Best Apple Watch (2026): Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3

Jul 28, 2026 7:34 AM

The Best Apple Watch for Your Health, Fitness, and Everyday Life

Whether you want the most advanced health and fitness features or a simple smartwatch, these are the best Apple Watches to buy right now.

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Best Apple Watch Overall

Apple Watch Series 11

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Best Value Apple Watch

Apple Watch SE 3

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Best Apple Watch for the Outdoors

Apple Watch Ultra 3

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If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best wearable. It's the watch I'd wear if I weren't testing other fitness trackers. But what's the best Apple Watch to buy? With three models, each with unique attributes and features, this question has gotten harder to answer.

For the past few years, Apple has contended with a series of troublesome lawsuits and bans that led to the removal of its blood oxygen sensor (which is back). Last year, the company introduced a ton of new features, like satellite messaging and hypertension notifications. If you need help telling them apart, this guide breaks down what features are available on which watch, and whether older models are still worth the price. The latest operating system is watchOS 27, and I also discuss the Apple Watch's newest fitness-tracking features.

Be sure to check out our other related buying guides, including the Best Smartwatches, Best Fitness Trackers, and Best Sleep Trackers.

Updated July 2026: I've refreshed our recommendations, updated the specs, and revamped the product comparison table. I added sections for honorable mentions and frequently asked questions. Product information, prices, and links were also updated.

• Best Apple Watch Overall

  • Photograph: Michael Sawh

  • Photograph: Michael Sawh

  • Photograph: Adrienne So

  • Photograph: Adrienne So

  Apple

  Watch Series 11

  The Apple Watch Series 11 is Apple's flagship watch. The biggest upgrade is the 24-hour battery life—up from 18 hours—which makes a noticeable difference in the watch's overall usability and health-tracking capabilities. Now, you can wear it to bed to get an Apple sleep score, along with a detailed breakdown to help improve your sleep quality.

  Just about the only feature the Series 11 lacks is satellite connectivity, but if you don't go off the grid, then it has everything else you need. Unlike the Watch SE 3, it has the full suite of Apple's health features, which includes blood oxygen sensing, the ability to take electrocardiograms, and FDA-cleared hypertension (or high blood pressure) notifications.

  It's compatible with the latest watchOS 27, so you can view the dynamic app grid with Siri-suggested apps, converse with the new Siri AI assistant, and use Workout Buddy without your iPhone nearby. The Series 11 comes in a much wider range of case sizes, colors, and finishes than other models. Cellular connectivity has also been upgraded from LTE to 5G, and the screen is 2,000 nits, which is twice the brightness of the SE.

  SpecsCase Sizes42 mm or 46 mmDisplayAlways-on Retina display, up to 2,000 nitsBattery LifeUp to 24 hoursDurability50-meter water resistance; IP6X dust resistantKey Health FeaturesHypertension notifications, ECG app, Blood Oxygen app

• Photograph: Adrienne So

  Apple

  Watch SE 3

  The Watch SE (3rd Gen) is the best value in Apple's smartwatch lineup. It has the latest S10 chip, which enables many of the standout health features the previous Apple Watch SE 2 lacked, such as sleep apnea notifications and skin temperature sensing. It runs watchOS 27, so you can see the Liquid Glass display, the peppy encouragement from Workout Buddy, and dismiss the Smart Stack widget with a wrist flick gesture. It has fast charging, and even though it does not have the Series 11's boasted 24-hour battery life, former WIRED editor Adrienne So still somehow managed to eke out a full day with it, even with the always-on display.

  Here are a few items that might give you pause if you're buying an SE for an older relative. It cannot check your blood oxygen or take an electrocardiogram, nor does it have the latest hypertension notifications. The screen is only a 1,000-nit display compared to the 2,000-nit display on the Series 11's wide-angle OLED display, and it doesn't have the UWB locator chip. However, it still has fall detection, and WhatsApp is finally available on the Apple Watch. Ultimately, you can get most of Apple's functionality in a lightweight, affordable $249 package.

  SpecsCase Sizes40 mm or 44 mmDisplayAlways-on Retina display, up to 1,000 nitsBattery LifeUp to 18 hoursDurability50-meter water resistanceKey Health FeaturesHeart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, low-cardio fitness notifications

• Best Apple Watch for the Outdoors

  • Photograph: Michael Sawh

  • Photograph: Michael Sawh

  • Photograph: Adrienne So

  Apple

  Watch Ultra 3

  If you've ever gone camping, walked 20 yards away from your campsite to go pee behind a tree, and looked up to find that you were completely lost in the dark, then the new Watch Ultra 3 is for you. It now features satellite messaging, which I tested on a weekend off-grid camping trip. It's a significant improvement over sat comms on your phone, since you're more likely to have your watch on your body.

  The battery life on the Watch Ultra 3 is also improved—now up to 42 hours from a mere 36 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. On my weekend trip, I didn't carefully dole out battery usage—freely using the Watch Ultra 3 off-grid to navigate a several-hour car ride, track multiple trail runs and hikes, and send satellite texts—and it lasted me from Friday morning to Sunday morning.

  It has the biggest display of any Apple Watch, which is better for viewing offline maps. It also has the same distinctive design as the original, which includes diving capabilities and a three-mic array for taking calls while on the ski lift. Like the Series 11, it has 5G connectivity in addition to sat comms, hypertension notifications, and all the features in watchOS 27.

  Also like the Series 11, the Watch Ultra 3's titanium case is 3D-printed for greater material efficiency. It's also the only Apple Watch with a siren. I haven't tried to attract help from a passerby with it, but I did scare my dog. It's now a true weekend-warrior watch, fulfilling the promise that the Watch Ultra made several years ago. —Adrienne So

  SpecsCase Size49 mmDisplayAlways-on Retina display, up to 3,000 nitsBattery LifeUp to 42 hoursDurability100-meter water resistance; IP6X dust resistant; Tested to MIL-STD 810HKey Health FeaturesHypertension notifications, ECG app, Blood Oxygen app

Honorable Mention

Apple Watch Series 10: The Series 10 features the same S10 chip found in all the latest Apple Watches. This was the first watch to feature a slim design and a wide-angle screen that fits nicely under your shirt sleeves. It has fast charging and is also compatible with watchOS 27 (with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone). It doesn't have a 24-hour battery life, which makes sleep tracking tricky unless you prioritize wearing it overnight and go without it for much of the day. That said, it often goes on sale for significantly below the MSRP, so if you see it, it's worth snagging.

Compare Top 3 Apple Watches

Avoid These Watches

It's been years since we’ve seen retailers carry the Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3. You may see them on resale sites, but they're not worth the price. WatchOS 27 only works with the Series 9 and newer, so we no longer recommend buying the Series 4 or 5, or the second-gen SE. The Series 1 isn't waterproof, neither the Series 1 nor the Series 2 has any cellular capability, and none of these watches are compatible with the latest watchOS version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Fitness Features on the Apple Watch?

There are many reasons to wear an Apple Watch besides the health features. Maybe you just want quick access to your text, calendars, or Siri. Maybe you want to keep track of your kid or make sure your elderly mom doesn't fall down.

Still, I have been following the Apple Watch's development for years, from a fairly standard wearable accessory to a fully featured fitness tracker that now compares favorably against the high-end Garmins and Suuntos of the world. Since its inception, Apple has gone all in on the watch as a personal health device, with CEO Tim Cook even going as far as to say that the watch will save your life. Hypertension notifications and sleep tracking are a significant step forward, although the long-touted noninvasive continuous glucose monitor has yet to make an appearance.

Courtesy of Apple

In addition to health-related features, Apple has also unveiled additions to its workout programs over the past few months. The AI-enabled Workout Buddy in Fitness is perhaps the most prominent. Apple has also started offering Fitness+ in more countries and launching new workout programs, like three-week strength training programs that are designed to jump-start your workout routines.

Apple Watch data is compatible with many more fitness and workout apps besides Apple's proprietary Fitness+. For more information on which app is the right pick for your Apple Watch, check out our guide to the Best Fitness and Workout Apps. Fitness+ is also available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

What Are the Best Apple Watch Apps and Accessories?

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