If it’s on sale for less than $300
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
WatchOS 26 is compatible with watches series 6 and newer. First generation RIP Series 4, 5 and SE watches. However, this makes all Series 6 and newer watches ready to use. For example, if you can find it on sale, the Series 9 is still a perfectly capable watch, capable of detecting oxygen in the blood and receiving notifications of hypertension.
| Specifications and Features |
| Box sizes: 41mm or 45mm |
| Colors and finishes: Aluminum | Pink, Midnight, Starlight or Silver |
| Hypertension notifications: Yes |
| Blood oxygen detection: Yes |
| Skin temperature detection: Yes |
| ECG: Yes |
| Satellite messages: No |
| UWB chip: Yes |
New Fitness Features
Courtesy of Apple
There are many reasons to wear an Apple Watch besides the health features. Maybe you just want quick access to your texts, calendars, or Siri. Maybe you want keep track of your child or make sure your elderly mother doesn’t fall.
Still, I’ve been following the development of the Apple Watch for years, from a fairly standard wearable to a full-featured fitness tracker. which now compares favorably against the High-end Garmin and Suuntos of the world. Since its inception, Apple has focused on the watch as a personal health device, with CEO Tim Cook even going so far as to say that the the watch will save your life. Hypertension notifications and sleep tracking are a significant step forward, although non-invasive continuous glucose monitor has not yet appeared.
In addition to health-related features, Apple has also revealed additions to its workout programs in recent months. Artificial intelligence Fitness Workout Buddy is perhaps the most important (although personally, I don’t feel like I benefited as much from a robot happily chirping the name of the song I’m listening to). Apple also started offering Fitness+ in more countries and the launch of new workout programs, like three-week strength training programs designed to jump-start your workout routines.
It’s also worth noting here that Apple Watch data is compatible with many other fitness and workout apps besides Apple’s proprietary Fitness+. For more information on which app is best for your Apple Watch, check out our guide to Best Fitness & Workout Apps. Fitness+ is also available on the iPhone, iPadAnd Apple TV.
Compare the 5 best Apple Watches
The best Apple Watch apps and accessories
Photography: Simon Hill
Once you have your Apple Watch, you’ll need a few accessories. Here are the ones you should consider first.
A 3 in 1 charger. Apple Watches are notoriously difficult to keep charged. This Belkin Qi2 Charger ($110) is our favorite stand, but we have many other selections in our Best Apple 3-in-1 Wireless Chargers. You can also recover a power bank ($90) with a built-in Apple Watch charger so you don’t end up with a dead watch.
Whatever group you want. OUR Best Apple Watch accessories the guide has a ton of options. My favorite band of all time is the Konsu NYC Soft Leather Bracelet ($169), but we have many others in our guide.
A case and a screen protector. The price of the Apple service is notoriously exorbitant—repairing a watch costs almost as much as buying a new one! Bigger and more expensive isn’t always better. If the case is large and doesn’t fit well, it will vibrate annoyingly every time you get a notification. I like the Spigen Thin Fit Case ($15) And a set of screen protectors from Amazon ($10); the extras are nice if you miss the first application.
Avoid these watches
It’s been years since we’ve seen retailers offer the Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3. You might see them on resale sites, but they’re not worth the price. WatchOS 26 only works with the second generation SE and newer, so we no longer recommend purchasing the Series 4 or 5, nor the first generation SE. Series 1 is not waterproof; neither series 1 nor series 2 have cellular capacity; and none of these watches are compatible with the latest version of watchOS.
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