Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
CR rates the new and existing models to help you choose the best version for you
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Whether you’re looking to accurately track your morning runs or more swiftly respond to incoming texts, the Apple Watch is a solid choice for your next smartwatch. All of Apple’s Watch models perform well in our tests. And they make routine tasks—like changing the song while you’re listening to music or paying for your morning coffee—that much easier. Think of it as a seamless extension of your other Apple products, from your MacBook to your iPhone.
The question is, of course, which one to buy—especially now that Apple has a whole lineup of options: the top-of-the-line Ultra 2, the classic Series 9, and the lower-cost second-generation SE.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is aimed at adventurers—and those who’d like to look like one. It has a thick titanium body, a bright display, and an extended battery life, features that might be useful even if you’re not venturing off into the backcountry.
The Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t quite as big, bright, or long-lasting per charge as the Ultra 2, but it has the same S9 processing chip and much of the same functionality, like the ability to take an electrocardiogram or measure wrist temperature to improve cycle tracking and provide retrospective ovulation estimates.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
From a sheer design perspective, the premium-priced Apple Watch Ultra 2 is aimed at serious athletes and outdoorsy types. It has a thick titanium case with a beefier crown and large buttons on the sides that allow menu-free access to your most-used functions. Unlike other models, the Watch Ultra 2 comes in only one display size, 49 mm, but it can accommodate Apple Watch bands made for a 44–mm Watch or 45-mm Watch.
The screen is larger and brighter than the one on the Series 9, which may be a negative for someone with a petite wrist or a desire for a more subtle everyday look. The Ultra 2 also has a larger speaker and better mics for making calls from the summit of Annapurna—or a noisy subway platform.
Some of the features seem particularly useful for a regular adventurer, like the ability to set off an 86-decibel siren should you need help or function as a full-fledged dive computer via an app from Oceanic+. But we doubt these will make or break the average consumer’s purchasing decision.
What might, though: The Ultra 2 performs very well in our labs, earning top grades in ease of use, scratch resistance, water resistance to a 100-meter depth, and readability in low light. It’s also quite accurate at step count and heart rate monitoring.
Like the Series 9, the Ultra 2 also comes equipped with the latest S9 processor and offers the new Double Tap functionality, which allows the wearer to take certain actions, like answering calls or snoozing alarms, by bringing together the thumb and forefinger. That’s handy for when you’re, say, turning off a timer with full hands in the kitchen. This feature isn’t available on the Watch SE.
But overall, the major appeal of the $799 Ultra 2 (compared with a $399 Series 9 or $249 SE) is the way it looks and feels on your wrist, as well as the bigger, brighter display and significantly longer battery life. The Ultra 2 can last up to 36 hours—and 72 hours in low-power mode—compared with up to 18 hours for Series 9 and Watch SE. But whether your lifestyle actually requires the wider range of features and top-tier performance is your call.
Apple Watch Series 9
This latest version of the classic Apple Watch model isn’t too different from the Series 8 model that came before it.
The display is offered in the same two sizes, 45 mm or 41 mm, both with the option of an aluminum or premium-priced stainless steel case. The screen is also slimmer and less bright than the one on the Ultra 2, but that may be a benefit for some.
No matter the size or display type you choose, expect a top-tier smartwatch that’s equipped with all the important functionality that matters to a typical smartwatch user, like sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and tap-to-pay.
Unlike the Watch SE or previous Series models, the Series 9 now offers an Always On Display option—handy for when you want to simply glance down to get the time—as well as the new Double Tap gesture. These features alone might make it worth opting for the newer model.
The Series 9 also comes equipped with the latest S9 processor, but there’s no change in battery from the last generation. You can expect up to 18 hours of power per charge or up to 36 hours in low-power mode, Apple says. (This is the same as the Watch SE but a bit less than the Ultra 2.)
The health tracking is robust. Notably, the Series 9 features body temperature sensors for more accurate cycle tracking and retrospective estimates of ovulation, a high-g-force sensor for car crash detection, and ECG functionality to detect unusual heart rhythms. (The Watch SE doesn’t have these, but the Ultra 2 does.) The Series 9 is equipped with a blood oxygen sensor, as well. But due to an ongoing patent dispute, this sensor has been disabled on the Series 9 and Ultra 2. (We’ll inform you of updates in our ongoing coverage of that issue here.)
In our ratings, the Series 9 falls just a bit short of the Ultra 2, performing less well on the scratch resistance test. But it ranks ahead of the latest Watch SE and still sits near the top of our smartwatch ratings. Overall, it does nearly all of what you’d expect a high-performing smartwatch to do—and does it well—but you’ll lose a few of the shiniest bells and whistles available on the Ultra line.
Apple Watch SE
The newest version of the popular Apple Watch SE is significantly improved. It has the case (available in aluminum only) and display from the older Series 6 (in 40-millimeter or 44-millimeter sizes), as well as the same processor used in the Series 8.
It may be the lowest-tier option in Apple’s lineup, but it still provides all the essentials that most smartwatch users want out of a device, as well as many nice-to-have health and safety features. 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.
What are you giving up? Most notably, the blood oxygen sensor (though this is currently disabled on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 due to the ongoing patent dispute) and the ability to take your own electrocardiogram, as well as the new body temperature sensors. You won’t have the Always On Display or the ability to use the Double Tap gesture. With the SE, you’ll lose out a bit on battery life and brightness. It’s also not Fast Charging capable, which Apple says allows a device to be charged to 80 percent in about 45 minutes.
In our lab tests, the SE ranks a bit below the Ultra 2 and the Series 9, as well as a number of other non-Apple models, although its ratings are still well above average in all the categories we test.
Apple Watch Series 8
The Series 8 is no longer officially listed in Apple’s lineup, 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. Often listed as low as $250, it’s a more than reasonable alternative to the Series 9 or even the SE.
It looks a lot like the Series 9 and has most of that model’s important features, including an ECG function designed to detect unusual heart rhythms and sensors that can detect falls while walking, running, or cycling. 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.
The Series 8 loses the Double Tap function, some of the display brightness of the Series 9 and Ultra 2, and the latest S9 processor, but the missing features aren’t likely to disappoint those in search of a bargain.
While it may take a bit of shopping around, it’s still worth looking into the Series 8 Watch.
Other Factors to Consider
Do you need cellular? All Apple Watch Series and SE models can be purchased with GPS 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 only be purchased 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 stream your favorite workout mix and 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, most women will probably gravitate toward the smaller sizes. While most men tend to buy the bigger size (which costs a little more), some 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 9, you can indulge your inner fashionista with a more expensive silver, gold, or graphite stainless steel 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 ratings for full test results on more than 60 models.
And if you’re more into counting steps than reading email, making calls, or checking the latest news, you might want to consider a fitness tracker. They have fewer features, but they’re often significantly cheaper than smartwatches.
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