Which Apple Watch Is Best Right Now?

Apple Watch

Apple Watch

Health and fitness tracking, music streaming from Apple Music, easy online shopping with Apple Pay, having questions answered and personal assistant automation accommodated with Siri – all available on your wrist. Not to mention GPS and mapping, texting making calls (without a phone*) and more. It’s all on Apple Watch. In the smartwatch realm, this is Apple’s iOS integrated device that outsold all the others upon first series launch in 2015. And it continues to bring style and value to people’s lives worldwide. *These watches can work in a complementary manner with an iPhone that has a data plan or work independently from an iPhone; the watch will work its own network plan for access to similar services. In the words of Apple’s Kevin Lynch, not being constantly tethered to your phone is “A little more human.” And worn by humans, they bring a whole new level of health and fitness awareness, data-driven goal setting and streamlined communications with friends and the world in general.

Apple Watch

1. Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor, and are only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes.

2. The ECG app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later (not including Apple Watch SE) with the latest versions of iOS and watchOS. See for compatibility details. ECG is not intended for use by people under 22 years old. With the ECG app, Apple Watch is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram.

Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 3 require iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later.

Wireless service plan required for cellular service. Contact your service provider for more details. International roaming is not supported. Check for participating service providers and eligibility. See for additional setup instructions.

*Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor, and are only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes.

Which Apple Watch Is Best Right Now?

We Gadget Labbers all agree: If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best wearable to go with it. The only question is, which version do you get? Last year, Apple announced its latest edition, the Series 7. The company is still selling the Series SE and the aging Series 3, but the much-loved Series 6 has gotten the boot. (You may still find it on sale, though.) All these watches look reasonably similar and have a rotating stable of features. Here, we go over which one is best for you and whether older models are worth the price.

Be sure to check out our other buying guides, especially our guides to the Best iPad, Best Smartwatch, and Best iPhone.

Updated April 2022: We added information on Apple Watch accessories and service, and added information about the U1 chip.

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