Apple Watch Buying Guide: Which Wearable is Best for You?

Generally speaking, recommending an Apple Watch is simple: If you use an iPhone and want a smartwatch, your best bet is to stay at home with Apple.

But there are several Apple Watches on the market right now. With the release of Apple Watch Series 7 in September 2021, Apple’s total lifetime has reached nine, and the company currently offers three models in stores: Series 7, SE, and Series 3. Among them, there are several options that vary in size. connectivity, design and price.

In addition, there are older but still updated generations that you can find at third party retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, as well as options to buy refurbished units. Everyone has different needs, and you can find an Apple Watch that is cheaper and more in line with your desires by taking these routes.

The upcoming launch of watchOS 9 will further complicate these decisions, and as usual, Apple will release new models in the fall. However, for those looking to take the plunge today, we’ve analyzed the market for old, new, and refurbished Apple Watches and tested the current options to help determine the best one for you. We’ll be updating this guide over time as new models become available, so if you’re looking to upgrade an old model or jump on board for the first time, let us do the research for you.

The best Apple Watch for most people

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple Watch Series 7

Equipped with sensors to monitor ECG, blood oxygen levels and heart rate, the Series 7 is one of the top three health indicators in wearables. Throw in GPS, a compass, an always-on altimeter, built-in fall detection, water resistance up to 50 meters, and cellular connectivity, and you have a fitness companion you can take anywhere for tracking and safety.

Apple’s “digital crown”mechanism is still an intuitive way to scroll on a watch, and there are fun case colors and plenty of strap options to suit your style, including Nike sport straps, stylish metal options, woven straps, and a ton more.

With the upcoming release of watchOS 9 this fall, Series 7 will also get the ability to provide advanced running metrics (like stride, cadence, pace), heart rate zones, and new multisport tracking modes, among other features.

The Series 7 also has the largest display of any Apple Watch thanks to smaller bezels and a 1mm larger watch case compared to the Series 6. The difference is small, except that the larger size makes it easier for a QWERTY keyboard to type. — but it allows for larger text formats, which could be a game-changer for visually impaired people.

With charging coils and a USB-C-based charger, the Series 7 is also the fastest Apple Watch charger ever, going from 0 to 100 percent in just an hour in our testing. That’s about half the time it takes to charge any other Apple Watch model. It’s also the only dustproof (IP6X) Apple Watch and the only one that supports typing with a full QWERTY keyboard.

To be clear, the Series 7, like all Apple Watches in this guide, isn’t perfect. While Apple smartwatches have the widest level of support for third-party apps (and accessories), you won’t find every iPhone app on an Apple Watch – far from it. And not every app is particularly useful. (Do you really want to be able to scroll Twitter on your wrist?) However, there are pretty much all apps suitable for use on your wrist.

The biggest sacrifice you’ll make with any Apple Watch is battery life; it only lasts a day or so. Other smartwatches, like Garmin and Fitbit, can last a week or longer, though you won’t find the same level of app support (third-party or proprietary) as your iPhone. And yes, the Apple Watch is still iPhone-only, and that will most likely never change. But overall, and especially for iPhone owners, the Apple Watch is the most advanced wearable platform on the market, and the Series 7 is by far the most complete offering for most people.

Who it’s for: Those who want the latest health and fitness features, or those who just need a bigger screen. Worth upgrading for: Series 5 and below.