If you have an iPhone, you won’t find a better smartwatch experience outside of the Apple Watch collection, and we’ve reviewed them all.
While there are a handful of other brand smartwatches from the likes of Withings and Huawei that can be paired with an iPhone, Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem has ensured that you’ll always get the best overall experience from one of its own wearable devices.
Still, from access to key Apple apps on your wrist like iMessage, Maps and Apple News, as well as tons of support from third-party apps, the Apple Watch isn’t just a great option for iPhone users, it’s arguably the best example of how to do a smartwatch right.
This isn’t to say that competition isn’t fierce however, and you can see as much in our round-ups of the best smartwatches, best Wear OS watches and the best running watches. For those who simply want to know which Apple Watch is best for them, have a look at our entries below.
As a final aside, know that we do not recommend picking up a second-hand Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 or first-generation Apple Watch SE in 2024. The reason behind this is that all three of these devices are excluded from receiving the watchOS 11 update, so unless you’re happy to miss out on crucial software and security patches, you’re far better off with opting for a newer Apple Watch.
Which is the best Apple Watch 2024?
How we test
Every smartwatch we test is used by the reviewer for at least a week, or longer if the battery life lasts beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features.
During testing we will check it for key metrics including app support, usability and battery life. If the device offers fitness, location or health tracking features we will also test these for accuracy and reliability.
For distance tracking we record how accurately the device recorded runs on tracks we know the length of. We also record how much battery is lost using things like in-built or connected GPS per hour. To check heart rate accuracy we compare the results recorded on the wearable to a dedicated HRM strap.
After recording the data we then pair it with our general experience using the wearable day-to-day, letting you know if it’s comfortable to wear or if we encountered unexpected bugs during use over the review period.
Apple Watch Series 10
The best option for most people
Pros
- Comfy to wear
- Sleep apnea detection is great to have
- Faster charging
Cons
- Battery life remains short
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a relatively subtle design update for a smartwatch entering its 10th generation. However, it brings some great benefits, including a larger display, faster charging and new sleep apnea detection.
The Apple Watch 10 comes in new sizes (42mm and 46mm) and is 10% thinner than its predecessors. Not only does this allow the watch to stick closer to the wrist, making it more comfortable, but it also makes room for 30% bigger OLED displays. The screen on the 46mm model is also 3% larger than the one on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
We found the larger screen easier to use, allowing us to see more information at a glance, while the OLED panel is bright, responsive and easily visible in all situations. However, if your wrist is on the smaller side, you may prefer the smaller display of the Apple Watch Series 9.
Many of the software updates come via WatchOS 11, which is available on Apple Watches dating back to 2020’s Series 6. This means you don’t need to pay extra for the latest model if WatchOS 11 is the biggest draw for you.
One new feature not available on models older than the Series 9 is sleep apnea detection. This health feature notifies watch’s wearer if they show symptoms of sleep apnea, helping them to catch it and speak with their doctor.
There’s also the usual health tracking, with your heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels and more presented in the new Vitals app. Fitness tracking is also very similar, with Training Load and some new swimming features the main highlights this time around.
The endurance is still poor, with the battery requiring a recharge every day. However, faster charging makes it less painful this time, with 80% battery possible in 30 minutes of charging. This means you don’t need to take it off for a major chunk of the day or miss out on sleep tracking at night.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Apple Watch Series 10 review
Apple Watch Series 9
The best affordable flagship
Pros
- Certain models made from recycled aluminium
- Faster Siri
- Accurate tracking
- Very bright screen
Cons
- Design remains the same
- Health data needs to be shown better
From a glance, it can be difficult to see the obvious upgrades in the Apple Watch Series 9 over its predecessor but if you’re moving up from an older device or even looking to buy your first smartwatch then you can’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 incredibly helpful during everyday use. Now with a peak brightness of 1000 nits (the same as the original Apple Watch Ultra), it’s now much easier to see information in broad daylight, and the torch is now more potent, making it far more useful when trying to navigate your way to a lightswitch in the dark.
Inspired by one of the Apple Watch’s accessibility modes, the new ‘Double Tap’ feature brings the idea of hands-free interaction to the mainstream. By simply double tapping your thumb and forefinger, it’s now possible to scroll through the Watch 9’s smart stack of widgets, answer/reject calls or even stop a timer, all without having to touch the screen.
This feature is powered by the new S9 chipset which marks the first major performance boost that Apple Watches have seen in quite a while and it also allows for on-device Siri responses that don’t require the internet connection on your phone to operate. It all adds up to a seamless experience in what is easily the best Apple Watch yet.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Apple Watch Series 9 Review
Apple Watch SE 2
The best budget option
Pros
- Plenty of the best Apple Watch features in a cheaper package
- Excellent software
- Wide customisation options
- Accurate tracking
Cons
- Slow charging
- No always-on display
Though the Apple Watch SE 2 is hardly cheap, especially compared to some of the dedicated fitness trackers and WearOS watches we recommend, it’s still very good value.
During testing, we found the watch offers equivalent fitness tracking to the Series 8, near identical battery life and access to the same portfolio of apps. The performance also proved to be on par with our tester never noticing any lag or slow down using the device.
There are a few compromises. The SE 2 doesn’t have an always on display option, which means you have to turn the screen on when fully whenever you want to check the time and that its charge speeds are much lower. It took well over an hour for us to get a full charge.
The watch also doesn’t include ECG or blood oxygen readings, so if you want a more holistic look at your bill of health then you might be better served opting for the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Series 8.
Still, we didn’t find these compromises to be a deal-breaker, particularly as the Apple Watch SE 2 still includes tons of useful features for iPhone users.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Apple Watch SE 2 Review
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The best option for serious athletes
Pros
- Top screen
- Excellent sports tracking
- The best Apple Watch
Cons
- Fitness tracking feels dated
- Lack of performance analysis
- Mapping rolling out slowly
After giving up plenty of ground to the likes of Garmin and Coros, Apple finally struck gold with the release of the original Apple Watch Ultra. That premium wearable featured the type of sturdy design that is essential for serious athletes, and paired it with the excellent software experience that we’ve come to expect from an Apple Watch. It served as a solid foundation for sure, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has somehow managed to raise the bar even higher.
One of the best features of the original Ultra was its screen, which is not only larger than the standard Apple Watch at 1.93-inches, but also impressively bright, making it easier for divers to view when swimming in the darkest depths. The original had a peak brightness of 1000 nits but the Ultra 2 more than doubles that cap with 3000 nits of peak brightness, making it the easiest Apple Watch to view in direct sunlight, which is also handy for marathon runners.
Under the hood there’s a massive change with the introduction of the new S9 chipset. This far more powerful processor allows the Watch to process some Siri demands on-device, so you don’t have to deal with the delay that typically pops up when requests are sent to your iPhone and back again. The expanded chipset also enables Apple’s new ‘Double Tap’ feature.
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this feature lets you interact with the Ultra 2 simply by double tapping your thumb and index finger together – no screen touch necessary. The input is contextual, so it’ll let you answer a call or disable a timer, depending on what’s happening. Even though a variation of this feature has existed for some time in the accessibility settings, Double Tap is still an ingenious means of controlling the watch, and a welcome addition for when you’re out on a run and you don’t want to smudge the screen with sweat.
Admittedly, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 arguably doesn’t do enough to warrant a full-on upgrade for those who bought its predecessor, but if you’re looking to buy your first Apple Watch Ultra then this is an easy one to recommend.
Reviewer: James Stables
Full review: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review
We also considered…
FAQs
Apple Watches are not fully compatible with Android devices. To make the most of them they need to be paired with an iPhone or iPad.
Only a select number of newer Apple Watches feature LTE connectivity. You should check their spec sheet before purchasing one if you need the added connectivity.
All modern Apple Watches support NFC and Apple Pay, meaning you can use them to make contactless payments in most regions and stores.
