An Apple Watch is not simply an adjunct or an excuse for a second display screen round your wrist. After a 12 months of testing out the Apple Watch, I’ve discovered it to be a useful sleep tracker, the world’s most handy timer for when my fingers are soiled within the kitchen, a phone-free textual content or name receiver/sender, a dumbphone, and an train motivator and mid-workout monitor.
Additionally: I turned my Apple Watch into a dumbphone with this quick fix
The Apple Watch began out as a glossy fitness tracker and has advanced into an important companion for iPhone customers. Apple’s smartwatches have an arsenal of handy capabilities like supplying your boarding cross for a flight, figuring out a track taking part in close by, opening your storage door, and alerting you when it is about to rain. It is also an expansive well being monitoring system that may verify your coronary heart price or information you thru a meditation.
We’re anticipating new Apple Watches to return in just a few months, throughout Apple’s annual September iPhone occasion, when it debuts the most recent {hardware}. However should you’re not inquisitive about ready a number of months to pay for an Apple Watch, these are one of the best ones you should buy proper now.
What’s the finest Apple Watch proper now?
My choose for one of the best Apple Watch is the Apple Watch Series 10, as a result of it is the Apple Watch most individuals will get probably the most out of. It is received a light-weight, thinner construct, plus new sleep-tracking options like sleep apnea detection. However should you’re utilizing your Apple Watch in your Ironmans and marathons, I would suggest the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It is received a 24-hour battery life, an emergency siren function for added security, and a bigger display screen.
Additionally: The best iPhones of 2025: Which model should you buy?
The most effective Apple Watches of 2025
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That is the smartwatch most individuals can buy. The Apple Watch Sequence 10 debuted in September with new options that make it a critical improve from the Sequence 9. Most notably, there’s a new sleep apnea monitoring function that works via the watch’s accelerometer, which displays actions related to respiratory sample interruptions and is tracked by Apple’s new Respiration Disturbances metric. There may be additionally a brand new water depth gauge, which measures virtually 20 toes (as much as six meters) beneath the water’s floor, and a water temperature sensor to learn swimmers, surfers, and snorkelers.
Additionally: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Should you upgrade to the latest model?
The construct of the watch options an improved and greater show (42mm and 46mm sizes) due to the wide-angle OLED show that provides as much as 40% brighter viewing angle in comparison with the Sequence 9. The Sequence 10 can also be 10% thinner and lighter which makes it extra snug to put on, particularly whereas sleeping.
In order for you the most recent well being sensors and security options, nice battery life (particularly if you wish to do sleep monitoring), and you do not want the intense options within the Extremely 2, then it can save you some huge cash by going with the aluminum mannequin of the Apple Watch Sequence 10 beginning at $399 (however discounted practically a 12 months after its launch). I counsel you skip the more durable titanium end on the Sequence 10 that begins at $699 and go for the Extremely at solely $100 extra, which gives numerous additional options — except you’ve got a smaller wrist. Then I would recommend sticking with the Sequence 10.
Apple Watch Sequence 10 tech specs: Show measurement: 42mm or 46mm | Battery life: 36 hours standby | Storage capability: 64GB | Options: New options embody a much bigger show, thinner design, sleep apnea monitoring, water depth gauge, and a brand new titanium end
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The Apple Watch Extremely 2 gives extra unique options than another Apple Watch mannequin to date. Probably the most notable distinction between the Extremely and different Apple Watch fashions is its bigger, brighter, and flatter display screen. The display screen is roofed by a sapphire crystal face and surrounded by a titanium case to extend the quantity of damage and tear the watch can deal with. It is also IPX6 mud resistant, works underwater as much as 328 toes (100 meters), and has military-grade (MIL-STD 810H) certification for ruggedness. Plus, the Extremely 2 can deal with excessive altitudes, shocks, vibrations, and excessive temperatures starting from 4 levels to 130 levels Fahrenheit.
Assessment: Apple Watch Ultra 2
ZDNET contributing author Matthew Miller tried out the Apple Watch Extremely 2 when it was launched final 12 months, and stated he beneficial the watch “for its lengthy battery life, brighter show, expanded connectivity, and new watch bands” whereas additionally being impressed by the improved psychological well being performance through the Mindfulness app.
The Extremely 2’s options embody a programmable Motion Button with quite a lot of exercise and adventuring capabilities (together with activating the flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that may overcome interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and louder dual-integrated audio system for taking cellphone calls, taking part in music, or interacting with Siri.
Many Amazon reviewers say that that is one of the best Apple Watch mannequin they’ve ever used, significantly noting the watch’s high quality and enormous 49mm display screen with 3,000 nits of brightness. Past that, the Extremely gives one key addition to the Apple Watch Sequence 9 lineup: an emergency siren (activated by holding down the Motion Button), which belts out an 86-decibel sound sample that may be heard as much as 600 toes (180 meters) away. This may be helpful in quite a lot of eventualities, together with to scare off an attacker or to alert others to your location should you’re misplaced or damage within the open air alone.
On the time of publication, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 with GPS and mobile prices $800 on Amazon.
Apple Watch Extremely 2 tech specs: Show Dimension: 49mm | Battery life: As much as 72 hours | Storage capability: 64GB | Options: Sturdy titanium case and sapphire crystal face, enhanced security options together with a built-in siren, dual-frequency GPS, works as much as 328 toes underwater
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The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) truly has most of the identical well being and security options from the Sequence 8 and the Extremely for under $249. Nevertheless, the SE would not monitor blood oxygen, do ECG coronary heart checks, or verify your temperature. And whereas the face seems to be identical to the Sequence 8, the display screen is definitely about 20% smaller and would not have an always-on show.
Nonetheless, it consists of practically all the things else, and the mobile connectivity is barely a $50 add-on for the SE (in comparison with a $100 add-on for the Sequence 8). Just like the Extremely and the Sequence 8, including a mobile connection can even value you about $10 monthly together with your wi-fi provider. Even should you go along with the mobile model and go for the bigger 44mm Apple Watch SE over the smaller 40mm model, you may nonetheless solely prime out at $329.
Additionally: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs Apple Watch SE (2020): Should you upgrade?
That makes the SE 2nd gen an excellent smartwatch to present to somebody who would not have or commonly use an iPhone, comparable to a baby or an older member of the family, utilizing Apple’s Family Setup. With mobile connectivity, they will use the Apple Watch to make and obtain cellphone calls, get textual content messages, dictate textual content replies, and entry on-line information just like the climate. This smartwatch is right for many who’d just like the comfort of messaging at their fingertips with out being anchored to tech 24/7.
You may even arrange this smartwatch out of your iPhone so long as the wearer is in your Apple household group. If you’re connecting an aged relative who has well being points, the added well being sensors within the Sequence 8 would possibly make it well worth the peace of thoughts to improve. Prospects who’ve reviewed the watch additionally agree that it gives wonderful worth for the worth, particularly if you’re new to the Apple Watch household.
Apple Watch SE tech specs: Show measurement: 40mm or 44mm | Battery life: As much as 18 hours | Storage capability: 32GB | Options: Most reasonably priced Apple Watch, household arrange for youths and older adults, well being and placement monitoring, and fall and crash detection
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What are the tariffs within the U.S.?
The latest U.S. tariffs on imports from international locations like China, Vietnam, and India purpose to spice up home manufacturing, however are prone to drive up costs on shopper electronics. Merchandise like smartphones, laptops, and TVs could turn out to be costlier as firms rethink international provide chains and weigh the price of shifting manufacturing.
Additionally: Tariff war has tech buyers wondering what’s next. Here’s what we know
Smartwatches and wearable units, that are predominantly manufactured in these areas, are actually topic to tariffs as excessive as 54% on Chinese language imports and 46% on Vietnamese imports. Consequently, shoppers might even see worth will increase of roughly 20% (or extra) on these things.
Producers are exploring choices like relocating manufacturing to international locations with decrease tariffs, however such shifts are advanced and will not present speedy aid. Within the brief time period, consumers ought to anticipate greater prices for smartwatches and wearables as a result of these commerce insurance policies.
Proper now, it seems to be like some tech could also be exempt from the issued tariffs, however because it’s at all times altering and creating, we’re keeping track of it and can replace you on the most recent.
Additionally: Tariff exemptions for electronics offer a break for tech – but not for long
The Apple Watch Sequence 10 is the mannequin that can fulfill most customers, whereas the Apple Watch Extremely 2 is the smartwatch constructed for energy customers, hardcore athletes, and out of doors fanatics. There are a number of different choices as effectively, so here is a chart that breaks down the options of every mannequin.
| Apple Watch mannequin | Value | Show measurement | Battery life | Storage capability | Chip |
| Apple Watch Sequence 10 | $399 | 42mm or 46 mm | 36 hours | 64GB | S10 SiP |
| Apple Watch Extremely 2 | $799 | 49 mm | 72 hours | 64GB | S9 SiP |
| Apple Watch SE | $249 | 40 or 44mm | 18 hours | 32GB | S8 SiP |
Having bother deciding between Apple Watch fashions? This is a fast abstract of the first cause to purchase every one.
| Select this Apple Watch… | If you need… |
| Apple Watch Sequence 10 | The most effective Apple Look ahead to most individuals, with all the most recent well being and health options at an approachable worth. It tracks coronary heart well being, respiration, sleep apnea, exercise (in fact), and health. It is thinner and lighter with a bigger show as effectively. |
| Apple Watch Extremely 2 | All one of the best smartwatch options Apple has to supply, geared in direction of customers who’d use the look ahead to out of doors athletic or rugged actions. Whereas the Extremely 2 is very loaded with health and sturdiness options for athletes and adventurers, its bigger and brighter show, higher battery life, and emergency siren will enchantment to many others as effectively. |
| Apple Watch SE | A extra budget-friendly Apple Watch. This consists of all the essential options at a cheaper price and is a superb choose for first-time Apple Watch consumers or to present to a child or an aged member of the family since you may configure it utilizing Household Setup even when they do not have an iPhone. |
Whereas all of the Apple Watches on this record have a slew of health-tracking options and different helpful apps, their variations are what it’s essential think about earlier than shopping for one, together with:
- Show measurement: Apple Watch shows now are available basically three completely different sizes (40/41, 44/45, and 49). Relying on the dimensions of your wrist and the way a lot you wish to work together with the look ahead to fast actions, the show measurement can be an enormous think about figuring out which mannequin makes probably the most sense.
- Options: Apple methodically provides increasingly more new options to the Apple Watch every year, so we in contrast security options, well being sensors, band choices, battery life, and different helpful choices.
- Pricing: Every Apple Watch has plenty of completely different variations, so pricing can differ extensively — particularly primarily based on which band you choose. We included budget-worthy choices beneath $250, in addition to the extra premium choices which can be over $1,000.
The entire Apple Watches included on this record have been chosen primarily based on how they carried out when tested in the real world by the ZDNET crew. Once we check smartwatches, we sometimes comply with the identical routine for every one to see which performs finest.
- Each day put on: We put on the smartwatch as our main watch, with communications, functions, and different components being examined as if it have been our solely smartwatch.
- Utility choice and efficiency: One side that makes smartwatches completely different than commonplace watches is the assist for functions. We load up the watch with apps after which check the efficiency and performance of these functions. For instance, Apple significantly excels within the space of third-party software assist.
- Exercises: Smartwatch makers have embraced well being and health so we take smartwatches out for working with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and strolling with the household. GPS and coronary heart price information is tracked after which we consider the accuracy towards confirmed GPS sports activities watches.
- Sleep and exercise monitoring: Sleep monitoring has improved with smartwatches over time and we consider and examine them to sensible rings and different watches. Nighttime can also be a superb time to cost your smartwatch, so you could select to not use your watch to trace sleep so your watch can serve faithfully all day and into the evening.
For a deeper look into our testing course of, try our complete smartwatch testing methodology.
Sure, you want an iPhone to arrange an Apple Watch. Nevertheless, with all of the fashions on this record, you need to use the Family Setup choice to have one iPhone arrange watches for a number of members in your Apple household group — even when they do not have an iPhone. However to reiterate, you can’t use an iPad, a Mac, or a non-Apple smartphone to arrange an Apple Watch.
Essentially, all Apple Watches can monitor your steps and health information, show notifications out of your iPhone, present primary data like climate, begin timers, ship and obtain textual content messages, reply cellphone calls, and obtain helpful apps. The newest variations have further options and performance, together with sleep monitoring, superior well being monitoring, automobile crash detection, and worldwide emergency calling.
Apple not too long ago launched a number of updates coming to the Apple Watch via WatchOS 26, its smartwatch software program. These embody a Exercise Buddy function via the Health app that can information you thru your exercises, together with stats and encouragements as you run, cycle, or power prepare.
The Apple Watch’s Good Stack is getting smarter, with the algorithm together with extra contextual information, like sensor and routine information, to trace at sure apps or functionalities, like a touch to open the Pilates exercise in Health when it senses your arrival on the pilates studio.
A brand new hand gesture is arriving to the smartwatch as effectively. When a wearer receives a message or name they are not able to reply, Wrist Flick will dismiss notifications and calls, or silence pings. All a person has to do is flip their wrist.
Additionally: The features and apps coming to Apple WatchOS 26 I’m most excited about
Sure, many older Apple Watch are in the stores refurbished at locations like BackMarket and are nonetheless among the finest smartwatches available on the market. Simply take into account that Apple releases a brand new Apple Watch every year, so a refurbished mannequin that’s already dated may find yourself being 4 or 5 generations behind the most recent improvements through the time you personal it.
Crucial options to search for in one of the best Apple Watch fashions embody superior well being sensors (ECG, blood oxygen, wrist temperature, and many others.), connectivity choices (is mobile included or additional, if you need the watch to work when an iPhone is not close by), battery life, and sturdiness (water resistance, mud resistance, and a crystal face to withstand cracking).
The most effective Apple Look ahead to health monitoring is the Apple Watch Sequence 9 or the Apple Watch Extremely 2, which each come geared up with the widest number of well being sensors, together with ECG, sleep monitoring, coronary heart and respiration capabilities, wrist temperature, and extra.
When you’re somebody who spends time climbing, doing triathlons, and concerned in out of doors actions in excessive temperatures, rugged situations, and plenty of mud and water, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 could also be price the additional value. Its design makes it extra sturdy and water resistant (as much as 100m) than the opposite Apple Watch fashions, and it consists of an Motion Button for fine-tuning exercises and hikes.
Whereas it is not made particularly with youngsters in thoughts, the Apple Watch SE is a superb smartwatch for older youngsters with standout options plus parental controls. Together with enabling cellphone calls and textual content messages, the Apple Watch SE additionally tracks your kid’s sleep, has state-of-the-art well being trackers, options an SOS functionality, and pairs with hundreds of apps.
Additionally: The best smartwatches for kids
As well as, you need to use Apple’s Household Setup to verify your child’s location, arrange shared contacts, implement parental controls like display screen time utilization, and extra. Your little one would not even want their very own iPhone to have an Apple Watch — they will pair it up with yours, so that you’re totally in management.
You can not use an Android cellphone to arrange and pair with an Apple Watch, and there are not any good workarounds for that. Nevertheless, when you’ve got an Android cellphone, there are a number of smartwatches you may select from that provide a lot of the identical options as an Apple Watch. Those beneath are smartwatches that ZDNET has reviewed and rated effectively in our testing.
Different Apple Watches we have examined
Smartwatches Reviewed & In contrast
