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The best Apple Watch for you varies depending on why you want one. With an increasing number of options, it isn't simply a case of being the latest and greatest with different watches aimed at different audiences. That's before you consider older devices that still hold their worth and purpose. 

Incorporating many of the best smartwatches on the market, you can expect a certain baseline quality threshold here with many of them sharing the same features. That's whether you opt for an older Apple Watch 3, the Apple Watch SE, or the almighty Apple Watch Ultra.

If you want an Apple Watch but can't afford the Apple Watch 8, that's OK. Not everyone needs blood oxygen and ECG monitoring which is where either Apple Watch SE model can help. Apple may not sell every model now, but some retailers continue to sell previous-generation entries like the Apple Watch 7, which still receive software support and useful functionality, while not costing so much. 

We test every single Apple Watch that comes out, wearing them non-stop 24/7. That's why we know what we're talking about when it comes to ranking them and highlighting their pros and cons. Next to them are the best prices we found, updated in real time so that you see Apple Watch deals as soon as they come. With Black Friday just around the corner, this guide will help you score a bargain.

Remember – Apple Watches only work with iPhones, so if you're an Android user, you may want to check out the best Android smartwatches instead. Or you may want to switch sides and pick up one of the best iPhones instead.

The best Apple Watch 2022

The ultimate Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 9

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.9" OLED

Processor: Apple S8

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 36 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 100m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Large display

Reasons to avoid

-

Battery life could be better

The Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate Apple Watch. It's bigger and bulkier, adding an action button that you can customize with genuinely useful features. Designed to survive all kinds of terrain, the Apple Watch Ultra rivals many Garmin watches.

It could still offer better battery life (despite surpassing the regular Apple Watch) but a powerful and accurate GPS is great for exploring, plus there's a diving sensor for the avid underwater adventurer. Plus, there's all the benefits that come from other Apple Watches, ensuring you can always see how you're doing, health wise. 

It's expensive but powerful. And, during testing, we easily found this to be the best wearable that the brand has ever made.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra review

2. Apple Watch SE 2

The budget but very effective Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 9

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.78" OLED

Processor: Apple S8

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Light and comfortable

Reasons to avoid

-

No always-on screen

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.

Read our full Apple Watch SE 2 review

One of the best around

Specifications

OS: watchOS 9

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.69 / 1.9" OLED

Processor: Apple S8

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Useful temperature sensor

Reasons to avoid

-

Average battery life

The Apple Watch 8 is a fairly incremental update to the Apple Watch 7 but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. While its battery life remains average and it looks the same as before, you get a new temperature sensor that's designed to help those trying to get pregnant spot when they're ovulating. 

We found that the new processor boosts the speed a tad, while there's a new car crash detection tool that could just save your life (but hopefully you'll never need it). Plus, there's all the benefits of WatchOS 9 with improved fitness stats and better interval training features. If you want the standard Apple Watch experience, the Apple Watch 8 is a decent all-rounder.

Read our full Apple Watch 8 review

Not far off the best Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 8

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.69 / 1.9" OLED

Processor: Apple S7

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Brighter, larger screen

Reasons to avoid

-

Workouts are varied, but basic

The Apple Watch 7 isn't the latest and greatest any more, but it's still more than respectable. It comes with lots of the same features and tools that are staples of the Apple Watch range, including an ECG, exercise tracking, access to Apple Fitness Plus (through a separate subscription), Apple Pay and all the fitness tracking modes you've come to expect.

When we tested the Watch, we found that although it's definitely the best of Apple's wearables, but while it brings you all the great features of Apple Watches, it also brings some of the issues the series has had. This includes limited battery life and the workout modes are a little basic.

So if you’re buying this, you’re probably mostly buying it for the screen, but that extra size does make a real difference, leaving the wearable feeling less cramped to interact with, and it does so without adding much to the size or weight.

Read the full Apple Watch 7 review

Once the best value Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 8

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.78" OLED

Processor: Apple S5

Band sizes: Varies based on watch size

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Smart design

Reasons to avoid

-

No always-on display

You might be surprised that this ranks higher than its contemporary, the Apple Watch 6. After all, it’s lower end, but the Apple Watch SE has all the best bits of the Apple Watch 6 and costs less money, making it a better buy overall.

It has GPS, water resistance to depths of 50 meters, sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, great fitness tracking abilities, a decent display, and a design that makes it look a lot more premium than its price tag suggests. When we tested the device, we did miss the always-on display that newer Apple Watches have, so if that's a feature you're interested in you might want to skip this device.

The Apple Watch SE also has a speedy Apple S5 chipset. It’s not quite as powerful as the Apple Watch 6 and can't compete with the Apple Watch 7 or 8, but again, it’s cheaper, and we reckon that for most people it strikes just about the best possible balance between price and tech.

Read the full Apple Watch SE review

Still a top-tier Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 8

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.78" OLED

Processor: Apple S6

Band sizes: Varies based on watch size

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Great color additions

Reasons to avoid

-

Lacks a headline upgrade

The Apple Watch 6 is still a strong watch despite the release of the Apple Watch 7, so of course it places high on our list. New additions in this model include blood oxygen monitoring, plus the still respectable Apple S6 chipset. That extra efficiency helps improve battery life, though the Apple Watch 6 still doesn’t last as long as we’d like – especially now that you can track your sleep, a feature that debuted on this model but is available as a software update for others too.

The screen has also been improved a little over previous generations, and you can get the Apple Watch 6 in some new colors (relative to its original launch), including a flashy red shade. Even so, for the most part this is much the same as the Apple Watch 5 – just a slightly better and more expensive alternative to it.

Read the full Apple Watch 6 review

A still-great Apple Watch

Specifications

OS: watchOS 8

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.57" / 1.78" OLED

Processor: Apple S5

Band sizes: Varies based on watch size

Onboard storage: 32GB

Battery: Up to 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Always-on display

Reasons to avoid

-

Battery isn't incredible

The Apple Watch 5 is admittedly a bit past it at this point but it's almost as good as the Apple Watch 6, and like that wearable it comes with a handy always-on display. That will allow you to see all of your key stats without having to turn on your watch's screen. You've got the choice of either a 40mm or 44mm case for this watch, and it comes with a wide variety of fitness features.

It also has ECG monitor, GPS tracking, impressive heart rate monitoring, and lots more. We sometimes see the Apple Watch 5 on sale, so even though it's lower down our list, it still might be worth picking up if you find it for a low enough price.

Read the full Apple Watch 5 review

Once the best, but now cheaper

Specifications

OS: watchOS 8

Compatibility: iOS

Display: 1.57" / 1.78" OLED

Processor: Apple S4

Band sizes: Varies based on watch size

Onboard storage: 16GB

Battery: Up to 18 hours

Charging method: Wireless

IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE

Reasons to buy

+

Larger display

Reasons to avoid

-

Battery isn't amazing

Don't need that always-on display we've mentioned above? The Apple Watch 4 doesn't come with that, and it's far cheaper than the Apple Watch 5. So you may prefer to get this version instead and save a bit of money - though Apple doesn't officially support it any more.

It also comes in both 40mm and 44mm variants. A lot of the features are similar such as the excellent heart rate tracking and the larger display than you'll find on older Apple Watches.

The most exciting tech here, which we enjoyed testing in our review, is that this is the first example of an Apple with with ECG functionality, set within the heart rate tracker. It can test your heart to see if you're at increased risk of atrial fibrillation, which will allow you to seek help earlier if your health proves to be in danger. This is found on the Apple Watch 5 and up too, but not older models.

Read the full Apple Watch 4 review

Are there other Apple Watches?

You'll probably notice that the original Apple Watch, the Series 1 and Series 2 device are all missing from this list. That's because it's hard to buy those devices new anymore, so we've focused on the more easily available models.

You can still source the original Apple Watch and a variety of older devices from some places, but we'd recommend opting for one of the devices above as they will be supported with software updates for longer and are generally more refined wearables.

How we test Apple Watches

When we use Apple Watches, we don't just hook them up to a machine in a lab and see what numbers pop out. 

We wear the smartwatches all day, every day - we go for runs with them on, take calls on them, track our sleep with them, check our notifications with them, and even test out all the weird and wonderful apps available.

But we don't just use them for a week or two - we keep them on our wrists day in, day out (okay, we take them off when we wash) all year round; just to make sure we know the Apple Watch experience in and out.

What iPhone do you need to use an Apple Watch?

Unlike Google's Wear OS devices, the Apple Watch only works with one type of phone. You'll need to have at least an iPhone 5 running iOS 10 or later to be able to use an Apple Watch or Apple Watch 2 but we'd strongly recommend you upgrade both your iPhone and Apple Watch choice, otherwise it's going to feel very slow and you won’t really reap the benefits.

If you want an Apple Watch 3, you'll need to have at least an iPhone 5S running iOS 11 software for the non-LTE version or an iPhone 6 to be able to use the LTE variant.

But if you're buying an Apple Watch 5, you'll need an iPhone 6S or later, which is the cutoff for watchOS 6, which is what that smartwatch ships with. The Apple Watch 6, Apple Watch 7, and Apple Watch SE also require an iPhone 6S or later.

• We answer the big question: can the Apple Watch work without an iPhone?

Apple Watch colors and sizes

Every new generation of the Apple Watch brings with it new colors and case finishes – and the Apple Watch 6 sees the arrival of a first-time blue coloring for the aluminum case, with a bright red style available too.

Both models are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes – which have been the sizing options since the Apple Watch 4, and which replaced the 38mm and 42mm sizes of its predecessor.

Some color options are limited to certain size watches, but our simple advice here is go for the larger version if you want a watch with a bigger screen and you don't mind spending a touch more.

It's difficult to get the difference in size across here, but if you're uncertain on size it's worth trying each on in the shop to be sure. Below we've got three examples showing off the four different sizes, as well as a comparison of the screen sizes.

Image 1 of 4

You've then also got to choose the color of your watch as well as what material you want it to be made of.

For the Apple Watch 6, you can pick between blue, gold, space grey, silver, graphite or red cases - many but not all of which come in both aluminum and stainless steel versions.

If you opt for an Apple Watch SE then you have the choice of gold, silver, or space grey, all made from aluminum. The Apple Watch 3 is currently just available in a silver or space grey finish and aluminum for the material.

The Apple Watch 5 meanwhile while no longer available from Apple, can be found elsewhere, and comes in gold, space black or silver if you want it to be made of aluminum, and the same colors come in stainless steel too.

White is also a color option if you choose the ceramic version, but this is quite a bit more expensive.

There's also the Apple Watch Nike, which is the same device as the Apple Watch 6 or Apple Watch SE, but with the Nike Run Club app, exclusive watch faces, and Nike Twilight Mode, which fills the screen with solid color to help make you more visible

That's not all though. If you like the idea of a handcrafted leather strap, you may like the look of the Apple Watch Hermès. Again, it's the same old Apple Watch, but here you get exclusive watch faces as well as high-end leather straps for your wrist.

Apple Watch bands and straps

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
• Maybe you'll like one of the best Apple Watch screen protectors
• 15 great Apple Watch accessories to pair with your smartwatch

Apple Watch apps and watch faces

Since the original Apple Watch, we've seen the company grow its titles that you can use on the watch as well as the amount of watch faces you can switch around to give the screen a different look.

For a full guide to our favorite bits of software on the wearable, check out our best Apple Watch apps guide as well as best Apple Watch games and best Apple Watch faces.

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

Alex joined as TechRadar's Senior Phones Editor in June 2022, but brings over a decade's worth of experience to the role, with an expertise in smartphones, tablets and wearables. He's covered keynotes hosted by the biggest brands and attended the launches for some of the most influential mobile products of the last few years. His experience was amassed at some of the most reputable consumer technology publications out there, including GSMArena, TechAdvisor and Trusted Reviews. Alex is currently holding out hope for the Pixel Watch's success and is excited for the advancements coming to the world of foldable phones in the near future.