Some Apple Watches are built for checking your steps on the school run, others for long runs, weekend hikes and days when you don't want to worry about battery life. The trick is finding the right fit, whether you're trying to close your rings before bed or tracking a long run somewhere your phone signal gave up hours ago.
We've tested Apple's watches for the things that matter once the novelty wears off, including how long they last between charges, how useful their health features are and whether their fitness data stands up to scrutiny. We've compared heart-rate readings against an external monitor, too. After all, a colourful graph is lovely, but it's not much use if the numbers are off.
With new models arriving each year, it's tempting to assume the latest Apple Watch is automatically the one to buy. It isn't necessarily. We'll help you separate meaningful upgrades from minor tweaks, work out where spending more makes sense and spot older models that could be a better deal.
There's one important catch before you get carried away. Every Apple Watch needs an iPhone to set up and use. If you're on Android, our best Android smartwatches guide is the place to start. If you have an iPhone but aren't wedded to Apple, our best smartwatches for iPhone guide covers the alternatives.
Here are the best Apple Watches to buy in 2026.
We've added our verdicts on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, including their updated health tracking, battery life and how they compare with their predecessors. We've refreshed our recommendations to help you decide whether the latest upgrades are worth paying for or an older Apple Watch makes better financial sense.
As Fitness and Wearables Editor, Matt is responsible for curating the Best Apple Watch buying guide, alongside all other on-site fitness content. He's very excited to get to grips with the next iteration of Apple Watches.
Best Apple Watch overall
The Apple Watch Series 12 is our best Apple Watch overall, and after more than a month of testing, it's easy to see why. The design hasn't changed much, but the brains behind that familiar squircle have had a useful upgrade. The new Readiness Score is the star of the show, turning sleep and health data into a score out of 10 to help you decide whether to lace up for a workout or take it easier. In testing, the scores generally matched how the reviewer felt. Crucially, you don't need another subscription to access them.
The refreshed health sensors collect heart-rate and heart-rate variability data more frequently. The S11 chip keeps everything feeling snappy, from starting workouts to checking stats at a glance. We particularly like the customisable watch faces, which let you put useful information such as your step count and heart rate front and centre. Apple calls these little on-screen displays complications. They save you from having to dig through apps just to check your stats. Battery life generally lasted a full day, with 30-45% left by bedtime on typical days. Faster charging makes top-ups less of a faff.
There are a couple of things to bear in mind. The reviewer experienced two overnight battery drain-outs, which interrupted sleep tracking and could leave you without a Readiness Score the next morning. The design is familiar, so the biggest gains are under the hood rather than on your wrist. If you're upgrading from a Series 9 or older, the new health features make a strong case for switching. Series 11 owners may want to wait, particularly with Apple's upcoming AI features still on the horizon.
Read our full Apple Watch Series 12 review
Best budget Apple Watch
The Apple Watch SE 3 is probably the best Apple Watch for most people. Sure, it's got an 18-hour battery life instead of 24 hours, and the older, smaller OLED screen rather than the expansive curved number sported by the Series 11. It's also got a nylon backing to save on cost, rather than aluminum.
However, it's still tremendous value for the price, with the S10 chipset and watchOS 26 unlocking lots of features boasted by its contemporaries like the Ultra 3 and Series 11. The smartwatch really is one of the best value for money prospects on the smartwatch market right now, and during our tests performed as well as the standard Series 11.
Fast charging helps to make up the shortfall in battery life, but it's still far too short for those used to the likes of a Garmin watch. However, it doesn't change the fact that the Apple Watch SE 3 comes highly recommended.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review
Watch: Our video Apple Watch SE 3 review
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Best Apple watch for battery life
Battery life is the Apple Watch Ultra 4's biggest strength. In our testing, it lasted around two and a half days between charges, even with the always-on display enabled and sleep tracking running overnight. That's a welcome break from the nightly charging routine, and if you do run low, 15 to 20 minutes on the charger is enough to restore around 30% battery.
The Ultra 4 has useful health features to match that stamina. Like the Apple Watch Series 12, it gets Apple's new Readiness Score, which uses sleep and activity data to help you decide whether you're primed for a tough workout or might be better off taking it easy. You don't need a subscription to access it, either. The updated health sensors also take heart-rate and heart-rate variability readings more frequently. The latter measures the time between heartbeats and can offer clues about recovery and stress. During our testing, the Ultra 4's average heart-rate reading on a 5km run came within 2bpm of an electrical heart-rate monitor.
Its rugged 49mm titanium case, bright display and customisable Action Button make it a good companion for outdoor adventures. The button gives you quick access to a chosen function, such as starting a workout, and the S11 chip keeps apps and menus running smoothly.
The trade-off is size. This is a substantial watch, and it can feel like overkill if you have smaller wrists or simply want something discreet.
The Ultra 4 sticks with the familiar design of the Ultra 3, refining the experience rather than reinventing it. If you already own last year's model, the changes may not be enough to tempt you to upgrade just yet. For older Apple Watch owners, the Ultra 4 brings longer battery life, smarter health tracking and a rugged build.
Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 4 review
Best previous gen Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, more vibrant display than the Series 9, and it's also thinner in profile. Apple's wide-angle OLED serves up 40% more brightness when you view your Apple Watch face at a glance, and it now refreshes at a lower rate of 1Hz, once per second. That means that seconds can now be displayed on some Watch Faces through the always-on display.
Other upgrades include the addition of media playback through the speaker, and a new charging coil that can be used to fast charge your watch from 0-80% in just 30 minutes, up from 45 in the Apple Watch Series 9.
There's not much to write home about beyond the chassis redesign and the new display, and you only get 18 hours of battery life compared to the Series 11's 24 hours. However, if you're not looking for an SE 3 and you're still in the market for a cheap Apple Watch, it's this or the SE 2.
Read our full Apple Watch Series 10 review
Best Apple Watch for deals
The Apple Watch SE 2 is the Apple Watch for anyone who doesn't need an always-on display and isn't too fussed about tracking their blood oxygen level or ECG. It has the car crash detection tool of the 8, plus extensive fitness tracking so you're hardly missing out.
There's a gorgeous screen with brightness up to 1,000 nits so flicking your wrist up isn't exactly suffering here. Using the same processor as the Apple Watch 8 means you get speedy performance while surprisingly, we found the battery overperformed with around two days of life here.
It's since been supplanted by the SE 3 for 2025, but it's cheap and cheerful and you can find great deals at third-party tech retailers looking to clear old stock.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 2 review
How to choose the best Apple Watch for you
The main thing to consider when buying a new Apple Watch is the price. Apple doesn't sell older watches itself, but continues to support older models for years afterwards, so you can still buy older generations from third parties and be sure you'll keep getting software updates and repairs for a few years to come.
Features are also worth bearing in mind: some newer Apple Watches have always-on displays, more advanced sensors, more advanced GPS and newer exercise tools.
There's one other thing to consider, and that's availability. Apple only sells its most modern watches, and while third-party retailers usually offer a bigger range, older watches aren't always available in all sizes and colors. If you're after the Barbie-style pink Series 9, for example, you might be out of luck as it was very popular at the time of release.
FAQs
Is it worth buying an Apple Watch?
If you already own an iPhone and are looking to buy a smartwatch, it's hard to argue against an Apple Watch. Few smartwatches integrate so seamlessly with your phone, whether you're checking notifications, making contactless payments, tracking workouts or keeping an eye on your health. Apple has also continued to expand what the watch can do through software. Our roundup of the five biggest new watchOS 26 features highlights additions like AI-powered Workout Buddy, Sleep Score and Hypertension Notifications.
The only major catch is compatibility. Apple Watches simply don't work with Android phones, so if you're outside the Apple ecosystem you'll get far better value from a Wear OS watch or a fitness watch from Garmin.
What can you do on an Apple Watch?
Apple Watches can do far more than simply tell the time. You can track workouts, monitor key health metrics, make and receive calls, reply to messages, pay with Apple Pay, navigate with Apple Maps, stream music and podcasts, control smart home devices, check the weather and receive notifications without reaching for your iPhone.
They're also becoming increasingly capable health and fitness companions. Depending on the model, features include ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, cycle tracking, fall detection, crash detection and, on the latest watches, new software features like Sleep Score and Workout Buddy.
Thanks to the watchOS App Store, you can also download third-party apps for everything from productivity and travel to fitness and meditation. Just bear in mind that not every Apple Watch supports every feature, so it's worth checking the specifications and our review of the model you're considering before you buy.
Are there other Apple Watches?
You will notice that older models such as the original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4, Series 5 and early SE versions are no longer included in this guide. These models are increasingly difficult to find new, and the latest version of watchOS no longer supports some of them.
As Apple continues to update its software, older watches are gradually dropped from support, so even more recent models like Series 6 and earlier are likely to disappear from compatibility in future updates.
You may still be able to find older Apple Watches through some retailers or second-hand marketplaces, but we would generally recommend choosing one of the newer models in this guide. They will receive longer software support, better performance, and a more refined overall experience.
What iPhone do you need to use an Apple Watch?
Unlike Google's Wear OS devices, the Apple Watch only works with iPhone. You will need a compatible iPhone running a recent version of iOS to pair and use it.
This unlocks access to the latest watchOS features, including advanced hiking and cycling tools, new watch faces and mental health tools.
It's always worth checking Apple’s latest compatibility list before buying, especially if you are using an older iPhone, as requirements can change between generations.
- We answer the big question: can the Apple Watch work without an iPhone?
What bands can you use with the Apple Watch?
There are dozens of straps sold by Apple that offer a huge variety of styles for your wrist. When you first buy your Apple Watch you'll have a strap included, but you can buy and easily switch out different straps that you buy separately.
There are material and color options available including leather link, solo loop, Milanese loop, braided solo loop, and much more. Any Apple Watch strap works with any Apple Watch, as long as you've got the right smaller or larger size watch.
Plus there are lots of third-party bands available too, but make sure you get the right size as it won't support all watch straps. Want to see our favorites? Here's our selection of the best Apple Watch bands.
What’s the best Apple smartwatch for women vs men?
One of the best things about the Apple Watch is that it's designed for everyone. Rather than choosing between a men's or women's model, it's more important to think about which Apple Watch best suits your lifestyle and wrist size.
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3 are both available in two case sizes, making them a good fit for a wide range of wrists. If you prefer a larger display for viewing notifications, maps and workout stats, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers a single 49mm case. Our advice is to prioritise comfort over screen size, because an Apple Watch only earns its keep if you're happy wearing it all day and night.
If you're looking for menstrual health tracking, the Cycle Tracking app is available on modern Apple Watches, while models with a temperature sensor, including the Apple Watch Series 8 and later and Apple Watch Ultra models, can also provide retrospective ovulation estimates.
How we test
When we use Apple Watches, we wear the smartwatches all day, every day—we go for runs with them on, gym sessions, we take calls on them, track our sleep with them, check our notifications with them, and even test out some of the weird and wonderful apps available.
We keep them on our wrists day in, day out (okay, we take them off when we wash) just to make sure we know the Apple Watch experience inside and out. We also test updated software features on current-gen watches too, to ensure we're getting the best experience.
Got your Apple Watch? Learn how to use it
Below are a selection of the how-to guides we have at TechRadar to help you understand some of the complicated parts of setting up, customizing and using your new smartwatch.
- How to pair your Apple Watch
- How to turn on your Apple Watch
- How to reset your Apple Watch
- How to change your Apple Watch face
- How to change your Apple Watch band
- How to set up Spotify on your Apple Watch
- Is your Apple Watch waterproof?
- How to take an ECG with the Apple Watch 4, 5 or 6
- Lost your wearable? Here's how to find your Apple Watch
Also consider
- Our best Garmin watch list, which work with iPhones just as well as Android
- No iPhone, or planning to switch? Check out our best Android watch list
