The Best Apple Watch
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If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is unquestionably the best wearable to go with it. But what's the best Apple Watch to buy? With three models, each with unique attributes and features, this question has gotten harder to answer. For the past few years, Apple contended with a series of troublesome lawsuits and bans that led to the removal of its blood oxygen sensor (which is finally back). Last year, the company introduced a ton of new features, like satellite messaging and hypertension notifications.
Nevertheless, the new updates also include markedly improved battery life. I have been asking for this feature for years, and for that reason alone, I feel fairly confident about saying, yes, if you're in the market, you should buy a new one. I love the Apple Watch. Ten years on, it's still the beautiful, Jony Ive–designed wearable everyone with an iPhone has to have. It is the watch I'd wear if I weren't constantly testing other fitness trackers. (Even my children wear Apple Watches.)
If you need help telling them apart, let me break down which features are available on which watch, and whether older models are still worth the price. The latest operating system is watchOS 26, and we also discuss the Apple Watch's newest fitness-related features. Be sure to check out our other related buying guides, including the Best Smartwatches, Best Fitness Trackers, and Best iPhones.
Updated February 2026: We've overhauled this guide with a new intro, new information in the product cards, and new information on Apple's latest fitness features.
Best Value Apple Watch
Everyone who has an iPhone should probably get an Apple Watch, and plenty of people who don't have an iPhone could probably use one, too. Companies like Gabb purport to offer secure, kid-specific communication devices, but as a parent, I prefer to give my children tech from larger companies that are obligated to respond quickly to security failures.
Last year, Apple updated its entry-level option after a year-long wait. The Watch SE (3rd Gen) is the best value in Apple's smartwatch lineup. It now has the latest S10 chip, which enables many of the standout health features the previous SE 2 lacked, such as sleep apnea notifications and skin temperature sensing. It runs watchOS 26, so you can see the new Liquid Glass display, the overly peppy workout encouragement from Workout Buddy, and dismiss the Smart Stack widget with a wrist flick. (This comes with the caveat that to use Workout Buddy, you must also be using your watch with an iPhone that is compatible with Apple Intelligence.) It has fast charging, and even though it does not have the Series 11's boasted 24-hour battery life, I still somehow managed to eke out a full day with it, even with the always-on OLED display.
Here are a few items that might give you pause if you're buying an SE for an older relative. It still cannot check your blood oxygen or take an electrocardiogram, nor does it have the latest hypertension notifications. The screen is only a 1,000-nit display compared to the 2,000-nit display on the Series 11's wide-angle display, and it doesn't have the UWB locator chip, which means it might be a little harder for your lost little or old person to find you. However, it still has fall detection, and WhatsApp is finally available on the Apple Watch! If you held off on buying last year's Series 10 for your kid or nana, you can congratulate yourself now. You just got most of its functionality in a lightweight, affordable $249 package.
Specs and Features Case sizes: 40 mm or 44 mm Colors and finishes: Aluminum | Starlight and Midnight Hypertension notifications: No Blood oxygen sensing: No Skin temperature sensing: Yes ECG: No Satellite messages: No UWB chip: No The Flagship Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 11 is Apple's flagship watch. Every year, I say you don't have to get the latest Apple Watch if the one you have is compatible with the latest watchOS. This still applies, but I think the Series 11's upgraded battery life (from 18 hours to a full 24 hours) is a sea change that dramatically affects the watch's usability and health features. Many people, including my own spouse, only wore the Apple Watch while they were awake because it was too annoying to wake up to a drained watch. Now you can sleep with it on and get your new Sleep Score from Apple, which you couldn't before.
Just about the only feature the Series 11 lacks is satellite messaging, but if you don't go off the grid often, then it has everything else you need. Unlike the Watch SE 3, it has the full suite of Apple's health features, which includes Apple's Sleep Score, blood oxygen sensing, and the ability to take electrocardiograms. That's in addition to the new, FDA-cleared high-blood-pressure notifications that I feel certain will start showing up on every fitness tracker in the next few years.
Like the Watch SE 3, it's compatible with watchOS 26, so you can see the Liquid Glass redesign and use Workout Buddy. It also comes in a much wider range of case sizes, colors, and finishes. Cellular connectivity has also been upgraded from LTE to 5G, and the screen is 2,000 nits, which is twice the brightness of the SE. Honestly, however, I didn't register that the watch was noticeably faster; I don't watch videos on my wrist.
Specs and Features Case sizes: 42 mm or 46 mm Colors and finishes: Aluminum | Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black. Titanium | Gold, Natural, Slate Hypertension notifications: Yes Blood oxygen sensing: Yes Skin temperature sensing: Yes ECG: Yes Satellite messages: No UWB chip: Yes
Best Outdoors Watch
If you've ever gone camping, walked 20 yards away from your campsite to go pee behind a tree, and looked up to find that you were completely lost in the dark, then the new Watch Ultra 3 is for you. It now features satellite messaging, which I tested on a weekend off-grid camping trip. It's a significant improvement over sat comms on your phone, since you're more likely to have your watch on your body. The battery life on the Watch Ultra 3 is also improved—now up to 42 hours from a mere 36 on the Watch Ultra 2.
It has the biggest display of any Apple Watch, which is better for viewing offline maps. It also has the same distinctive design as the original, which includes diving capabilities and a three-mic array for taking calls while on the ski lift. Like the Series 11, it has 5G connectivity in addition to sat comms, hypertension notifications, and all the features in watchOS 26. Again, while I don't normally counsel that you should buy the latest Apple Watch, this year I think battery life and sat comms are two very significant reasons to upgrade. On a weekend trip, I did not carefully dole out battery usage—freely using the Watch Ultra 3 off-grid to navigate a several-hour car ride, track multiple trail runs and hikes, and send satellite texts—and it lasted me from Friday morning to Sunday morning.
Like the Series 11, the Watch Ultra 3's titanium case is also 3D-printed for greater material efficiency. It's also the only Apple Watch with a funny little siren. I have not tried to attract help from a passerby with it, but I did scare my dog. It is now a true weekend-warrior watch, fulfilling the promise that the Watch Ultra made several years ago.
Specs and Features Case sizes: 49 mm Colors and finishes: Titanium | Natural or Black Hypertension notifications: Yes Blood oxygen sensing: Yes Skin temperature sensing: Yes ECG: Yes Satellite messages: Yes UWB chip: Yes The Last-Gen Apple Watch Is Also Great
If you want a great Apple Watch experience, the Series 10 has the same S10 chip that's currently in all of the latest Apple Watches. This was the first watch to have a slim design and wide-angle screen that fits nicely under your shirt sleeves, and after more than a year of use, my Series 10 still looks pretty good. It has fast charging and is also compatible with watchOS 26 (with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone), so you can still enjoy the Liquid Glass design, Workout Buddy, and flick away Smart Stack with your wrist.
It doesn't have 24-hour battery life, which … well, that's a big deal. One of Apple's latest health features is Sleep Score, which you're not going to be able to do if you can't sleep in your watch overnight However, it does look very sharp, especially in the jet black finish! It often goes on sale for significantly below the MSRP, so if you see it, it's worth snagging.
Specs and Features Case sizes: 42 mm or 46 mm Colors and finishes: Aluminum | Jet Black, Rose, Silver. Titanium | Slate, Gold or Natural Hypertension notifications: Yes Blood oxygen sensing: Yes Skin temperature sensing: Yes ECG: Yes Satellite messages: No UWB chip: Yes
If It’s on Sale for Under $300
WatchOS 26 is compatible with the Series 6 watches and newer. RIP Watches Series 4, 5, and first-gen SE. However, that makes every Series 6 and newer watch good to go. For example, if you can find it on sale, the Series 9 is still a perfectly capable watch that can sense blood oxygen and get hypertension notifications.
Specs and Features Case sizes: 41 mm or 45 mm Colors and finishes: Aluminum | Pink, Midnight, Starlight, or Silver Hypertension notifications: Yes Blood oxygen sensing: Yes Skin temperature sensing: Yes ECG: Yes Satellite messages: No UWB chip: Yes
New Fitness Features
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There are many reasons to wear an Apple Watch besides the health features. Maybe you just want quick access to your text, calendars, or Siri. Maybe you want to keep track of your kid or make sure your elderly mom doesn't fall down.
Still, I have been following the Apple Watch's development for years, from a fairly standard wearable accessory to a fully featured fitness tracker that now compares favorably against the high-end Garmins and Suuntos of the world. Since its inception, Apple has gone all in on the watch as a personal health device, with CEO Tim Cook even going as far as to say that the watch will save your life. Hypertension notifications and sleep tracking are a significant step forward, although the long-touted noninvasive continuous glucose monitor has yet to make an appearance.
In addition to health-related features, Apple has also unveiled additions to its workout programs over the past few months. The AI-enabled Workout Buddy in Fitness is perhaps the most prominent (although I personally don't feel like I have benefited that much from a bot cheerfully chirping the name of the song I'm listening to). Apple has also started offering Fitness+ in more countries and launching new workout programs, like three-week strength training programs that are designed to jump-start your workout routines.
It's also worth noting here that Apple Watch data is compatible with many more fitness and workout apps besides Apple's proprietary Fitness+. For more information on which app is the right pick for your Apple Watch, check out our guide to the Best Fitness and Workout Apps. Fitness+ is also available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Compare Top 5 Apple Watches
| Model | Case Sizes | Colors and Finishes: | Hypertension notifications: | Blood oxygen sensing? | Skin temperature sensing? | ECG: | Satellite messages: | UWB chip: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE 3 | 40 mm or 44 mm | Aluminum | Starlight and Midnight | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | 42 mm or 46 mm | Aluminum | Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black. Titanium | Gold, Natural, Slate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | 49 mm | Titanium | Natural or Black | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | 42 mm or 46 mm | Aluminum | Jet Black, Rose, Silver. Titanium | Slate, Gold or Natural | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | 41 mm or 45 mm | Aluminum | Pink, Midnight, Starlight, or Silver | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
The Best Apple Watch Apps and Accessories
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Once you have your Apple Watch, you're going to need some accessories. Here are the ones for you to consider first.
A 3-in-1 charger. Apple Watches are notoriously hard to keep charged. This Belkin Qi2 charger ($110) is our favorite stand, but we have many more selections in our Best 3-in-1 Apple Wireless Chargers. You can also pick up a power bank ($90) with a built-in Apple Watch charger so you're not caught out and about with a dead watch.
Whatever band you want. Our Best Apple Watch Accessories guide has a ton of options. My personal favorite band of all time is the Konsu NYC supple leather band ($169), but we have many more in our guide.
A case and a screen protector. Apple's service pricing is notoriously exorbitant—repairing a watch costs almost as much as buying a new one! Bigger and more expensive isn't always better. If the case is big and doesn't fit well, it will rattle annoyingly every time you get a notification. I like the Spigen Thin Fit Case ($15) and a screen protector set from Amazon ($10); extras are nice if you mess up the first application.
Avoid These Watches
It's been years since we've seen retailers carry the Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3. You may see them on resale sites, but they are not worth the price. WatchOS 26 only works with the second-gen SE and newer, so we no longer recommend buying the Series 4 or 5, or the first-gen SE. The Series 1 isn't waterproof; neither the Series 1 nor the Series 2 has any cellular capability; and none of these watches are compatible with the latest watchOS version.
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