The very best Apple Watch in 2025

Apple has simply three smartwatches in its present lineup. We predict the flagship Apple Watch Collection 10 is the perfect for most individuals, however athletes and out of doors fans is perhaps happier with the Apple Watch Extremely 2. The finances mannequin, the Apple Watch SE, gives a stunning array of options for the value. All three are wonderful companions in your iPhone and all do an ideal 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 essentially the most sense for you.

Desk of contents

Finest Apple Watch in 2025

Photograph by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Chip: S10 SiP | Sensors: ECG, coronary heart price, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/crash detection | Show: All the time‑on Retina wide-angle OLED show, max 2,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case dimension: 42mm or 46mm

Learn our full evaluate of the Apple Watch Collection 10

Beforehand, the massive information for Apple’s flagship wearable was the brand new Double Faucet gesture. This time, essentially the most notable replace for the Apple Watch Collection 10 comes on the surface, with an even bigger display screen matched with a thinner total design. As a substitute of 41 and 45mm case sizes, now you can get the watch in both 42mm or 46mm. And, because of a redesigned steel again that integrates the antenna into the housing, it’s now simply 9.7mm thick, a full millimeter thinner than the Collection 9.

In her evaluate, Engadget’s Cherlynn Low stated the brand new watch was noticeably thinner and lighter, although that didn’t make an enormous distinction in consolation between the brand new model and its predecessor. The bigger display screen did make some issues clearer, resembling highway names in Maps. The wide-angle OLED show additionally made it simpler to learn the face when not wanting immediately at it.

The Collection 10 delivers extra highly effective speaker output, too. Cherlynn famous that the audio system are most likely not one thing you’ll wish to depend on for prolonged listening, and so they positively work higher in quiet environments. But when it is advisable hear a tune or a little bit of a podcast sooner or later, your watch shall be higher outfitted to take action. One other {hardware} improve comes with the addition of a depth gauge. It’s not meant for diving, because the gauge is just rated to 6 meters, nevertheless it might offer you insights when snorkeling or swimming.

Along with sleep monitoring, the watch now additionally helps sleep apnea detection, a situation that’s critically under-diagnosed. Whereas it’s not meant for individuals who already know they’ve the dysfunction, it might assist determine sure respiratory patterns throughout sleep that ought to be checked out by a health care provider. That characteristic can even be accessible on the Apple Watch Collection 9 with watchOS 11.

Battery life didn’t change drastically — Apple nonetheless guarantees an 18-hour stretch per cost — and that comparatively brief span has at all times been our largest grievance with the watch. The charging velocity, nonetheless, did get a lift. It is best to now be capable to get your watch as much as 80 p.c in only a half an hour utilizing a fast-charge-certified charger.

After all, the brand new options aren’t the one cause to purchase an Apple Watch Collection 10. It simply occurs to be the perfect companion you will get for an iPhone. The watch will preserve you on prime of your notifications (presenting fewer distractions than your telephone), whereas the exercise monitoring and health options may help preserve you motivated, if that’s one thing you’re into. It will possibly additionally remind you to take meds, word your moods and log your interval for cycle monitoring and predictions.

Finally, we expect the Apple Watch Collection 10 is a superb purchase for iOS customers who’re both new to Apple Watches or coming from a Collection 8 or older. If you happen to’ve received a Collection 9, you’ll be able to most likely wait on an improve.

Professionals

• Thinner and lighter construct
• Doubtlessly useful sleep apnea detection
• The very best companion for an iPhone
• Helpful new water sports activities options

Cons

• Nonetheless solely has an 18-hour battery life

$329 at Amazon

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

Learn our full evaluate 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 within the works (and we have now some concepts on what Apple can enhance). However for now, this $250 smartwatch is Apple’s finances choice. 

Cherlynn additionally 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 observed a distinction in efficiency” in comparison with the older Apple Watch.

That stated, there are some trade-offs. You received’t get an always-on show, blood oxygen monitoring or a temperature sensor. The SE can also’t help the brand new Double Faucet characteristic and requires your telephone 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 chrome 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 nicely, like sharing notifications, controlling your music playback and setting timers and alarms. 

Although the display screen isn’t fairly as vibrant because the pricier fashions, we thought it was crisp and straightforward to learn, even in vibrant daylight. The health monitoring is correct, the design is light-weight and cozy 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 best way to go.

Professionals

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

Cons

• Lacks blood oxygen and temperature sensors
• Would not help 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

Learn our full evaluate of the Apple Watch Extremely

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Extremely 2 on the similar occasion because the Collection 9 however, the next 12 months, we didn’t get an Apple Watch Extremely 3. As a substitute, 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 operate really saved her and our video producer Brian from taking an unintended detour within the flawed route. The operate lives throughout the Compass app and allows you to set waypoints resembling marking the car 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 period and gauge as much as 40 meters of depth. For exercises nearer to residence, the dual-frequency GPS offers 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 just a little apply.

The S9 SiP chip allows 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 lots vibrant 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 accessible on the unique AWU.) The battery life stays the identical at 36 hours, and we received about three days of average use out of the Extremely earlier than needing a recharge. The low energy mode is especially spectacular, squeezing out many further hours from a near-empty watch.

Professionals

• Sturdy construct
• Specialised options for out of doors actions
• Giant display screen shows numerous 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 to pair any Apple Watch to your Android telephone. Observe that you simply can pair different wearables (like a Garmin tracker or a Fitbit band) together 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 up to date final 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 allows sooner 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 Collection 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 may help observe ovulation, whereas underwater temperature sensors could come in useful whereas swimming and snorkeling. Each additionally help 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 had 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 contains blood oxygen sensors, however a patent dispute has compelled Apple to disable that well being characteristic on new fashions offered within the US and the {hardware} isn’t current within the new flagship mannequin.

All three fashions help close to discipline 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 do not have your telephone with you.

Shows and case sizes

The wide-angle OLED show on the Apple Watch 10 helps you to see the always-on show from extra angles. The Extremely 2 additionally has an always-on show, however you’ll must 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 vibrant 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 nighttime.

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 received 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 obtainable 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 choose the size and elegance for watch bands. The SE and Collection 10 are available small/medium or medium/giant and the Extremely 2 offers you the selection of small, medium or giant.

Battery life

Because it’s the biggest wearable, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 sports activities the most important 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 repeatedly for sleep monitoring, you might have to recharge them a bit earlier than mattress.

Health and wellness options

Consider 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 transferring in a day: The Transfer ring tracks your energetic energy; the Train ring displays the minutes you’ve spent strolling, operating, 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 no less than one minute.

Completely different inner sensors detect these actions, for instance the accelerometer senses whenever you’re transferring versus sitting nonetheless, and the optical coronary heart price sensor judges how exhausting you are understanding and what number of energy you’ve burned. You possibly can set your objectives for every ring and also you’ll earn badges and animations whenever you hit them.

The Exercise app helps you to begin and observe an train session. The sensors may even auto-detect whenever you’re understanding, tapping your wrist to counsel you observe 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 are taking a category. Health+ additionally contains audio-guided walks and runs with simply your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All three fashions help the Exercise and Exercise apps at no cost. The Health+ app additionally works with all Apple Watches, however prices $10 monthly.

New options enabled with watchOS 11 embody Coaching Load that gauges your physique’s response to exercises over time, which might 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 might show helpful when mountain climbing removed from mobile protection. Upcoming options of the subsequent working system (watchOS 26) will embody an AI Exercise Buddy to educate you thru your subsequent run through your related Airpods.

Siri

You will get the climate, begin a exercise, determine a tune and dictate a textual content simply by asking Siri. All Apple Watch fashions help the Increase to Converse characteristic that bypasses the necessity to say “Hey Siri” and can as an alternative hear in your request whenever 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 received’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 telephone close by when you’ve got 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 “100% 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 using air transportation.” Mixed, Apple says these modifications decreased 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.

Value

There’s a $550 distinction between the most affordable and costliest Apple Watches. For $250 (and infrequently on sale for much less), you will 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 just accessible 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 in order for you the titanium Apple Watch Band, the value goes up. For any mannequin you decide, you may most likely additionally need a couple of Apple Watch equipment, so you might 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 got here out in 2015. Since then, we’ve examined each subsequent mannequin Apple has launched, together with the Extremely and SE fashions, spending no less than a couple of days or perhaps a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. Throughout that point, we run, hit the gymnasium, go on hikes and put on it whereas sleeping, all of the whereas gauging the way it tracks varied metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs each different trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do.

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

Apple Watch comparability chart