The Best Apple Watch Of 2025: Here's The Best Smartwatch For You

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An Apple Watch isn't conscionable an accessory aliases an excuse for a 2nd surface astir your wrist. After a twelvemonth of testing retired nan Apple Watch, I've recovered it to beryllium a adjuvant slumber tracker, nan world's astir convenient timer for erstwhile my hands are soiled successful nan kitchen, a phone-free matter aliases telephone receiver/sender, a dumbphone, and an workout motivator and mid-workout monitor.

Also: I turned my Apple Watch into a dumbphone pinch this speedy fix

The Apple Watch started retired arsenic a sleek fitness tracker and has evolved into an basal companion for iPhone users. Apple's smartwatches person an arsenal of convenient capabilities for illustration supplying your boarding walk for a flight, identifying a opus playing nearby, opening your car shed door, and alerting you erstwhile it's astir to rain. It's besides an expansive wellness monitoring strategy that tin cheque your bosom complaint aliases guideline you done a meditation.

We're expecting new Apple Watches to travel successful only a fewer months, during Apple's yearly September iPhone event, erstwhile it debuts nan latest hardware. But if you're not willing successful waiting a fewer months to salary for an Apple Watch, these are nan champion ones you tin bargain correct now.

What is nan champion Apple Watch correct now?

My prime for nan champion Apple Watch is the Apple Watch Series 10, because it's nan Apple Watch astir group will get nan astir retired of. It's sewage a light, thinner build, positive caller sleep-tracking features for illustration slumber apnea detection. But if you're utilizing your Apple Watch for your Ironmans and marathons, I'd urge nan Apple Watch Ultra 2. It's sewage a 24-hour artillery life, an emergency siren characteristic for added safety, and a larger screen.

Also: The champion iPhones of 2025: Which exemplary should you buy?

The champion Apple Watches of 2025

This is nan smartwatch astir group should buy. The Apple Watch Series 10 debuted successful September pinch caller features that make it a superior upgrade from nan Series 9. Most notably, location is simply a caller slumber apnea search characteristic that useful done nan watch's accelerometer, which monitors movements associated pinch respiratory shape interruptions and is tracked by Apple's caller Breathing Disturbances metric. There is besides a caller h2o extent gauge, which measures almost 20 feet (up to six meters) beneath nan water's surface, and a h2o somesthesia sensor to use swimmers, surfers, and snorkelers.

Also: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Should you upgrade to nan latest model?

The build of nan watch features an improved and bigger show (42mm and 46mm sizes) acknowledgment to nan wide-angle OLED show that offers up to 40% brighter viewing perspective compared to nan Series 9. The Series 10 is besides 10% thinner and lighter which makes it much comfortable to wear, particularly while sleeping.

If you want nan latest wellness sensors and information features, awesome artillery life (especially if you want to do slumber tracking), and you don't request nan utmost features successful nan Ultra 2, past you tin prevention a batch of money by going pinch nan aluminum exemplary of nan Apple Watch Series 10 starting astatine $399 (but discounted astir a twelvemonth aft its release). I counsel you skip nan tougher titanium decorativeness connected nan Series 10 that starts astatine $699 and spell for nan Ultra astatine only $100 more, which offers tons of other features -- unless you person a smaller wrist. Then I'd propose sticking pinch nan Series 10.

Apple Watch Series 10 tech specs: Display size: 42mm aliases 46mm | Battery life: 36 hours standby | Storage capacity: 64GB | Features: New features see a bigger display, thinner design, slumber apnea tracking, h2o extent gauge, and a caller titanium finish

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The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers much exclusive features than immoderate different Apple Watch exemplary truthful far. The astir notable quality betwixt nan Ultra and different Apple Watch models is its larger, brighter, and flatter screen. The surface is covered by a sapphire crystal look and surrounded by a titanium lawsuit to summation nan magnitude of deterioration and tear nan watch tin handle. It's besides IPX6 particulate resistant, useful underwater up to 328 feet (100 meters), and has military-grade (MIL-STD 810H) certification for ruggedness. Plus, nan Ultra 2 tin grip precocious altitudes, shocks, vibrations, and utmost temperatures ranging from 4 degrees to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Review: Apple Watch Ultra 2

ZDNET contributing writer Matthew Miller tried retired nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 erstwhile it was released past year, and said he recommended nan watch "for its agelong artillery life, brighter display, expanded connectivity, and caller watch bands" while besides being impressed by nan improved intelligence wellness functionality via nan Mindfulness app.

The Ultra 2's features see a programmable Action Button pinch a assortment of workout and adventuring functions (including activating nan flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that tin flooded interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and louder dual-integrated speakers for taking telephone calls, playing music, aliases interacting pinch Siri.

Many Amazon reviewers opportunity that this is nan champion Apple Watch exemplary they person ever used, peculiarly noting nan watch's value and ample 49mm surface pinch 3,000 nits of brightness. Beyond that, nan Ultra offers 1 cardinal summation to nan Apple Watch Series 9 lineup: an emergency siren (activated by holding down nan Action Button), which belts retired an 86-decibel sound shape that tin beryllium heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away. This tin beryllium useful successful a assortment of scenarios, including to scare disconnected an attacker aliases to alert others to your location if you're mislaid aliases wounded successful nan outdoors alone.

At nan clip of publication, nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 pinch GPS and cellular costs $800 connected Amazon.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 tech specs: Display Size: 49mm | Battery life: Up to 72 hours | Storage capacity: 64GB | Features: Sturdy titanium lawsuit and sapphire crystal face, enhanced information features including a built-in siren, dual-frequency GPS, useful up to 328 feet underwater

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The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) really has galore of nan aforesaid wellness and information features from nan Series 8 and nan Ultra for only $249. However, nan SE doesn't way humor oxygen, do ECG bosom checks, aliases cheque your temperature. And while nan look looks conscionable for illustration nan Series 8, nan surface is really astir 20% smaller and doesn't person an always-on display.

Still, it includes astir everything else, and nan cellular connectivity is only a $50 add-on for nan SE (compared to a $100 add-on for nan Series 8). Like nan Ultra and nan Series 8, adding a cellular relationship will besides costs you astir $10 per period pinch your wireless carrier. Even if you spell pinch nan cellular type and opt for nan larger 44mm Apple Watch SE complete nan smaller 40mm version, you'll still only apical retired astatine $329.

Also: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs Apple Watch SE (2020): Should you upgrade?

That makes nan SE 2nd gen a awesome smartwatch to springiness to personification who doesn't person aliases regularly usage an iPhone, specified arsenic a kid aliases an older family member, utilizing Apple's Family Setup. With cellular connectivity, they tin usage nan Apple Watch to make and person telephone calls, get matter messages, dictate matter replies, and entree online info for illustration nan weather. This smartwatch is perfect for those who'd for illustration nan convenience of messaging astatine their fingertips without being anchored to tech 24/7.

You tin moreover group up this smartwatch from your iPhone arsenic agelong arsenic nan wearer is successful your Apple family group. If you are connecting an aged comparative who has wellness issues, nan added wellness sensors successful nan Series 8 mightiness make it worthy nan bid of mind to upgrade. Customers who person reviewed nan watch besides work together that it offers fantabulous worth for nan price, particularly if you are caller to nan Apple Watch family.

Apple Watch SE tech specs: Display size: 40mm aliases 44mm | Battery life: Up to 18 hours | Storage capacity: 32GB | Features: Most affordable Apple Watch, family group up for kids and older adults, wellness and location tracking, and autumn and clang detection

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What are nan tariffs successful nan U.S.?

The caller U.S. tariffs connected imports from countries for illustration China, Vietnam, and India purpose to boost home manufacturing, but are apt to thrust up prices connected user electronics. Products for illustration smartphones, laptops, and TVs whitethorn go much costly arsenic companies rethink world proviso chains and measurement nan costs of shifting production.

Also: Tariff warfare has tech buyers wondering what's next. Here's what we know

Smartwatches and wearable devices, which are predominantly manufactured successful these regions, are now taxable to tariffs arsenic precocious arsenic 54% connected Chinese imports and 46% connected Vietnamese imports. As a result, consumers whitethorn spot value increases of astir 20% (or more) connected these items.

Manufacturers are exploring options for illustration relocating accumulation to countries pinch little tariffs, but specified shifts are analyzable and whitethorn not supply contiguous relief. In nan short term, shoppers should expect higher costs for smartwatches and wearables owed to these waste and acquisition policies.

Right now, it looks for illustration immoderate tech whitethorn beryllium exempt from nan issued tariffs, but since it's ever changing and developing, we are keeping an oculus connected it and will update you connected nan latest.

Also: Tariff exemptions for electronics connection a break for tech - but not for long

The Apple Watch Series 10 is nan exemplary that will fulfill astir users, while nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 is nan smartwatch built for powerfulness users, hardcore athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts. There are a fewer different options arsenic well, truthful here's a floor plan that breaks down nan features of each model.

Apple Watch model	Price	Display size	Battery life	Storage capacity	Chip
Apple Watch Series 10	$399	42mm aliases 46 mm	36 hours	64GB	S10 SiP
Apple Watch Ultra 2	$799	49 mm	72 hours	64GB	S9 SiP
Apple Watch SE	$249	40 aliases 44mm	18 hours	32GB	S8 SiP

Having problem deciding betwixt Apple Watch models? Here's a speedy summary of nan superior logic to bargain each one.

Choose this Apple Watch...	If you want...
Apple Watch Series 10	The champion Apple Watch for astir people, pinch each nan latest wellness and fittingness features astatine an approachable price. It tracks bosom health, breathing, slumber apnea, activity (of course), and fitness. It's thinner and lighter pinch a larger show arsenic well.
Apple Watch Ultra 2	All nan champion smartwatch features Apple has to offer, geared towards users who'd usage nan watch for outdoor diversion aliases rugged activities. While nan Ultra 2 is particularly loaded pinch fittingness and durability features for athletes and adventurers, its larger and brighter display, amended artillery life, and emergency siren will entreaty to galore others arsenic well.
Apple Watch SE	A much budget-friendly Apple Watch. This includes each nan basal features astatine a little value and is simply a awesome prime for first-time Apple Watch buyers aliases to springiness to a kid aliases an aged family personnel since you tin configure it utilizing Family Setup moreover if they don't person an iPhone.

While each nan Apple Watches connected this database person a slew of health-tracking features and different useful apps, their differences are what you request to see earlier buying one, including:

Display size: Apple Watch displays now travel successful fundamentally 3 different sizes (40/41, 44/45, and 49). Depending connected nan size of your wrist and really overmuch you want to interact pinch nan watch for speedy actions, nan show size will beryllium a large facet successful determining which exemplary makes nan astir sense.
Features: Apple methodically adds much and much caller features to nan Apple Watch each year, truthful we compared information features, wellness sensors, set options, artillery life, and different useful options.
Pricing: Each Apple Watch has a number of different variations, truthful pricing tin alteration wide -- particularly based connected which set you pick. We included budget-worthy options beneath $250, arsenic good arsenic nan much premium options that are complete $1,000.

All of nan Apple Watches included successful this database were chosen based connected really they performed when tested successful nan existent world by nan ZDNET team. When we trial smartwatches, we typically travel nan aforesaid regular for each 1 to spot which performs best.

Daily wear: We deterioration nan smartwatch arsenic our superior watch, pinch communications, applications, and different elements being tested arsenic if it were our only smartwatch.
Application action and performance: One facet that makes smartwatches different than modular watches is nan support for applications. We load up nan watch pinch apps and past trial nan capacity and functionality of those applications. For example, Apple peculiarly excels successful nan area of third-party exertion support.
Workouts: Smartwatch makers person embraced wellness and fittingness truthful we return smartwatches retired for moving pinch GPS, rowing connected nan Hydrow, biking connected trails, and stepping pinch nan family. GPS and bosom complaint information is tracked and past we measure nan accuracy against proven GPS sports watches.
Sleep and activity tracking: Sleep search has improved pinch smartwatches complete clip and we measure and comparison them to smart rings and different watches. Nighttime is besides a bully clip to complaint your smartwatch, truthful you whitethorn take not to usage your watch to way slumber truthful your watch tin service faithfully each time and into nan night.

For a deeper look into our testing process, cheque retired our comprehensive smartwatch testing methodology.

Yes, you request an iPhone to group up an Apple Watch. However, pinch each nan models connected this list, you tin usage nan Family Setup action to person 1 iPhone group up watches for aggregate members successful your Apple family group -- moreover if they don't person an iPhone. But to reiterate, you cannot usage an iPad, a Mac, aliases a non-Apple smartphone to group up an Apple Watch.

Fundamentally, each Apple Watches tin way your steps and fittingness data, show notifications from your iPhone, show basal accusation for illustration weather, commencement timers, nonstop and person matter messages, reply telephone calls, and download useful apps. The latest versions person further features and functionality, including slumber tracking, precocious wellness monitoring, car clang detection, and world emergency calling.

Apple precocious introduced respective updates coming to nan Apple Watch done WatchOS 26, its smartwatch software. These see a Workout Buddy characteristic done nan Fitness app that will guideline you done your workouts, including stats and encouragements arsenic you run, cycle, aliases spot train.

The Apple Watch's Smart Stack is getting smarter, pinch nan algorithm including much contextual data, for illustration sensor and regular data, to hint astatine definite apps aliases functionalities, for illustration a hint to unfastened nan Pilates workout successful Fitness erstwhile it senses your presence astatine nan pilates studio.

A caller manus motion is arriving to nan smartwatch arsenic well. When a wearer receives a connection aliases telephone they aren't fresh to answer, Wrist Flick will disregard notifications and calls, aliases soundlessness pings. All a personification has to do is move their wrist.

Also: The features and apps coming to Apple WatchOS 26 I'm astir excited about

Yes, galore older Apple Watch are disposable to bargain refurbished astatine places for illustration BackMarket and are still immoderate of nan champion smartwatches connected nan market. Just support successful mind that Apple releases a caller Apple Watch each year, truthful a refurbished exemplary that is already dated could extremity up being 4 aliases 5 generations down nan latest innovations during nan clip you ain it.

The astir important features to look for successful nan champion Apple Watch models see precocious wellness sensors (ECG, humor oxygen, wrist temperature, etc.), connectivity options (is cellular included aliases extra, if you want nan watch to activity erstwhile an iPhone isn't nearby), artillery life, and durability (water resistance, particulate resistance, and a crystal look to defy cracking).

The champion Apple Watch for fittingness search is nan Apple Watch Series 9 aliases nan Apple Watch Ultra 2, which some travel equipped pinch nan widest assortment of wellness sensors, including ECG, slumber tracking, bosom and breathing functions, wrist temperature, and more.

If you're personification who spends clip hiking, doing triathlons, and progressive successful outdoor activities successful utmost temperatures, rugged conditions, and tons of particulate and water, nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 whitethorn beryllium worthy nan other cost. Its creation makes it much durable and water-resistant (up to 100m) than nan different Apple Watch models, and it includes an Action Button for fine-tuning workouts and hikes.

While it's not made specifically pinch kids successful mind, nan Apple Watch SE is an fantabulous smartwatch for older kids pinch standout features positive parental controls. Along pinch enabling telephone calls and matter messages, nan Apple Watch SE besides tracks your child's sleep, has state-of-the-art wellness trackers, features an SOS capability, and pairs pinch thousands of apps.

Also: The champion smartwatches for kids

In addition, you tin usage Apple's Family Setup to cheque your kid's location, group up shared contacts, instrumentality parental controls for illustration surface clip usage, and more. Your kid doesn't moreover request their ain iPhone to person an Apple Watch -- they can pair it up pinch yours, truthful you're afloat successful control.

You cannot usage an Android telephone to group up and brace pinch an Apple Watch, and location are nary bully workarounds for that. However, if you person an Android phone, location are respective smartwatches you tin take from that connection astir of nan aforesaid features arsenic an Apple Watch. The ones beneath are smartwatches that ZDNET has reviewed and rated good successful our testing.

More: The champion Android smartwatches