Apple Watch has been the best-selling watch brand in the world for half a decade. Since it's now available in over five different variants, if you are buying one for the first time or upgrading, it can be a challenge to figure out which model is right for you. Based on hands-on experience and testing, I'm going to help you sort through the different options to choose the best one for you. 

While the Apple Watch started out as a fitness tracker that was slightly more sophisticated than a Fitbit, it has steadily expanded to become an expansive health monitoring device and a handy tool for fast access to information and apps. It can now check your heart rate, carry your boarding pass for a flight, identify a song that's playing nearby, open your garage door, alert you when it's about to rain, and guide you to breathe when you get stressed. And those are just a few examples.

Also: The best smartwatches you can buy right now

All of the Apple Watch models below can do all of those things. Where they differ is in the sizes they come in, their styles, their colors, their prices, and a few extra features in the top models.

I've been wearing an Apple Watch every day since the first model launched in April 2015, and I've tried nearly every version since then. I've used and tested the various Apple Watch models to manage text messages, hike long trails, run countless smart home apps, work out with Apple Fitness Plus, track the weather on a daily basis, manage cooking timers in the kitchen, remind me of important tasks, and a lot more. Based on my years of testing, my pick for the best Apple Watch overall is theApple Watch Ultra 2 , thanks to its large screen, over 24-hour battery life, and emergency siren. Read on to find out which Apple Watch model is right for you.

The best Apple Watches of 2023

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Best Apple Watch overall

Jason Hiner/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Larger, brighter, more useful screen
• Over 24-hour battery life
• Super durable
• Emergency Siren

Cons

• Too big for small wrists
• Double the price of the base Apple Watch Series 9

More Details

Apple Watch Ultra 2 tech specs:Display Size:49mmBattery life: Up to 72 hours Storage capacity: 64GBFeatures:Sturdy titanium case and sapphire crystal face, enhanced safety features including a built-in siren, dual-frequency GPS, works up to 100 meters underwater

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a list of more exclusive features than any other Apple Watch model. That's why it became the new flagship model as soon as the first Ultra was released last year, and that's why it's the watch to buy if you want all the best features the Apple Watch has to offer.

The most notable and useful difference between the Ultra and the other Apple Watch models is the larger, brighter, flatter screen that makes it much better for viewing images texted to you, typing short responses to texts, seeing alerts from home security cameras, interacting with apps such as smart lights, checking the weather, navigating directions from map apps, and much more. The screen is 49mm, compared to 45mm on the largest Series 9, and the brightness is 3000 nits -- versus the 2000 nits of the Series 9.

The screen is covered by a sapphire crystal face and surrounded by a titanium case to considerably increase the amount of wear and tear it can handle. It's also IPX6 dust resistant, works underwater up to 100 meters (328 feet), and has military grade (MIL-STD 810H) certification for ruggedness. And, it can now handle high altitudes, shocks, vibrations, and temperatures as low as 4 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit. I wouldn't call it indestructible, but it's pretty close. 

The Ultra 2 adds more exclusive features as well, including a larger battery that easily lasts 24 hours (and can get up to 60 hours of life in low power mode), a programmable Action Button with a variety of workout and adventuring functions (it can also simply activate the flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that can overcome interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and dual integrated speakers that are much louder for taking phone calls, playing music, or interacting with Siri. The price of the Ultra also includes the cellular option that would cost you$100 extra in the Series 9. This allows the watch to make phone calls and have an internet connection even when your iPhone isn't nearby (you'll have to add it with your cellular carrier for about$10/month).

Beyond that, the Ultra has all the health and safety features you can read about in the Apple Watch Series 9 below, but the Ultra offers one key addition: an emergency siren (activated by holding down the Action Button), which belts out an 86-decibel sound pattern that can be heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away. This can help if you get lost or take a fall on a hike, to ward off wild animals, or to scare off attackers.

At$799, the Ultra is twice the price of the base model Series 9. If you plan to keep your smartwatch for 3-5 years, if you use your current Apple Watch constantly to interact with apps and look up information, or if you are at all clumsy or in situations where the watch can get banged around, then the Ultra could be a great choice.

Review: I put the Apple Watch Ultra through a Tough Mudder: Here's how it held up

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Apple Watch Series 9

Best Apple Watch for most people

Jason Hiner/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Brighter screen
• Full array of health sensors
• Hands-free double-tap gesture
• More accurate Siri commands

Cons

• Cellular connectivity costs extra
• Not as durable as the Ultra 2

More Details

Apple Watch Series 9 tech specs: Display size: 41 or 45mmBattery life: Up to 36 hours Storage capacity:64GB Features:New features include a 2x brighter display, double-tap gesture, new pink color, robust S9 processor, all the best health sensors Apple has to offer

The Apple Watch Series 9 can track activity, steps, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen (lung function), wrist temperature, sleep, and environmental sound levels (to protect your hearing). And it uses algorithms and machine learning (a.k.a. AI) to spot dangerous patterns and alert you to seek medical attention. There are now many stories of people who've had life-saving experiences with health alerts from an Apple Watch.  

There are two big upgrades in the Apple Watch Series 9. The first is a 2000 nit display that is double the brightness of last year's S8 and matches the brightness of last year's original Apple Watch Ultra (which gets an upgrade to 3000 nits in the Ultra 2). 

The second is the new S9 SiP processor, which has a 30% faster GPU and processes machine learning twice as fast. This makes everything quicker, makes the animations smoother, and enables features like the new double-tap gesture and faster and more accurate Siri commands.

Also:Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Apple Watch Series 8: Should you upgrade?

If you want the latest health sensors and safety features, great battery life (especially if you want to do sleep tracking), and you don't need the extreme features in the Ultra 2, then you can save a lot of money by going with the aluminum model of the Apple Watch Series 9 starting at$399.

However, if you decide you want the tougher stainless steel finish (starting at$699) then I'd say skip that and go straight to the Ultra, because for$100 more you get a lot of extra features. The one exception to that might be if you have a smaller wrist.

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Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)

Best Apple Watch for kids and first-time buyers

Jason Hiner/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Family Setup for kids and older adults
• Health and location tracking
• Fall and crash detection
• Very affordable

Cons

• Not as durable as other Apple Watch models
• Cellular connection requires monthly fee

More Details

Apple Watch SE tech specs: Display size: 40 or 44mmBattery life: Up to 18 hoursStorage capacity:32GBFeatures:Most affordable Apple Watch, family setup for kids and older adults, health and location tracking, fall and crash detection

Starting at$249, what's amazing about the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) is how many of the same health and safety features from the Series 8 and the Ultra it actually includes. It's easier to talk about what's not included in the SE. It doesn't track blood oxygen, do ECG heart checks, or check your temperature. 

It's not dust resistant and the glass face is not made out of crystal like the Series 8, so it's not as crack resistant. And while the face looks just like the Series 8, the screen is actually about 20% smaller, so it has slightly thicker black bezels around the edge. It also doesn't have an always-on display.

But it includes nearly everything else, and the cellular connectivity is only a$50 add-on for the SE (compared to a$100 add-on for the Series 8). Like the Ultra and the Series 8, adding a cellular connection will also cost you about$10/month with your wireless carrier. But even if you go with the cellular version and opt for the larger 44mm Apple Watch SE over the smaller 40mm version, you'll still only top out at$329 for SE.

That makes it a great smartwatch to give to someone who doesn't have an iPhone, such as a child or an elderly family member, using Apple's Family Setup. With cellular connectivity, they can use the Apple Watch to send and receive phone calls, get text messages, dictate replies to texts, and connect to online info like the weather. 

And you can set it up from your iPhone, as long as they are in your Apple family group. If you are connecting an elderly relative who has health issues, the added health sensors in the Series 8 might make it worth the peace of mind to upgrade. Likewise, if you are new to Apple Watch, giving it a try for the first time, and not sure you need all the latest health sensors, then the Apple Watch SE is a great place to get started. 

Also: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs Apple Watch SE (2020): Should you upgrade?

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Apple Watch Series 7

Best Apple Watch for unique colors

Jason Hiner/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Comes in unique blue and green colors
• Good deal if you buy used or refurbished
• Has most of the latest health features
• Water, dust, and crack resistant

Cons

• Shorter battery life than Series 8 or 9
• Display isn't as bright as Series 9

More Details

Apple Watch Series 7 tech specs: Display size: 41mm or 45mmBattery life:Up to 18 hoursStorage: 32GBFeatures:Large display, fast charging, health-focused features, more durable than SE

When it first launched in fall 2021, the Apple Watch Series 7 brought key upgrades including a 20% larger screen, fast charging (0 to 80% in 45 minutes with a USB-C cable), a more durable face that's made out of crystal and is 50% thicker than the previous model, and IPX6 dust resistance. Those are features that still aren't available on the Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen. 

With the SE now holding down the entry-level Apple Watch market, it's best to think about buying the Series 7 in comparison to the SE. If you just want a low-cost entry into the Apple Watch ecosystem and an easy purchase, then you can buy a new SE and quickly get started. A new Apple Watch Series 7 costs nearly the same price as the Series 8, so it's much better to get the Series 8. However, you can find a refurbished Series 7 for$200-$250 on places like BackMarket and RefurbMe. 

There are really only a few great reasons to buy the Series 7 at this point. The first is if you want the additional health features (heart and lung tracking) for an Apple Watch you're giving to an elderly relative, or if you want the extra durability for an Apple Watch you're giving to a kid. The other big reason to buy the Series 7 is because it comes in two really nice colors -- green and blue -- that Apple no longer offers for the Series 8. But again, if you're going to get a Series 7, I'd recommend getting a refurbished one.

Review: Apple Watch Series 7 review: Bigger really is better

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