The Apple Watch demarcation - up is among the best smartwatches you’re able to bribe right on now , so if you ’re attend to clean one up then these are the options to conceive .
It ’s no secret at this point that the Apple Watch is very much the standard within the wearable diligence that almost all other devices are compared with . Given that Apple has had around a decade to perfect not just the design of its wearable hardware but also the watchOS software that goes along with it , the company has been able to secure a significant lead on the smartwatch market .
After all , if you do own an iPhone then the Apple Watch arguably make for an essential coupling to make the most out of your handset . With notifications for messages and incoming calls viewable on your wrist , not to mention quick access code to apps like Maps , Weather and Apple Music , the Apple Watch really can serve you to spend less metre scrolling aimlessly on your telephone .
As great as the latest Apple Watches are however , they are not to be recommended for Android user as they are all uncongenial with any machine other than an iPhone . If you do sport a smartphone from the likes of Samsung , Google or OnePlus then you ’re better off looking at thebest Wear OS watchesand thebest Samsung Galaxy watcheswhich apply Google ’s own operating system , and in twist offer up better admission to Google religious service , not to mention the odd scoop such as WhatsApp for Wear OS .
It ’s worth mentioning that in 2025 , we do not urge pick up a second - hired man Apple Watch Series 4 , serial 5 or first - contemporaries Apple Watch SE as they all no longer welcome software package update . It ’s also highly likely that the Apple Watch 6 might bechance the same fate when watchOS 11 comes to pass .
If you want to see what else the Apple Watch is vie with then thebest smartwatchandbest punk smartwatchguides are useable . For those concerned in the more fitness - oriented Apple Watch Ultra range , you ’ll regain close competitors in our guide for thebest Garmin sentry , practiced fitness tracker , best Fitbitand thebest running watch .
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Find out how we test Apple Watches
Every smartwatch we essay is used by the reviewer for at least a week , or longer if the battery life hold up beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features .
During examination we will check it for key metric let in app support , serviceability and battery life . If the gadget offers fitness , emplacement or wellness tracking feature we will also test these for accuracy and reliability .
For distance trailing we record how accurately the machine memorialise runs on tracks we know the distance of . We also record how much barrage fire is lost using affair like in - make or connected GPS per hr . To check heart rate truth we equate the result register on the wearable to a dedicated HRM strap .
After recording the data we then copulate it with our oecumenical experience using the wearable twenty-four hours - to - day , letting you know if it ’s comfortable to wear down or if we encountered unexpected bugs during use over the review full point .
Apple Watch Series 10
Pros
Cons
Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch SE 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Trusted Score
TheApple Watch Series 10is a comparatively insidious intention update for a smartwatch accede its 10th generation . However , it bring some great benefit , including a magnanimous display , quicker charging and new sleep apnea detection .
The Apple Watch 10 occur in fresh sizing ( 42 mm and 46 mm ) and is 10 % sparse than its predecessors . Not only does this allow the watch to stick closer to the radiocarpal joint , have it more prosperous , but it also makes room for 30 % bigger organic light-emitting diode displays . The CRT screen on the 46 mm model is also 3 % tumid than the one on theApple Watch Ultra 2 .
We found the larger silver screen easier to practice , countenance us to see more information at a glance , while the OLED panel is bright , responsive and well seeable in all situations . However , if your articulatio radiocarpea is on the modest side , you may prefer the modest display of theApple Watch Series 9 .
Many of the package updates add up viaWatchOS 11 , which is available on Apple Watches dating back to 2020’sSeries 6 . This mean you do n’t take to give extra for the latest model if WatchOS 11 is the self-aggrandising draw for you .
One new feature film not available on models elderly than the Series 9 is sopor apnea detection . This health feature film notifies watch ’s wearer if they show symptoms of sleep apnea , helping them to enamour it and speak with their MD .
There ’s also the usual wellness tracking , with your warmness pace , respiratory rate , blood oxygen horizontal surface and more presented in the young Vitals app . fittingness trailing is also very standardized , withTraining Loadand some new swim features the main highlights this time around .
The endurance is still poor , with the battery command a recharge every day . However , faster charging makes it less unspeakable this clip , with 80 % assault and battery potential in 30 minutes of charging . This signify you do n’t postulate to take it off for a major chunk of the twenty-four hours or miss out on eternal sleep tracking at night .
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From a coup d’oeil , it can be unmanageable to see the obvious upgrade in theApple Watch Series 9over its predecessor but if you ’re moving up from an aged twist or even look to buy your first smartwatch then you ca n’t go wrong with this smartwatch .
The biggest upgrade is in screen brightness which might not sound too exciting at first but proves to be fantastically helpful during everyday use . Now with a peak brightness of 1000 nits ( the same as the originalApple Watch Ultra ) , it ’s now much easier to see selective information in wide daytime , and the blowlamp is now more potent , make it far more utile when trying to sail your style to a lightswitch in the dark .
Inspired by one of the Apple Watch ’s approachability mode , the new ‘ Double Tap ’ feature bring the idea of hand - free fundamental interaction to the mainstream . By simply double wiretap your thumb and index finger , it ’s now possible to scroll through the Watch 9 ’s smart batch of widgets , answer / winnow out calls or even stop a timer , all without having to affect the screen .
This characteristic is power by the newfangled S9 chipset which check off the first major carrying into action cost increase that Apple Watches have discover in quite a while and it also set aside for on - machine Siri response that do n’t ask the internet connectedness on your phone to operate . It all add up to a seamless experience in what is easily the best Apple Watch yet .
Though theApple Watch SE 2is barely cheap , specially compare to some of the consecrate fitness tracker and WearOS watches we recommend , it ’s still very good value .
During testing , we find the watch offers tantamount fittingness trailing to the Series 8 , near identical barrage fire spirit and access to the same portfolio of apps . The performance also bear witness to be on par with our quizzer never point out any meanwhile or slow up down using the equipment .
There are a few compromises . The SE 2 does n’t have an always on exhibit option , which stand for you have to turn the screen on when fully whenever you want to check the time and that its charge speeds are much down in the mouth . It fill well over an time of day for us to get a full charge .
The watch also does n’t include ECG or blood atomic number 8 readings , so if you require a more holistic expression at your broadsheet of wellness then you might be better served opting for the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Series 8 .
Still , we did n’t find these compromise to be a deal - breaker , particularly as the Apple Watch SE 2 still admit tons of utile features for iPhone users .
After giving up plenty of ground to the likes of Garmin and Coros , Apple finally struck gold with the release of the originalApple Watch Ultra . That premium wearable featured the case of inflexible design that is indispensable for serious athletes , and paired it with the first-class software package experience that we ’ve come to have a bun in the oven from an Apple Watch . It served as a solid foundation for sure , but theApple Watch Ultra 2has somehow get by to enhance the bar even high .
One of the best features of the original Ultra was its concealment , which is not only larger than the standard Apple Watch at 1.93 - inches , but also impressively bright , making it gentle for diver to view when swim in the dark profundity . The original had a apex brightness of 1000 nit but the Ultra 2 more than double that cap with 3000 nits of peak brightness , making it the leisurely Apple Watch to view in unmediated sunlight , which is also handy for marathon Caranx crysos .
Under the hood there ’s a monolithic modification with the introduction of the fresh S9 chipset . This far more hefty C.P.U. countenance the Watch to process some Siri demands on - machine , so you do n’t have to deal with the delay that typically pops up when request are institutionalise to your iPhone and back again . The expanded chipset also enable Apple ’s new ‘ bivalent Tap ’ feature article .
Doing exactly what it enjoin on the tin , this feature lets you interact with the Ultra 2 simply by two-fold tapping your pollex and index digit together – no screen touch necessary . The input is contextual , so it ’ll have you answer a call or disable a timer , depending on what ’s happening . Even though a fluctuation of this feature has survive for some metre in the accessibility preferences , dual Tap is still an cunning means of check the scout , and a welcome plus for when you ’re out on a running and you do n’t need to smudge the screen with sweat .
confessedly , the Apple Watch Ultra 2 arguably does n’t do enough to warrant a full - on upgrade for those who corrupt its predecessor , but if you ’re looking to purchase your first Apple Watch Ultra then this is an easy one to recommend .
FAQs
Apple Watches are not fully compatible with Android devices . To make the most of them they require to be mate with an iPhone or iPad .
Only a select identification number of newer Apple Watches have LTE connectivity . You should ascertain their spec sheet before purchasing one if you involve the added connectivity .
All modern Apple Watches indorse NFC and Apple Pay , meaning you may use them to make contactless payments in most area and stores .
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