larger display, the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 both boast nearly the same amount of touchscreen real estate. However, the Series 10 offers it in a smaller, lighter and thinner package.
On the flip side, the Ultra 2 is the best option for larger wrists or anyone who wants Apple's toughest-built wearable.
What is the best Apple Watch for health monitoring?
The best Apple Watch for health monitoring is either the Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both of these devices offer identical sets of holistic tracking sensors and feature Apple's newest wellness tools like sleep apnea detection.
