Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?

The $800 Apple Watch Ultra 3 is aimed at serious athletes and outdoorsy types. The beefier crown and large buttons on the sides allow menu-free access to your most-used functions. Unlike other models, the Watch Ultra 3 comes in only one display size, 49 mm.

The display is brighter than the one on the Series 11, Apple says, which helps with readability in low or bright light. It’s also the largest-ever Apple Watch, which may be a negative for someone with a petite wrist or a desire for a more subtle everyday look.

Some of the premium features seem particularly useful for a regular adventurer, like new Emergency SOS via satellite connection, the ability to set off an 86-decibel siren should you need help, or the ability to function as a full-fledged dive computer via an app from Oceanic+. Apple says the Ultra 3 is now capable of alerting you to chronically high blood pressure, too, a new feature also available with the Series 11 Watch.

The previous generation Ultra 2 performs very well in our labs, earning top scores for ease of use, scratch and water resistance, and build quality. That model also earns the highest scores for the versatility of its features generally and the accuracy of its fitness features. In particular, step counting and heart rate monitoring are very accurate. (We’ll see if the new Ultra 3 performs at the same level; CR members can access the full Ultra 3 test results soon.)

This newest version of the $400 classic Apple Watch is the pick for anyone who wants the latest health and fitness features without the added bells and whistles (or bulky design) of the Ultra 3. While we haven’t yet seen how the Series 11 performs in our labs, you can likely expect a device similar to the high-performing Apple Watch Series 10.

The Series 11 case is offered in 46-mm and 42-mm sizes, like as the previous Series 10. You can opt for an aluminum case or a premium-priced titanium case, both in a few different colors. The watch is significantly thinner and lighter than the Ultra 3—making it potentially more comfortable to wear all day, including to bed.

No matter the size or display type you choose, expect a top-tier smartwatch that performs close to last year’s Series 10—equipped with all the important functionality that matters to a typical smartwatch user, like sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and tap-to-pay.

Apple just released the third generation of the budget Apple Watch SE. It’s the lowest-tier in Apple’s smartwatch lineup but still provides all the essentials (and many nice-to-have features) that most smartwatch users want out of a device. The SE supports fall detection, family setup, and Emergency SOS, which lets you call for help and alert preselected contacts, and international emergency calling, useful if you run into trouble overseas. It also has tap-to-pay functionality, on-device GPS, and automatic workout detection.

What are you giving up? A few health and safety features, like the new hypertension monitoring now available on the Series 11 and Ultra 3. You’ll also lose a bit of display size and brightness, Apple says. In our lab tests, the previous second-gen SE (shown below) ranks a bit below the Ultra 2 and Series 10 watches, as well as a number of other non-Apple models, although its ratings are still well above average in all the categories we test. We’ll be putting the newest iteration of Apple’s $249 budget model to the test soon.

The Series 10 is no longer officially listed in Apple’s lineup or sold directly in Apple stores, but you can still find it on sale at certain retailers, often refurbished, and it could be an appealing option if the price is right. Listed as low as $300, it’s a more-than-reasonable alternative to the Series 11 or even the lower-priced SE.

This model is light and thin, with a bright, quality display. It has a wide variety of health, fitness, and safety features, including an ECG function designed to detect unusual heart rhythms and sleep apnea detection. Of course, it also offers the basics most of us are looking for in a smartwatch, like sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and workout logging.

Do you need cellular? All Apple Watch Series and SE models can be purchased with Bluetooth connectivity alone. Adding cellular capacity raises the sticker price by about $100, plus the roughly $10-per-month fee for a wireless plan. The Ultra models can be purchased only with cellular capacity, but you don’t have to activate it.

Most people probably don’t need a watch with cellular. If you’re a runner and you want to leave your phone at home but want to be reachable for calls and texts, the cellular option is a sensible upgrade. It might also be useful to an older person or anyone depending on the fall-protection features, which would otherwise rely on keeping a smartphone within range.

But many users are rarely out of Bluetooth range of their smartphones, which makes a cellular watch redundant.

Is bigger better? Regardless of which model you’re considering, anyone with smaller wrists will probably gravitate toward the smaller sizes. While men tend to buy the bigger size (which costs a little more), many find the smaller watch to be just right.

Fancy finishes: The starting prices listed in this article are for the basic aluminum finish. But on the Series 11, you can level up with a more premium slate, gold, or natural titanium finish, though you’re likely to see little functional difference. Apple also offers top-of-the-line Hermès designs with fashion-forward straps and hefty prices.

Beyond the Apple Watch: Yes, Apple’s smartwatches are great, especially if you own an iPhone or other Apple devices, but we also recommend models made by companies like Google, Fitbit, and Samsung. As always, Consumer Reports members can consult our smartwatch and fitness tracker ratings for full test results on more than 50 models.