Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
CR takes a look at what the new—and existing—models have to offer
The Apple Watch Series 7 comes in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel.
By Allen St. John
There are plenty of good reasons to buy an Apple Watch. It’s great for fitness tracking as well as routine tasks like getting directions and answering texts, email, and phone calls, and even paying for your morning coffee. It can also feel like a wrist-worn extension of your other Apple products, from your MacBook to your iPhone.
The bigger question of which Apple Watch to buy is a little more complicated now that Apple has introduced three additional models: the Series 8, a second-generation SE, and the all-new, top-of-the-line Ultra.
The Apple Watch Ultra is aimed at adventurers—and those who’d like to be viewed that way. It has a thick titanium body, a bright display, and interesting new features.
The Apple Watch Series 8 closely resembles the Series 7, using the same case and display, but it does have two new sets of sensors that expand its functionality. The wrist temperature sensors provide retrospective ovulation estimates, which can be useful in family planning and other women’s healthcare decisions. The new high-g-force sensors support Apple’s car crash detection feature, which can summon help for you in the event of an accident.
The Apple Watch SE also got upgraded. It uses the 44mm case designed for the Apple Watch Series 6, and now sports the same processor as the Series 8 and the Ultra. It still doesn’t have the blood oxygen sensor used to add accuracy to sleep tracking.
With all those options, it can be hard to choose the best Apple Watch for yourself or a loved one. And before you whip out your credit card, remember that an Apple smartwatch works best with an iPhone. If the person you’re shopping for uses an Android smartphone, you’re better off with an Android-friendly smartwatch.
Keep in mind that the prices above are for GPS-only models. Adding a cellular connection will cost you about $100 more, plus a monthly fee for the service. So it makes sense to ask yourself whether you really need that before shelling out the extra bucks.
Here’s a closer look at what each Apple Watch model has to offer.
Apple Watch Ultra
From a sheer design perspective, the Apple Watch Ultra represents the biggest departure ever from the basic Apple Watch form introduced in 2014. Aimed at serious athletes and adventurers, 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.
That burly case wraps around a screen that’s both larger and brighter than what you find on the Series 8. There’s also a larger speaker and better mics for making calls from the summit of Annapurna—or a noisy subway platform.
If you’re a scuba diver, the Ultra has a host of new and unique underwater functions, though it’s not yet able to serve as a full-fledged dive computer. (An app from Oceanic+ with that capability is said to be on the way.)
Apple Watch Ultra GPS + Cellular (45mm)
The Ultra performed very well in our labs, earning top grades in ease of use, scratch resistance, water resistance, and readability in low light, though the step count accuracy is only average.
Once you get past the adventure-oriented exterior, the Ultra mostly functions like any other Apple Watch. So unless you’re a diver, the major appeal of the $799 Ultra (compared with a Series 8 or SE) is the ruggedness and how it looks and feels on your wrist. Note that unlike those other models, the Watch Ultra comes only in one 49mm size.
Apple Watch Series 8
This latest Watch isn’t much different than the previous Series 7 version. The case is the same size, but Apple has changed the color selection for the aluminum models, adding silver, dropping blue and green, and tweaking the tone of the Product (Red). You can still use a Series 6 or Series 7 watchband on the new model.
Apple Watch Series 8 GPS (45mm)
The Series 8 does feature new body temperature sensors for retrospective estimates of ovulation and that high-g-force sensor for car crash detection. It also has an EKG function designed to detect unusual heart rhythms. There’s no change in battery size, though the latest version of the Watch operating system adds a new function that can double the life per charge, Apple says, albeit at the expense of some functionality.
In our ratings, the Series 8 falls just a bit short of the Ultra, performing less well in the scratch test. It ranks ahead of the latest Watch SE and still toward the top of our smartwatch ratings.
Apple Watch SE
The new Apple Watch SE is significantly improved. It has the case and display from the older Series 6 and the same processor used in the Ultra and the Series 8.
The model looks and feels quite similar to the Series 8. You can even personalize it with one of the new bands designed for the higher-end models.
The SE supports most of the important Apple Watch functions, including Fall Detection, Family Setup, plus Emergency SOS, which lets you call for help and alert preselected contacts, and international emergency calling, useful if you run into trouble overseas.
Apple Watch SE (40mm) GPS + Cellular
What are you giving up? Most notably, the blood oxygen sensor (which helps strengthen a smartwatch’s sleep tracking functionality) and the ability to take your own electrocardiogram, as well as the Series 8’s body temperature sensors.
In our lab tests, the SE ranks a little below the Ultra, the Series 8, and even the old SE, although its ratings are still well above average in all the categories we test.
Apple Watch Series 7
The Series 7 is no longer officially in Apple’s model lineup, but it should be available from retailers this fall and could be an appealing option if the price is right.
It looks a lot like the Series 8 and has most of that model’s important features, including a blood oxygen sensor, an EKG function designed to detect unusual heart rhythms, and sensors that can detect falls while walking, running, or cycling. The Series 7 does lack the temperature sensors for retrospective ovulation estimates and the g-force sensors that can detect an automobile crash, though.
The Series 7 is also available in a few cool case colors, notably a dark British Racing green and a navy blue that aren’t offered with the Series 8.
Apple Watch Series 7 GPS (45mm)
In our testing, the Series 7 did actually rate slightly higher than the Series 8 in step count and heart rate accuracy, though the differences are so small that you probably wouldn’t notice them in actual use.
Even though it’s discontinued, the Series 7 Watch will likely be available at many stores and sites during the shopping season. And if it’s offered at a substantial discount, it could be a smart alternative to a new Series 8 or SE.
Other Factors to Consider
Do you need cellular? All Apple Watch models can be purchased with GPS alone. Adding cellular raises the sticker price by about $100, plus the roughly $10-per-month fee for a wireless plan.
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 wish 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.
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 men 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 8, you can indulge your inner fashionista with a more expensive silver, gold, or graphite stainless steel finish. There are also top-of-the-line Hermès designs with fashion-forward straps and hefty price tags.
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 Fitbit and Samsung. As always, Consumer Reports members can consult our smartwatch ratings for full test results on more than 30 options.
And if you’re more into counting steps than reading email, making calls, or checking the latest news, you might want to think about a fitness tracker. They have fewer features, but they’re often significantly cheaper than smartwatches.
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