There’s no need to buy new – unless your model’s ready for retirement. Our technology expert compares the top Apple smartwatches available right now
The best Apple Watch may be the one already on your wrist.
Each generation of Apple’s smartwatch is fairly iterative, with most of the best features added via software updates, which means there’s no need to buy a new device each year. That said, if your watch has seen better days, or it’s stopped receiving updates, then your best options are set out below.
While several third-party smartwatches are compatible with the iPhone, they don’t offer the same level of integration that the Apple Watch does with the phone, iOS and the company’s other devices and services. It’s the best smartwatch for iPhone users, but note that you’ll soon need an iPhone capable of being updated to iOS 26 – iPhone 11 or later – as watchOS 26 is due for release in September. The free update will bring a raft of new features, including an AI motivational workout coach called Workout Buddy, a new wrist-flick gesture to clear notifications, a design revamp and various smart actions for messages, dealing with spam, and controlling the volume. The Apple Watch can’t be used with Android or as a standalone device.At a glance
Best Apple Watch for most people:
Series 10 Aluminium
£399 at John Lewis
Best cheap Apple Watch:
SE (2nd gen)
From £219 at Apple
Best Apple Watch for battery:
Ultra 2
From £779 at CurrysThe best Apple Watches you can buy in 2025Best Apple Watch for most people:
Series 10 Aluminium
From £399 at Apple
£399 at John Lewis
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best model for most people, offering the full Apple smartwatch experience in a choice of two sizes. It’s the thinnest model yet, at just under 1cm thick, so it easily slips under shirt cuffs and feels light and compact on the wrist. The 42mm version should fit smaller wrists, while the 46mm version is the bearer of the largest screen on an Apple Watch – if only just over the Ultra 2.
The screen is a bright and crisp OLED that stays on all the time and can be easily read in direct sunlight or from an angle. The watch feels slick in operation, with the 46mm unit lasting about two days between charges (if it’s not monitoring exercise), or long enough to track a marathon with battery life to spare. The double-tap gesture is handy for cancelling timers, alarms and scrolling through your widgets without having to touch the watch. And with Siri on board, you can set alarms and other basic features quickly, without an internet connection.
One of the biggest benefits of the Series 10 Apple Watch is pretty comprehensive health tracking, including ECG (heart rhythm), blood oxygen and skin temperature, plus sleep and menstrual cycle monitoring. Apple’s sports tracking is solid, too, covering running, cycling, and swimming at depths up to 6m. Offline music from Apple Music, Spotify and other third-party apps means you can access your tunes without having to carry your phone with you.
However, it’s the deep integration with iOS that makes the Apple Watch the best smartwatch for iPhone users, with Apple Pay, notifications, calls, texts, maps, photos and more accessible from your wrist.
Note that 4G models are available but require a plan linked to your phone provider. They allow you to stay connected when you’re out of Bluetooth or wifi range, which can be particularly handy for making calls and staying in touch while you’re out exercising without your iPhone in tow.
Why should you buy it?
The Series 10 offers the best Apple Watch experience in the slimmest and most compact package. Add to this the bright and always-on screen, ECG and handy gesture controls, and it’s also the best Apple Watch for daily wear.
Buy if: you want a great Apple Watch with almost all the features
Don’t buy if: you want longer battery life or a more rugged design
Read our full Apple Watch Series 10 review: thinner, lighter and basically the same
Size: 42/46mm
Thickness: 9.7mm
Screen brightness: up to 2,000nits
Tested battery life: 2 days
Processor: S10
Storage: 64GB
Water resistance: 50 metres
Sensors: HR (3rd gen), ECG, spO2, skin/water temp, depthBest cheap Apple Watch:
SE (2nd gen)
From £219 at Apple
£219 at John Lewis
The SE is a cut-down version of the Apple Watch that offers the basics for just over half the price of the Series 10.
