Editor’s note: Black Friday doesn’t officially take place until Friday, November 28th; however, if you want to shop ahead of time, we’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday deals you can already get.
If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch for you. But there was only one Apple Watch when the smartwatch launched in 2015. A decade later, you’ve got three flavors to choose from: the entry-level Watch SE, the standard Series, and the rugged Ultra. Each appeals to a different demographic and set of needs, but good news: I’ve tested every Apple Watch dating back to the Series 2 and can point you in the right direction.
What we’re looking for
Apple Watches do a lot of things, from tracking your health and fitness to fielding notifications. As with other wearables, we do a mix of year-round experiential testing and benchmarks. So while we may not take a tumble down a flight of stairs, we’ll note if organically tripping during a walk triggers Fall Detection. (Or doesn’t.) We also check to see how accurate sleep tracking, heart rate, and GPS are versus long-term control devices, like the Oura Ring or a Garmin. We’ll also note how the various Apple Watch models compare to each other on factors like durability, performance, and battery life.
We’re not going to recommend an Apple Watch Ultra for a couch potato — unless you want the best battery life possible. The idea is to guide you to the right Apple Watch for your needs.
Should you buy new? You can often save on an Apple Watch by buying refurbished, especially since there generally aren’t a ton of changes year to year.
Do you want to shell out extra for LTE? Which models have what sensors, and how does that apply to you?
Some scenarios call for you to buy cellular models, others you can get away with just having GPS.
The best Apple Watch for most people
$199
The Good
- We finally get an always-on display
- We get double tap and wrist flick!
- So many more health features!
- 5G!
- Fast charging!
- More durable!
- On-device Siri!
- Upgraded processor
- You get a speaker too
The Bad
- Those bezels are still thicc
- Wish the battery life was a skosh better
Sizes: 40mm, 44mm / Weight: 26.3g (40mm), 32.9g (44mm) / Battery life: Up to 18 hours / Display type: Always-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: 5G (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters / Music storage: 64GB
The third-gen Apple Watch SE is an incredible value. So much so, there’s not that much of a difference between this entry-level watch and the more advanced Series 11. There’s now an always-on display, an improved S10 chip that enables gestures like double-tap and wrist flick, fast charging, on-device Siri, 5G cellular, and additional health features thanks to the new wrist-temperature sensor. For folks who are in relatively good health, you don’t necessarily need advanced health features like blood oxygen or EKGs for afib detection. The SE 3 still gets you the basics like abnormal heart rate notifications, the new Sleep Score, and sleep apnea notifications.
Aside from health, you’re only really giving up on aesthetics. The SE 3 has a thicker bezel, and I wish battery life were a bit longer. Still, I had zero FOMO while testing this watch alongside the Series 11. And for a $150 less? This is the Apple Watch most people should buy.
The best Apple Watch for health monitoring
$339
The Good
- Slightly better battery life
- 5G connectivity
- FDA-cleared hypertension notifications
The Bad
- It’s not “bad,” but the most exciting updates are in watchOS 26 and coming to older watches, too
Sizes: 42mm, 46mm / Weight: 30.3g (42mm), 37.8 (46mm) / Battery life: Up to 24 hours, 38 in low-power mode / Display type: Always-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: 5G (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters / Music storage: 64GB
While I maintain the SE 3 is the best for most people, if health monitoring is your primary focus, the Series 11 has a slight edge. It’s got all the advanced sensors that enable afib monitoring and the bigger battery is a bonus if sleep tracking and sleep apnea features appeal to you. Apple has also added FDA-cleared hypertension notifications, which the SE 3 doesn’t have. Its slimmer profile and larger display are other reasons I recommend the Series 11 to anyone buying an Apple Watch for a parent.
But if you’re looking to save some moola, I recommend hunting for a Series 10 while there’s still stock. The Series 10 and 11 are nearly identical watches, with the latter’s main hardware upgrades being 5G connectivity and a modest bump to battery life.
That said, the blood oxygen feature is not that vital a feature on any wearable just yet. Many either have spot check features only or passively track your SpO2 overnight and give you an average in the morning. They cannot and should not replace fingertip pulse oximeters.
The best Apple Watch for athletes
$780
The Good
- Even longer battery life
- Bigger display, thinner bezels
- Satellite and 5G connectivity
The Bad
- Most people likely won’t notice 5G or satellite improvements
Sizes: 42mm, 46mm / Weight: 30.3g (42mm), 37.8 (46mm) / Battery life: Up to 24 hours, 38 in low-power mode / Display type: Always-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: 5G (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters / Music storage: 64GB
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is overkill for daily life. Its extra durability, bright screen, siren, and Action Button are best suited for folks who have active lifestyles. I’m talking about frequent hikes, outdoor runs, recreational diving, and all that jazz. You don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy the Ultra — I know plenty of Tech Dads in particular who love this watch for its extra-long battery life and the bigger display. (Both reasons why I’ve also used the Ultra as my daily driver for the past two years.) The black model also looks sick.
Like the Series watches, I’d hunt for Ultra 2 models on sale for a teeny bit of savings since this year’s model was a minor upgrade. Also, if you already have an Ultra 2, hold your horses! Now is not the time to upgrade. The exception is if you think you’ll find value in the new satellite connectivity feature. I’ve gone on multiple hikes in New Jersey and haven’t found an area without coverage — but if you’re in a rural area where that’s an issue, this is a valid reason to opt for the Ultra 3.
The best Apple Watch for kids
Sizes: 40mm, 44mm / Weight: 26.3g (40mm), 32.9g (44mm) / Battery life: Up to 18 hours / Display type: Always-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: 5G (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters / Music storage: 64GB
Unless there are explicit health issues at play, your kids don’t need a Series 11’s advanced health tracking, nor do they need the Ultra 3’s bulky design. An SE3 is more than sufficient for keeping tabs and staying in touch. Plus, if you’re buying for a younger, rambunctious child, the SE 3 comes in the smallest size and won’t burn as big a hole in your wallet if it breaks. But if you’re not keen on giving your child their own iPhone just yet, make sure you’re getting a cellular model so you can take advantage of the Apple Watch For Your Kids setup feature.
Now that the fall iPhone event is over, it’s time to hunt Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for deals. This is the time of year where you can generally find great bargains on last year’s inventory if you’re looking to save some money.
Otherwise, Apple tends to only refresh its smartwatches once a year. The next big update to look forward to may be what’s in store for the next iteration of watchOS at WWDC in June.
Update, November 26th: Updated picks, availability, and pricing, as well as the format of this article. Updated the blood oxygen monitoring sidebar, as well as the What’s Coming Next section.
