An Apple Watch is not simply an adjunct or an excuse for a second display round your wrist. After a yr 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 arms 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 smooth fitness tracker and has advanced into a vital companion for iPhone customers. Apple’s smartwatches have an arsenal of handy capabilities like supplying your boarding move for a flight, figuring out a music enjoying 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 examine your coronary heart fee or information you thru a meditation.
We’re anticipating new Apple Watches to return in only some months, throughout Apple’s annual September iPhone occasion, when it debuts the most recent {hardware}. However when you’re not eager about ready a number of months to pay for an Apple Watch, these are the perfect ones you should purchase proper now.
Greatest smartwatch offers of the week
Offers are chosen by the CNET Group commerce staff, and could also be unrelated to this text.
What’s the finest Apple Watch proper now?
My choose for the perfect 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 acquired a lightweight, thinner construct, plus new sleep-tracking options like sleep apnea detection. However when you’re utilizing your Apple Watch to your Ironmans and marathons, I would advocate the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It is acquired a 24-hour battery life, an emergency siren characteristic for added security, and a bigger display.
Additionally: The best iPhones of 2025: Which model should you buy?
One of the best Apple Watches of 2025
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That is the smartwatch most individuals can purchase. The Apple Watch Collection 10 debuted in September with new options that make it a critical improve from the Collection 9. Most notably, there’s a new sleep apnea monitoring characteristic that works by way of the watch’s accelerometer, which screens actions related to respiratory sample interruptions and is tracked by Apple’s new Respiratory Disturbances metric. There may be additionally a brand new water depth gauge, which measures nearly 20 ft (as much as six meters) beneath the water’s floor, and a water temperature sensor to profit 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 Collection 9. The Collection 10 can be 10% thinner and lighter which makes it extra comfy to put on, particularly whereas sleeping.
If you would like 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 acute options within the Extremely 2, then it can save you some huge cash by going with the aluminum mannequin of the Apple Watch Collection 10 beginning at $399 (however discounted almost a yr after its launch). I counsel you skip the more durable titanium end on the Collection 10 that begins at $699 and go for the Extremely at solely $100 extra, which affords a number of further options — except you’ve a smaller wrist. Then I would recommend sticking with the Collection 10.
Apple Watch Collection 10 tech specs: Show dimension: 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 affords extra unique options than another Apple Watch mannequin to this point. Essentially the most notable distinction between the Extremely and different Apple Watch fashions is its bigger, brighter, and flatter display. The display is roofed by a sapphire crystal face and surrounded by a titanium case to extend the quantity of wear and tear and tear the watch can deal with. It is also IPX6 mud resistant, works underwater as much as 328 ft (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.
Evaluate: Apple Watch Ultra 2
ZDNET contributing author Matthew Miller tried out the Apple Watch Extremely 2 when it was launched final yr, 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 a wide range of exercise and adventuring features (together with activating the flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that may overcome interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and louder dual-integrated audio system for taking telephone calls, enjoying music, or interacting with Siri.
Many Amazon reviewers say that that is the perfect Apple Watch mannequin they’ve ever used, notably noting the watch’s high quality and huge 49mm display with 3,000 nits of brightness. Past that, the Extremely affords one key addition to the Apple Watch Collection 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 ft (180 meters) away. This may be helpful in a wide range of eventualities, together with to scare off an attacker or to alert others to your location when you’re misplaced or harm within the outside 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 ft underwater
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The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) truly has most of the similar well being and security options from the Collection 8 and the Extremely for less than $249. Nonetheless, the SE does not monitor blood oxygen, do ECG coronary heart checks, or examine your temperature. And whereas the face appears to be like similar to the Collection 8, the display is definitely about 20% smaller and does not have an always-on show.
Nonetheless, it contains almost every part else, and the mobile connectivity is just a $50 add-on for the SE (in comparison with a $100 add-on for the Collection 8). Just like the Extremely and the Collection 8, including a mobile connection may also price you about $10 per thirty days together with your wi-fi service. Even when you go together with the mobile model and go for the bigger 44mm Apple Watch SE over the smaller 40mm model, you may nonetheless solely high out at $329.
Additionally: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs Apple Watch SE (2020): Should you upgrade?
That makes the SE 2nd gen an ideal smartwatch to provide to somebody who does not have or commonly use an iPhone, reminiscent of a toddler or an older member of the family, utilizing
You’ll be able to 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 Collection 8 may make it well worth the peace of thoughts to improve. Prospects who’ve reviewed the watch additionally agree that it affords wonderful worth for the value, particularly in case you are new to the Apple Watch household.
Apple Watch SE tech specs: Show dimension: 40mm or 44mm | Battery life: As much as 18 hours | Storage capability: 32GB | Options: Most reasonably priced Apple Watch, household arrange for teenagers and older adults, well being and site monitoring, and fall and crash detection
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What are the tariffs within the U.S.?
The current U.S. tariffs on imports from international locations like China, Vietnam, and India intention to spice up home manufacturing, however are prone to drive up costs on client electronics. Merchandise like smartphones, laptops, and TVs might grow to be dearer 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, customers 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 complicated and will not present quick aid. Within the quick time period, buyers ought to anticipate greater prices for smartwatches and wearables as a consequence of these commerce insurance policies.
Proper now, it appears to be like like some tech could also be exempt from the issued tariffs, however because it’s at all times altering and growing, we’re maintaining a tally 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 Collection 10 is the mannequin that may fulfill most customers, whereas the Apple Watch Extremely 2 is the smartwatch constructed for energy customers, hardcore athletes, and outside fans. 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 | Worth | Show dimension | Battery life | Storage capability | Chip |
| Apple Watch Collection 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 hassle deciding between Apple Watch fashions? Here is a fast abstract of the first cause to purchase every one.
| Select this Apple Watch… | If you need… |
| Apple Watch Collection 10 | One of the best 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, respiratory, sleep apnea, exercise (in fact), and health. It is thinner and lighter with a bigger show as effectively. |
| Apple Watch Extremely 2 | All the perfect smartwatch options Apple has to supply, geared in direction of customers who’d use the look ahead to outside 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 contains all the fundamental options at a lower cost and is a superb choose for first-time Apple Watch patrons or to provide 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 you must contemplate earlier than shopping for one, together with:
- Show dimension: Apple Watch shows now are available basically three completely different sizes (40/41, 44/45, and 49). Relying on the scale of your wrist and the way a lot you wish to work together with the look ahead to fast actions, the show dimension might be a giant consider figuring out which mannequin makes probably the most sense.
- Options: Apple methodically provides an increasing number of 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 had been chosen primarily based on how they carried out when tested in the real world by the ZDNET staff. Once we check smartwatches, we sometimes comply with the identical routine for every one to see which performs finest.
- Every day put on: We put on the smartwatch as our main watch, with communications, purposes, and different parts being examined as if it had been our solely smartwatch.
- Utility choice and efficiency: One side that makes smartwatches completely different than customary watches is the help for purposes. We load up the watch with apps after which check the efficiency and performance of these purposes. For instance, Apple notably excels within the space of third-party software help.
- 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 fee 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 good rings and different watches. Nighttime can be an excellent time to cost your smartwatch, so it’s possible you’ll 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. Nonetheless, 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 not 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 telephone 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 by way of WatchOS 26, its smartwatch software program. These embody a Exercise Buddy characteristic by way of the Health app that may information you thru your exercises, together with stats and encouragements as you run, cycle, or energy practice.
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 available for purchase refurbished at locations like BackMarket and are nonetheless a few of the finest smartwatches in the marketplace. Simply needless to say 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 the perfect Apple Watch fashions embody superior well being sensors (ECG, blood oxygen, wrist temperature, and many others.), connectivity choices (is mobile included or further, if you would like 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).
One of the best Apple Look ahead to health monitoring is the Apple Watch Collection 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 respiratory features, wrist temperature, and extra.
In case you’re somebody who spends time mountain climbing, doing triathlons, and concerned in outside actions in excessive temperatures, rugged situations, and plenty of mud and water, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 could also be value the additional price. Its design makes it extra sturdy and waterproof (as much as 100m) than the opposite Apple Watch fashions, and it contains an Motion Button for fine-tuning exercises and hikes.
Whereas it isn’t made particularly with youngsters in thoughts, the Apple Watch SE is a wonderful smartwatch for older youngsters with standout options plus parental controls. Together with enabling telephone 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 1000’s of apps.
Additionally: The best smartwatches for kids
As well as, you need to use Apple’s Household Setup to examine your child’s location, arrange shared contacts, implement parental controls like display time utilization, and extra. Your baby does not even want their very own iPhone to have an Apple Watch — they will pair it up with yours, so that you’re absolutely in management.
You can not use an Android telephone to arrange and pair with an Apple Watch, and there are not any good workarounds for that. Nonetheless, you probably have an Android telephone, there are a number of smartwatches you may select from that supply many of the similar 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
