The perfect Apple Watch in 2025

Apple has simply three smartwatches in its present lineup. We expect the flagship Apple Watch Series 10 is the perfect for most individuals, however athletes and outside fanatics could be happier with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The funds mannequin, the Apple Watch SE, affords a shocking array of options for the value. All three are glorious companions to your iPhone and all do an important job of monitoring well being and health stats. This information to the perfect Apple Watch breaks down the variations in sensors, case design and extra that will help you determine which mannequin makes probably the most sense for you.

Desk of contents

Finest Apple Watch in 2025

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Chip: S8 SiP | Sensors: Coronary heart price, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/crash detection | Show: Retina show, max 1,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case dimension: 40mm or 44mm

Read our full review of the Apple Watch SE

But once more, Apple didn’t come out with a brand new technology of the Apple Watch SE when it introduced the Apple Watch 10 and different Apple units in September. A brand new plastic model is reportedly in the works (and we now have some ideas on what Apple can improve). However for now, this $250 smartwatch is Apple’s funds choice. 

Cherlynn also reviewed the SE when it got here out in 2022, calling it “the perfect smartwatch for the cash.” It makes use of the identical chip as the unique Extremely and the Collection 8, and in our evaluate of the brand new Collection 9, Cherlynn “barely seen a distinction in efficiency” in comparison with the older Apple Watch.

That stated, there are some trade-offs. You gained’t get an always-on show, blood oxygen monitoring or a temperature sensor. The SE can also’t assist the brand new Double Faucet characteristic and requires your cellphone to be close by for Siri requests (for those who don’t have a cellular-enabled mannequin). Supplies-wise, the SE face is roofed in Ion-X glass, which is much less sturdy than the sapphire crystal on both the stainless-steel Collection 9 or the Extremely 2.

However the SE has extra in frequent with its pricier sibling than not, together with crash detection, coronary heart price monitoring, emergency SOS calling, and 50 meters of water resistance. And, in fact, the watch does all of the fundamentals effectively, like sharing notifications, controlling your music playback and setting timers and alarms. 

Although the display screen isn’t fairly as vivid because the pricier fashions, we thought it was crisp and straightforward to learn, even in vivid daylight. The health monitoring is correct, the design is light-weight and comfy and the processor is snappy. If you happen to’re in search of a starter smartwatch and don’t thoughts the few lacking options, the SE remains to be the way in which to go.

Professionals

• Reasonably priced value
• Nice well being and health monitoring
• Extends the utility of an iPhone

Cons

• Lacks blood oxygen and temperature sensors
• Would not assist Double Faucet
• No always-on show

$239 at Amazon

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Chip: S9 SiP | Sensors: ECG, coronary heart price, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/crash detection, depth gauge | Show: All the time-on Retina show, max 3,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 36 hours | Case dimension: 49mm

Read our full review of the Apple Watch Ultra

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Extremely 2 on the similar event because the Collection 9 however, the next yr, we didn’t get an Apple Watch Extremely 3. Instead, Apple introduced a brand new satin black colorway created with a “diamond-like carbon bodily vapor deposition” course of that you simply’ll generally discover used on high-end knife blades.

Engadget’s Cherlynn Low took the earlier mannequin Extremely out on a hike to reap the benefits of its outdoor-specific options and the Backtrack perform truly saved her and our video producer Brian from taking an unintended detour within the flawed route. The perform lives throughout the Compass app and allows you to set waypoints corresponding to marking the parking zone earlier than you set out. There’s an onboard siren that’s loud sufficient to alert passersby or emergency personnel to your whereabouts for those who ought to want it.

For water-based actions, the Extremely 2 packs diving options that may measure water temperature, dive length and gauge as much as 40 meters of depth. For exercises nearer to dwelling, the dual-frequency GPS provides you extra correct route monitoring and tempo calculations. And the motion button may be programmed to start out a exercise, management the stopwatch, set off the flashlight, set a waypoint and extra. Simply word that we discovered it fairly simple to unintentionally set off the motion button when attempting to press the crown, so it might take somewhat observe.

The S9 SiP chip permits Double Faucet and on-device Siri processing. The display screen has been bumped as much as 3,000 nits and whereas we didn’t get to take the brand new mannequin on a hike, the unique at 2,000 nits was loads vivid sufficient in direct daylight. We like how the brand new Modular Extremely watch face makes nice use of the outsized display screen (although that’s additionally obtainable on the unique AWU.) The battery life stays the identical at 36 hours, and we obtained about three days of reasonable use out of the Extremely earlier than needing a recharge. The low energy mode is especially spectacular, squeezing out many additional hours from a near-empty watch.

Professionals

• Strong construct
• Specialised options for outside actions
• Giant display screen shows quite a lot of data

Cons

• Costly
• Giant case can really feel cumbersome on smaller wrists

$779 at Amazon

What to search for in an Apple Watch

Like all Apple merchandise, Apple Watches will solely work with different units from the model’s ecosystem. You will not be capable of pair any Apple Watch to your Android cellphone. Notice that you simply can pair different wearables (like a Garmin tracker or a Fitbit band) along with your iPhone. There are some extra options which might be particular to Apple Watches and that set every of the three fashions other than each other.

Chips and sensors

The brand new Apple Watch Collection 10 has an S10 SiP (system in a bundle) chip with a four-core Neural Engine. The Extremely 2 was updated last September with Apple’s S9 SiP. Each chips enable for on-device processing of Siri requests in addition to dictation, translation, automated exercise detection and the Double Faucet gesture that permits you to reply calls or cease an alarm by tapping your thumb and forefinger collectively twice. It additionally permits quicker machine studying efficiency for decoding sensor knowledge, speech recognition and performing different “pondering” duties. The Apple Watch SE nonetheless depends on the S8 SiP, which was additionally used within the Series 8 and the unique Extremely.

Each the Collection 10 and Extremely 2 can measure sure very important indicators like coronary heart price, and each have an ECG app. Temperature sensors can assist monitor ovulation, whereas underwater temperature sensors might come in useful whereas swimming and snorkeling. Each additionally assist fall-detection and crash-detection as a security characteristic. All three fashions have a compass and altimeter. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 has an onboard SOS siren, in addition to dive options like a depth gauge. Water options have been added to the Apple Watch Collection 10, however with a shallower depth score (simply six meters, as in comparison with 40 meters on the Extremely). The Extremely consists of blood oxygen sensors, however a patent dispute has compelled Apple to disable that well being characteristic on new fashions bought in the US and the {hardware} isn’t current within the new flagship mannequin.

All three fashions assist close to subject communication (NFC), the chip that allows Apple Pay. When you set it up utilizing the Apple Watch app in your iPhone, you’ll be able to pay for stuff at any retailer that accepts Apple Pay, even for those who don’t have your phone with you.

Shows and case sizes

The wide-angle OLED show on the Apple Watch 10 permits you to see the always-on show from extra angles. The Extremely 2 additionally has an always-on show, however you’ll should elevate your wrist to inform time or learn notifications on the SE. The SE can attain a most brightness of 1,000 nits, the Collection 10 can get as vivid as 2,000 and the Extremely 2 hits 3,000 nits. Each higher-end screens can dim to a single nit, making them much less distracting at the hours of darkness.

The Apple Watch Collection 10 got here with a brand new end and case materials — a shiny anodized jet black end on the aluminum mannequin and the choice for a titanium case. The Extremely 2 additionally obtained a brand new end, satin black, that makes use of a PVD (bodily vapor deposition) course of to use the colour.

As for case sizes, the SE is accessible in 40 or 44mm. The Collection 10 elevated in dimension from the prior technology and now has a selection of a 42 or 46mm case. The Extremely 2 is available in only one dimension measuring 49mm. You additionally get the chance to select the size and magnificence for watch bands. The SE and Collection 10 are available in small/medium or medium/giant and the Extremely 2 provides you the selection of small, medium or giant.

Battery life

Because it’s the most important wearable, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 sports activities the largest battery and might final for a claimed 36 hours on a cost. That quantity jumps as much as 72 hours for those who activate low energy mode. Each the Apple Watch 10 and the SE are rated by Apple to go for 18 hours earlier than they want a go to to the charger, and longer when utilizing battery saver mode. Meaning if you wish to use both of these fashions recurrently for sleep monitoring, you could have to recharge them a bit earlier than mattress.

Health and wellness options

Imagine it or not, all three Apple Watches have comparable health tracker chops. The Exercise app makes use of three “rings” to maintain tabs on how a lot you’re shifting in a day: The Transfer ring tracks your lively energy; the Train ring displays the minutes you’ve spent strolling, working, doing yoga and so forth; and the Stand ring tells you what number of hours in a day you’ve stood up and moved round for at the least one minute.

Totally different inner sensors detect these actions, for instance the accelerometer senses once you’re shifting versus sitting nonetheless, and the optical coronary heart price sensor judges how arduous you are figuring out and what number of energy you’ve burned. You’ll be able to set your targets for every ring and also you’ll earn badges and animations once you hit them.

The Exercise app permits you to begin and monitor an train session. The sensors may even auto-detect once you’re figuring out, tapping your wrist to counsel you monitor the exercise. Apple Watches will combine with Apple’s Health+ subscription, displaying actual time coronary heart price and calorie burn knowledge in your iPhone, iPad and even Apple TV 4K as you’re taking a category. Health+ additionally consists of audio-guided walks and runs with simply your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All three fashions assist the Exercise and Exercise apps without spending a dime. The Health+ app additionally works with all Apple Watches, however prices $10 per thirty days.

New options enabled with watchOS 11 embrace Coaching Load that gauges your physique’s response to exercises over time, which may assist athletes higher put together for occasions like marathons. Customers may also now skip a day (or extra) from health monitoring metrics when they should relaxation or aren’t feeling as much as the problem of closing their rings. The brand new OS additionally helps offline maps, which may show helpful when mountain climbing removed from mobile protection. Upcoming options of the following working system (watchOS 26) will embrace an AI Exercise Buddy to educate you thru your subsequent run by way of your related Airpods.

Siri

You will get the climate, begin a exercise, determine a track and dictate a textual content simply by asking Siri. All Apple Watch fashions assist the Increase to Communicate characteristic that bypasses the necessity to say “Hey Siri” and can as an alternative hear to your request once you elevate your wrist close to your mouth.

Each the Collection 10 and the Extremely 2 make the most of onboard processing of Siri requests. Meaning executing easy requests like beginning exercises and timers are faster, as they gained’t have to entry exterior networks. Nonetheless, requests like sending texts or getting climate forecasts nonetheless want to speak with Wi-Fi or mobile, so that you’ll have to have your cellphone close by if in case you have a GPS-only mannequin.

Carbon impartial choices

The Apple Watch Collection 9 with the aluminum case was the corporate’s first carbon impartial product. Apple defines its carbon impartial merchandise as people who use “one hundred pc clear electrical energy for manufacturing and product use, 30 p.c recycled or renewable materials by weight and 50 p.c of delivery with out the usage of air transportation.” Mixed, Apple says these modifications diminished the emissions by round 75 p.c, and the corporate will use credit so make up for the remaining emissions.

At the moment, the Apple Watch Collection 10 in both aluminum or titanium with the game loop band, braided solo loop or Milanese loop, and the Apple Watch Extremely 2 with the path loop or alpine loop bands are designated as carbon impartial merchandise.

Worth

There’s a $550 distinction between the most affordable and most costly Apple Watches. For $250 (and sometimes on sale for much less), you may get the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS-only connectivity; including mobile connectivity ups the value by $50. The Apple Watch Collection 10 begins at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular mannequin in aluminum and goes as excessive as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which is barely obtainable with GPS and mobile). The Apple Watch Extremely 2 has only one value: $799 for a titanium 49mm case with each GPS and mobile energy — although if you’d like the titanium Apple Watch Band, the value goes up. For any mannequin you choose, you will in all probability additionally need a couple of Apple Watch accessories, so you could wish to issue that into your buying choice.

How we examined Apple Watches

Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches for the reason that first one came out in 2015. Since then, we’ve tested every subsequent model Apple has released, including the Ultra and SE models, spending at the least a couple of days or perhaps a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. Throughout that point, we run, hit the health club, go on hikes and put on it whereas sleeping, all of the whereas gauging the way it tracks numerous metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs each different trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do.

Since we additionally evaluate smartwatches from different firms, corresponding to Samsung and Google, our editors can evaluate Apple Watches not simply to earlier generations, but in addition to different wearables available on the market. Our purchasing guides and proposals depend on first-hand testing by Engadget employees.

Apple Watch comparability chart