Macworld
Choosing the right Apple Watch depends on your budget, lifestyle and which features matter most to you. As of September 2026, Apple’s lineup consists of the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch SE 3, although the various combinations of case size, material, color and band can make choosing one seem like a bit of a minefield.
The Apple Watch Series 12 is the best choice for most people, combining a tougher display and more advanced heart-rate sensing with an S11 chip and 24-hour battery life. The larger and more rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4 is designed for endurance sports and outdoor adventures, offering precision GPS, diving features and up to 50 hours of battery life. The Apple Watch SE 3 remains the best-value option for buyers who want the core Apple Watch experience and can live without features such as ECG and the latest health sensors.
Apple updated the Series and Ultra models in September 2026, but the SE was unchanged. However, the SE 3 only arrived in 2025 and includes significant improvements over its predecessor, including an always-on display, temperature sensing and the same S10 chip found in the Series 11. You may also find older models at a discount, but check that the saving is worthwhile and bear in mind that watchOS 27 no longer supports every older Apple Watch. See our roundup of the best Apple Watch deals for the latest prices.
In this guide, we’ll explain the differences between the current models and help you decide whether you need to spend more on the Series 12 or Ultra 4 – or whether the SE 3 offers everything you need. We’ll compare their features, specifications and prices, as well as explain the choices of sizes, case materials, colors and bands, so you can buy the Apple Watch that best suits your needs.
Best Apple Watch: At a glance recommendations Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if…Buy the Apple Watch Series 12 if…Buy the Apple Watch SE 3 if…ChargingYou regularly spend 2+ days away from a charger.You charge your watch daily without issue.You don’t mind charging your watch daily.ActivityYou are a runner, hiker, cyclist, or diver.You are a general fitness user or casual athlete.You want everyday fitness and activity tracking.DisplayYou need the brightest display (3,000 nits) for outdoor visibility.You prefer a lighter, less bulky watch.You want an always-on display at the lowest price.Health & SafetyYou want satellite communication for safety.You want the best value for the core health features.You don’t need ECG or advanced health sensing.NeedYou need the toughest, most durable build (titanium, sapphire crystal).You want a choice of sizes (42mm or 46mm) and materials (aluminum, ceramic).You want an affordable watch for a child or older relative. Apple Watch Series 12 – Best Apple Watch for most peoplePros
- Advanced heart-rate sensing
- Tougher Ceramic Shield display
- Powerful Audio Intelligence features
Cons
- Battery life same as previous generation
- No satellite connectivity
The Apple Watch Series 12 is Apple’s mainstream premium smartwatch and the best choice for most people. Its S11 chip powers a redesigned heart-rate sensor system that measures your heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. It also enables Audio Intelligence features including Sound Recognition, Live Rewind and Siri Recap.
The design remains familiar, but Apple has introduced new finishes: Light Gold and Dark Bronze replace Silver and Rose Gold on aluminum models, while Radiant Gold replaces Gold on titanium versions. Ceramic cases also return in Night Blue and Pearl White. Prices still start at $399, although some configurations cost more than their Series 11 equivalents.
Key advantages and limitations
Aluminum models now use Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is 60 percent more durable than the Ion-X glass used on the aluminum Series 11. Battery life remains at 24 hours, but outdoor workout tracking increases to 10 hours and the watch can charge to 80 percent in around 30 minutes.
Live Rewind can display a transcript of the previous 15 seconds of a conversation when you double-press the Digital Crown. However, assigning that gesture to Live Rewind means the traditional App Switcher is no longer available, making multitasking less convenient. The Series 12 also lacks the Ultra 4’s satellite connectivity, 50-hour battery life and brighter, more rugged display.
Who should buy the Apple Watch Series 12?
The Series 12 is the best option for anyone who wants Apple’s latest health and smart features without the size or price of the Ultra 4. Its advanced heart-rate sensing, Readiness score, tougher display and relatively compact design make it particularly attractive to health-conscious users and anyone upgrading from a Series 9 or older.
Who shouldn’t buy one?
Series 10 and 11 owners probably won’t gain enough to justify upgrading, especially because the quoted 24-hour battery life is unchanged. Outdoor adventurers who need satellite connectivity, extended workout tracking or maximum battery life should consider the Ultra 4 instead.
Should I buy an older version of the Apple Watch Series?
A discounted Series 10 or 11 could offer better value if you don’t need the new health sensing or Audio Intelligence features. The Series 9 is also still compatible with watchOS 27. Avoid the Series 8 and older models unless they are exceptionally cheap, because they cannot run watchOS 27 and will miss out on future feature updates.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 – Best Apple Watch for adventurers and endurance athletesPros
- Exceptional 50-hour battery
- Advanced outdoor capabilities
- More frequent health measurements
Cons
- Large and heavy
- Expensive for everyday users
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is Apple’s most rugged and capable smartwatch, designed for endurance athletes and outdoor adventurers. It retains the Ultra 3’s 49mm titanium case, 3,000-nit display, Action button, dual-frequency GPS, satellite connectivity, 100-meter water resistance and recreational diving support.
Inside, the new S11 processor powers the redesigned heart-rate sensing system also found in the Series 12. It measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day and enables Audio Intelligence features including Sound Recognition, Live Rewind and Siri Recap.
Key advantages and limitations
Battery life is the Ultra 4’s biggest improvement, increasing from 42 to 50 hours under normal use. Extended Workout mode provides up to 25 hours with full GPS and heart-rate measurements, while Max Extended Workout mode can track outdoor runs and walks for up to 45 hours. Charging is faster too, with a 15-minute charge providing up to 18 hours of use.
Satellite connectivity, precision dual-frequency GPS, diving support and the bright display make it particularly well suited to demanding environments. However, its 49mm case is large and heavy, while charging to 80 percent takes around 45 minutes, compared with approximately 30 minutes for the Series 12. The external design is also largely unchanged. Pricing remains at $799, twice the Series 12’s starting price.
Who should buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
Choose the Ultra 4 if you need the longest Apple Watch battery life, highly accurate GPS, satellite connectivity, diving support or extended workout tracking. It is particularly suited to runners, hikers, cyclists, divers and anyone who regularly spends more than a day away from a charger.
Its extended battery life could also appeal to travelers and people working long shifts, even if they don’t participate in extreme sports.
Who shouldn’t buy one?
Most people will be better served by the smaller and less expensive Series 12. It provides the same S11 processor, redesigned heart-rate sensing and principal Audio Intelligence features without the Ultra’s bulk or $799 price. If you don’t need satellite communication, precision GPS, diving support or exceptionally long workout tracking, you are unlikely to benefit from the additional expense.
Should I buy an older Apple Watch Ultra?
The Ultra 3 remains a strong alternative if substantially discounted, although its battery lasts up to 42 rather than 50 hours. The Ultra 2 is the oldest model compatible with watchOS 27 and may also be worth considering at the right price, but it lacks some newer connectivity and battery improvements. Avoid the original Ultra unless it is exceptionally inexpensive, because it cannot run watchOS 27.
Apple Watch SE 3 – Best budget Apple WatchPros
- Excellent value for money
- Useful always-on display
- Fast, capable S10 chip
Cons
- Missing advanced health sensors
- Shorter 18-hour battery life
The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s most affordable smartwatch and the best-value model in the current lineup. Introduced in September 2025, it brought substantial improvements over the SE 2, including an always-on display, the S10 processor used by the Series 11, temperature sensing, fast charging and 64GB of storage.
It also supports Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures, on-device Siri and media playback through its speaker. The aluminum case comes in Midnight or Starlight, but there is no longer a Silver option. Prices start at $249/£219, although it can fall as low as $199 during sales.
Key advantages and limitations
The SE 3 provides the essential Apple Watch experience, including fitness and sleep tracking, Sleep Score, heart-rate alerts, temperature-based cycle tracking, Fall Detection and Crash Detection. Its Ion-X display glass is four times more crack-resistant than that of the SE 2, while cellular versions add 5G connectivity.
Battery life remains limited to 18 hours, although Low Power Mode extends this to 32 hours. Fast charging reaches approximately 80 percent in 45 minutes, and a 15-minute charge provides around eight hours of use. The SE 3 lacks ECG, Blood Oxygen monitoring, hypertension notifications and the redesigned Health Sensing System found on the Series 12. Its 1,000-nit display, thicker bezels and limited material choices also make it feel less premium.
Who should buy the Apple Watch SE 3?
The SE 3 is ideal for first-time Apple Watch buyers and anyone who wants fitness tracking, notifications and safety features without paying for advanced health sensors. It is also a strong option for children when using the cellular model with Family Setup, and for older users who could benefit from Fall Detection, Emergency SOS and heart-rate monitoring.
Who shouldn’t buy one?
Choose the Series 12 instead if you want ECG, Blood Oxygen monitoring, hypertension notifications, more advanced heart-rate sensing or a brighter, more premium display. Buyers who need multi-day battery life, satellite connectivity or specialist outdoor features should consider the Ultra 4.
Should I buy an older Apple Watch SE?
No. The SE 2 cannot run watchOS 27 and lacks the SE 3’s always-on display, temperature sensing, faster charging, newer gestures and additional storage. Even at a substantial discount, its reduced software lifespan makes it difficult to recommend in 2026.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm) review
watchOS 27 features: What’s new and what requires Series 12 or Ultra 4Apple released a new version of the software that runs on the Apple Watch – watchOS 27 – on September 14, 2026, but not every new feature is available on every supported watch. Some improvements are software-led and work across compatible models, while others depend on the S11 chip and redesigned sensors in the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.
The hardware-dependent health features unique to the 2026 Watches include background heart-rate measurements every five seconds and HRV (heart rate variability) measurements every five minutes. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 also gain the Readiness app, which analyzes recent activity, training load, sleep and health data to produce a daily recovery score. Other exclusives include daytime resting heart-rate and HRV data in Vitals, a real-time chart in the Heart Rate app, more accurate all-day step counting and a Steps complication that updates on the watch face.
The S11 chip also enables Apple’s Audio Intelligence features. Automatic Music Recognition uses Shazam to identify nearby songs and display them in the Smart Stack, while Sound Recognition can detect doorbells, alarms, sirens and crying babies without relying on the iPhone. Live Rewind displays a transcript of the previous 15 seconds of conversation after a double-press of the Digital Crown; it does not save an audio recording. Siri Recap produces high-level summaries of conversations. Live Rewind and Siri Recap are expected to arrive in beta later in 2026 and require a compatible Apple Intelligence iPhone and Siri AI.
Other watchOS 27 features are more widely available. These include the Dynamic App Grid, redesigned Find My app, menopause and perimenopause tracking, Call Context and Workout Buddy improvements. Apple has also introduced the Longevity section and Health Age.
Compatibility is considerably more restricted than it was with watchOS 26. Series 9 and Ultra 2 are now the oldest supported models, while the SE 3 is the only compatible SE. The Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE 2 and original Ultra cannot install watchOS 27. Anyone considering a discounted older Apple Watch should therefore choose a Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2 or Ultra 3 if receiving current feature updates is important. See: These Apple Watches are now obsolete.
Apple Watch comparison chart: Apple Watches specs compared Apple Watch SE 3Apple Watch Series 12Apple Watch Ultra 4Price from$249/£219$399/£369$799/£749Screen size40mm or 44mm42mm or 46mm49mmDisplayAlways-on, up to 1,000 nitsAlways-on LTPO3, up to 2,000 nitsAlways-on LTPO3, up to 3,000 nitsWeight from40mm: 26.3g; 44mm: 32.9g42mm: 32.2g; 46mm: 39.5g63gMaterialsAluminumAluminum, titanium or ceramicGrade 5 titaniumColorsMidnight, StarlightAluminum: Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, Space Gray; Titanium: Radiant Gold, Natural; Ceramic: Pearl White, Night BlueNatural, BlackProcessorS10S11S11Battery lifeUp to 18 hours; 32 hours in Low Power Mode; 0–80% in about 45 minutesUp to 24 hours; 38 hours in Low Power Mode; 0–80% in about 30 minutesUp to 50 hours; 84 hours in Low Power Mode; 0–80% in about 45 minutesExtra featuresDouble Tap and Wrist Flick; on-device Siri; speaker media playback; 64GB storageSingle Tap, Double Tap and Wrist Flick; Siri AI; Audio Intelligence; Readiness; Precision Finding; depth gauge; water-temperature sensor; media playbackSeries 12 features plus Action button, precision dual-frequency GPS, satellite communication, Siren, dual speakers, three-microphone array and extended workout modesHealth featuresHeart-rate monitoring; high, low and irregular rhythm notifications; temperature sensing; Cycle Tracking with ovulation estimates; sleep stages; Sleep Score; sleep apnea notificationsHealth Sensing System; high-frequency heart-rate and HRV tracking; ECG; Blood Oxygen; hypertension notifications; Readiness; daytime Vitals; advanced Cycle Tracking; Sleep Score; sleep apnea notificationsSame advanced health features as Series 12Safety featuresEmergency SOS, international emergency calling, Fall Detection and Crash DetectionEmergency SOS, international emergency calling, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Check In and BacktrackSeries 12 safety features plus Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite, and SirenWater featuresWater resistant to 50 meters; suitable for swimmingWater resistant to 50 meters; depth gauge to 6 meters; water-temperature sensor; suitable for swimming and snorkelingWater resistant to 100 meters; depth gauge and recreational diving to 40 meters; water-temperature sensor; suitable for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and high-speed water sportsConnectivityPrecision L1 GPS; optional 5G/LTE cellularPrecision L1 GPS; optional 5G/LTE cellular; second-generation Ultra WidebandPrecision dual-frequency GPS; 5G/LTE cellular; second-generation Ultra Wideband; satellite connectivity Which size Apple Watch should you choose?Choosing the right Apple Watch size depends on your wrist, how much display space you want and