If you know you want an Apple Watch, but you don’t know which one gets, this guide is there to explain the differences between the three models. The flagship product of the company Apple Watch Series 10 has a fitness -shaped follow -up and robust health monitoring, as well as useful iPhone integrations. We named it the best smartwatch overall. THE Apple Watch Ultra 2 Repeated some additional features and is aimed at serious athletes and outdoor adventurers – and it is also the most expensive. The oldest model of the group is the budget Apple Watch is From 2022, which you can often find on sale for less than $ 200. It gives you a surprising number of features for the price. Find out the purchasing tips below to get the full story on fleas, sensors, features, battery life and price to help you choose the best Watch Apple watch for your wrist.
Table of contents
Best Apple watch in 2025
What to look for in an Apple Watch
Chips and sensors
The new Apple Watch Series 10 has a S10 SIP (system in a package) chip with a four -core neural engine. The Ultra 2 was updated last September with S9 S9 of Apple. The two chips allow the processing on disk of SIRI requests as well as dictation, translation, automatic training detection and double tap gesture which allows you to answer calls or stop an alarm by pressing twice on your thumb and index. It also allows faster automatic learning performance to interpret the data from the sensors, the recognition of speech and perform other “thought” tasks. The Apple Watch is always based on the S8 S8, which has also been used in the 8 series and on the original ultra.
The 10 and Ultra 2 series can measure certain vital signs such as heart rate, as well as take an ECG. Temperature sensors can help follow ovulation, while underwater temperature sensors Can be useful when swimming and diving. Both also support falls detection and collision detection as a safety characteristic. The three models have a compass and an altimeter. The Ultra 2 Apple Watch has an on -board SOS mermaid, as well as diving features like a depth gauge. Water characteristics have been added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but with a lower depth rating (only six meters, against 40 meters on the Ultra). Ultra includes blood oxygen sensors, but a patent dispute forced Apple to deactivate this health functionality on new models sold in the United States and the equipment is not present in the new flagship model.
The three models support communication in the field near the field (NFC), the chip that allows Apple Pay. Once you have configured it using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, you can pay things in any store that accepts Apple Pay, even if you I don’t have your phone With you.
Hits and housing sizes
The OLED screen with wide angle on the Apple Watch 10 allows you to see the screen always on more angles. Ultra 2 also has a screen always on, but you will have to lift your wrist to say the time or read the notifications on the SE. It is possible to reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the 10 series can become as brilliant as 2,000 and the Ultra 2 strikes 3,000 nits. The two high -end screens can decrease in a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark.
The Apple Watch Series 10 came with a new finish and a housing material – a black anodized jet finish on the aluminum model and the option for a titanium case. The Ultra 2 also obtained a new finish, Satin Black, which uses a PVD process (physical steam deposit) to apply the color.
As for the housing sizes, the SE is available in 40 or 44 mm. The 10 series has increased in size compared to the previous generation and now has the choice of a 42 or 46 mm box. The Ultra 2 is available in a single size by measuring 49 mm. You also have the opportunity to choose the length and style for watch groups. The SE and the 10 series are available in small / medium or medium / large and ultra 2 gives you the choice of young, medium or large.
Series 10 (left) and series 9 (right).
Cherlynn Bas for Engadget
Battery life
As it is the largest portable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the largest battery and can last 36 hours claimed on a load. This number jumps up to 72 hours if you activate the low power mode. The Apple Watch 10 and the Apple ranked 18 hours before they need a visit to the charger, and longer when using the battery saving mode. This means that if you want to use one of these models regularly for sleep tracking, you may need to recharge them a little before going to bed.
Fitness and well-being characteristics
Believe it or not, the three Apple watches have similar fitness tracker chops. The Activity application uses three “rings” to keep an eye on the quantity you move in one day: The Move Ring follows your active calories; The exercise ring monitors the minutes you spent walking, running, making yoga and so on; And the stand ring tells you how many hours a day you get up and that you got up for at least a minute.
Different internal sensors detect these activities, for example the senses of the accelerometer when you move in relation to sitting, and the optical heart rate sensor judges the hard to work and the number of calories you have burned. You can define your goals for each ring and you will gain badges and animations when you reach them.
The training application allows you to start and follow an exercise session. The sensors can even detect automatically when you work, by typing your wrist to suggest that you follow the activity. Apple watches will be integrated into the Apple Fitness + subscription, displaying cardiac frequency data in real time and calories burning on your iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV 4K while you are taking a course. Fitness + also includes walks and audio guided races with just your watch and your Bluetooth headphones. The three models support free activity and training applications. The Fitness + application also works with all Apple watches, but costs $ 10 per month.
The new features activated with Watchos 11 include a training charge that assesses your body’s response to training over time, which could help athletes better prepare for events such as marathons. Users can also ignore a day (or more) from fitness monitoring measures when they need to rest or do not feel challenged to close their rings. The new operating system also supports Offline cardsThis could be useful during hiking far from cell coverage.
Siri
You can get the weather, start training, identify a song and dictate a text simply by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raisage to Speak functionality which bypass the need to say “Hey Siri” and rather listen to your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth.
The 10 series and the Ultra 2 use the processing on Siri requests. This means that the execution of simple requests such as starting training and timer is faster because they will not need to access external networks. However, requests such as sending SMS or obtaining weather forecasts must always communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so you will have to have your phone nearby if you have a GPS model only.
Carbon neutral options
The Apple Watch Series 9 with the aluminum case was the first neutral carbon product in the company. Apple defines Its neutral carbon products like those who use “100% clean electricity for the manufacture and use of products, 30% of recycled or renewable materials in weight and 50% of shipping without the use of air transport” . Combined, Apple claims that these changes have reduced emissions by around 75%, and the company will use credits to compensate for the remaining emissions.
Currently, the Apple Watch Series 10 in aluminum or titanium with the sports loop strip, the braided solo loop or the Milanese loop, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the trail or alpine loop loop bands are designated as neutral carbon products.
Price
There is a difference of $ 550 between the cheapest and most expensive Apple watches. For $ 250 (and often on sale for less), you can get the 40 mm Apple Watch with GPS connectivity; Adding cell connectivity increases the price by $ 50. The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $ 399 for the 42 mm non -cellular model in aluminum and goes up to $ 749 for the 46 mm titanium case (which is only available with GPS and Cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has only one price: $ 799 for a 49 mm titanium box with GPS and cellular power.
How we tested Apple watches
Engadget examines Apple watches since the release of the first in 2015. Since then, we have tested each subsequent model that Apple has published, including the Ultra models and, spending at least a few days or even a few weeks with one shorter to our wrists. Meanwhile, we run, hit the gymnasium, hike and wear it during sleep, while assessing the way it follows various measures, fits into the iPhone and performs all other things that Apple claims that His smart watches can do.
Since we also review the smart watches of other companies, such as Samsung and Google, our publishers can compare Apple watches not only to previous generations, but also to other portable devices on the market. Our purchasing guides and recommendations are based on first -hand tests by the staff of Engadget.
This article originally appeared on engadget to
