The Apple Watch has been around since 2015. Time flies, right? And over the last eight years, a bunch of different versions have been released. We’re talking new generations of the flagship ‘Series’ model, budget-friendly ‘SE’ smart watches, and even souped-up ‘Ultra’ timepieces for the mega Apple fans.
But is there a best Apple Watch overall? Well, in terms of features, yes there is — and you can probably guess which one! But you should think about what you’ll actually use your Apple Watch for instead of gunning for the most expensive option. All the bells and whistles are great, but if you’re not going to use most of them — what’s the point?
If you’re not familiar with the Apple Watch — or want to know a bit more about what each model has to offer — we’re here to cut through the confusion. The best Apple Watch for you is just waiting to be worn. So, here’s our top recommendations to suit your lifestyle, budget, and other factors.
Best Apple Watch for fitness
All of Apple’s smart watches are great if you’re into your fitness. They offer various apps to supercharge your workouts and can even measure things like your heart rate. The Activity app gives you an easy way to reach your fitness goals, letting you monitor exactly how many calories you’ve burned in a day.
And this works perfectly with the Workout app, which features a variety of fitness programs. From cardio-focused activities to strength training, and even sports like tennis and basketball. It tracks your progress, encourages you along the way, and neatly outlines your results!
If you’re looking for the best Apple Watch for fitness tracking, then you can’t go wrong with the Series 9 or Ultra 2. These come equipped with a wide variety of health sensors to keep you in tip-top condition. This includes an ECG app to monitor your heart's rhythm and electrical activity, and a sensor to measure your blood oxygen too. There’s even a Sleep app that can tell you how well you slept. After all, recovery is just as important as the exercises you do.
The entry-level Apple Watch SE falls short on some of the more extensive health-monitoring gizmos. But it can still pack a punch for those on a budget.
Best Apple Watch for health & heart monitoring
What we said above applies here too. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models will go a step further than the SE when it comes to monitoring your health and heart. That’s because they have ECG and Blood Oxygen apps/sensors which give you more detailed metrics than what you’ll see in the Heart Rate app.
The ECG app allows you to take an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals in the heart. While the Blood Oxygen app measures the percentage of oxygen that your red blood cells carry from your lungs to the rest of the body. Being aware of how well oxygenated your blood is can give you a clearer picture of your overall health and wellness.
Some people might not be interested in any of these health and heart monitoring tools. But keeping an eye on things like your heart rate is important. It can show you how hard you're working out, help to you keep on top of any chronic conditions, and even alert you when something is wrong.
Best Apple Watch for running
If you’re a keen runner, the Workout app on all of Apple’s smart watch models can really ramp up your training routine. This app provides you with a range of workout types, so if you want to take up other exercises — they’re all there!
The ‘Running’ option gives you ‘Indoor Run’ and ‘Outdoor Run’ modes, depending on whether you’re on a treadmill or trekking down a trail. With the latter, you can track metrics like your pace and the distance covered thanks to the built-in GPS. All current Apple Watches also have built-in altimeters to track elevation.
The Apple Watch SE, Series 9 or Ultra 2 can become a great running partner. But with its precision dual-frequency GPS — the Apple Watch Ultra 2 should provide more accurate data than the others.
Best Apple Watch for swimming
All the current Apple Watches are perfectly fine for swimming with. In fact, every version made since the second gen has a water-resistance rating of 50 meters — including the cheaper SE models. We wouldn’t recommend swimming with an older Apple Watch though, as “water resistance isn't a permanent condition and can diminish over time” — according to Apple. If you want to learn more about how waterproof Apple Watches are, check out this article.
But we can say that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will hold up better in the deep end than any other Apple Watch. That’s because this top-of-the-line smart watch has a water-resistance rating of 100 meters. That’s double the amount of any other Apple Watch! And with it, you can even dive up to 40 metres with the Ultra 2 easily handling the pressure. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has a dedicated Depth app that can measure water temperature, duration, and depth. Pretty neat if you’re into your metrics.
It’s worth adding that all Apple Watches have a Water Lock function too. This simple feature stops water or accidental taps from activating the display. So, when you’re busy perfecting your butterfly — your Apple Watch won’t respond to any accidental inputs. You can also open the Workout app to make the most of your swimming sessions. Just scroll to the 'Pool Swim' or 'Open Water Swim' modes and set calorie, distance, or time goals.
Best Apple Watch for golf
Special golf watches have been around for a while. They're great for serious players who want to boost their performance. They can map out courses, display contour data to help plan your approach, and do loads more. Some even have "virtual caddies" that recommend clubs for certain shots — based on wind and elevation. They’re really su-par.
This tech has found its way onto Apple Watches, which are really striking a chord with golfers. There are now lots of app developers that have come up with their own golf software for the Apple Watch. Arccos Caddie, Golfshot, VPAR and many others let you track shots, set up tournaments with friends, give you real-time distances to the green, and lots more. All from your Apple Watch!
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a great golf watch, no doubt. But the Ultra 2 with its bigger and brighter display, better battery life, and precision dual-frequency GPS makes it the ultimate choice if you can afford it. If you're using a golf app with GPS flyovers, they just look incredible on the Ultra 2. Wearing one of these, you'll be strutting down the fairway with a spring in your step.
Best affordable Apple Watch
The best budget Apple Watch is the SE (2nd generation). It gives you almost as much as the Apple Watch Series 9, minus a few features to save you some money. Does it offer as much processing power and speed? No. Can it have an always-on display. No. But this is the best choice if you're after the basic stuff and aren't too fussed about the more technical features.
For example, the Apple Watch SE has a rich-looking LTPO OLED Retina display just like you'll find on the Series 9. The size options are a fraction smaller and it’s not as bright, but this display is still perfectly clear in most situations. Storage and RAM specs are also the same (32 GB and 1 GB), and the SE offers up to 18 hours of battery life just like the Series 9 too.
The SE can't do all the fancy health tracking stuff that the Series 9 can. That means no ECG (heart rhythm) capabilities, or Sp02 (blood oxygen) and body temperature sensors. The 9 also gives you more detailed sleep and cycle tracking analytics and features an updated heart rate sensor that’s more accurate.
But the Apple Watch SE still offers activity and step tracking, as well as basic sleep and heart rate monitoring. Car crash detection and emergency SOS functions are all there, and the SE is just as water-resistant as the Series 9 too. Swimming should be no problem with an Apple Watch SE!
Best Apple Watch for kids
Apple don’t make any of their smart watches specifically for children. But having said that, there’s quite a lot of variety when it comes to Apple Watch specs. And some of these features would probably be more suitable for kids if they want a smart wearable.
The affordable Apple Watch SE model comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The dinkier 40mm option makes more sense for youngsters — they’re smaller after all! The fancier Series 9 model comes in at 41mm for the most compact option too, so if your child wants more features then this is a solid choice.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 would be too big and bulky for kids, with its thicker casing that measures at 49mm. And as the most expensive model in the Apple Watch range, we wouldn’t recommend it for children. They’re not always the most careful. Although saying that — it’s the most rugged of the three models to be fair. So, it’s really up to you.
Apple Watches also come in different case colours, and there are various straps to add your own style. The SE colour palette is a bit limited, but the Series 9 offers everything from Midnight (black) and Silver to brighter colours like Pink and Gold — which kids might prefer. When it comes to straps, we’d recommend either the ‘Sports Band’ or the ‘Solo Loop’. These are both made from a rubber-like material, which is easy to keep clean as it’s not absorbent like some of the other straps you can choose.
Best Apple Watch alternatives
Of course, there are plenty of other smart watches to consider. If you’ve got an Android smartphone, you’ll want a smart watch that can pair up with your device. That’s because Apple Watches only work with iPhones. Once you’re in the Apple ecosystem, you have to commit!
Luckily, there are loads of other smart watches out there if the Apple Watch doesn’t take your fancy. Big tech brands like Samsung and Huawei make their own smart watches, and they offer a bit more variety when it comes to looks and colours. Some of them even have a more traditional look — perfect if you prefer that old-school style of watch.
FAQs
Is Apple Watch the best fitness tracker?
Apple Watches are very good for fitness tracking. They have advanced sensors to monitor things like your heart rate, blood oxygen and temperature. Apple Watches also come loaded with handy apps. And these can make the most of your workout sessions by tracking your progress and summing up any useful health metrics. If you’re on a tight budget, there are fitness trackers from the likes of Fitbit and Garmin that are worth checking out.
Is Apple Watch the best smart watch?
That’s completely subjective. If you’re an iPhone user or just a fan of Apple products, then an Apple Watch is a no-brainer. They work perfectly with other Apple devices, look great, and the three models in the range (SE, Series 9 and Ultra 2) cater for all budgets.
Do you need an iPhone to use an Apple Watch?
To get the most out of your Apple Watch — and vice versa — you’ll need an iPhone. It’s specifically designed to pair and sync up with an iPhone via Bluetooth. This is so that you can take calls and see notifications/messages from your phone appear straight on your wrist.
But Apple Watches can still work without your iPhone nearby or when they’re disconnected from Wi-Fi. Your iPhone isn’t life support for the watch! You can play music, stream podcasts, use transit cards or student ID, make purchases with Apple Pay, track your activity and workouts, and loads more.
If you want to learn even more about Apple Watches, click here. And for those looking to customise their smart watch with a new strap, screen protector or wireless charging dock — check out our range of smart watch/fitness accessories.
