Apple Watches are among the most popular smartwatches around. All the nifty features they come equipped with have improved in performance with each generation.

While the Apple Watch is a favorite among iPhone users, you can still appreciate and use most of the features from the Apple Watch lineup, without owning an iPhone.

That begs the question: which Apple Watch is best? Despite the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra being the best, the older generations haven't lost their charm. In fact, the Series 4 can be just as valuable if you want smart features at an affordable cost.

Here are the best Apple Watch models available today.

Our Favorite Apple Watches in 2023

Apple’s smartwatches have had an increasing number of features over the generations, and while some models lack certain features that others have, the Apple Watch Series 8 is firing on all cylinders. If you’re someone who experiences FoMO pretty badly, and can make use of everything it offers, the Series 8 is for you!

The Apple Watch Series 8 is giving you the full lineup—text, calls, music, notifications, fitness tracking, ECG, blood oxygen levels, and handy fall and crash detection features. Hopefully, you’re never in a situation to test those out, but in the event that it does happen, your watch automatically gets in touch with emergency services.

What's particularly nice about the Apple Watch Series 8 is its screen and battery. With 1000 nits of brightness and an always-on OLED display, the UI is particularly sharp and clear even on sunny days. It's screen size also ensures incoming notifications aren't squashed and unreadable, especially on the 45mm model. To keep the Series 8 from dying on you at the 18-hour mark, you can take advantage of its Low Power mode, which can expand its battery life to 36 hours.

Back in the day, the Apple Watch SE was a solid smartwatch in Apple’s lineup, but it has since fallen to the wayside. It was a nice, stripped-down version of its better models, while still monitoring your fitness. Well, it’s back again, only better in every single way.

The Apple Watch SE ditched its old processor for the much more powerful S8 chipset, the same one in the Apple Watch Series 8. With a noticeably slimmer UI over the previous model, the experience feels incredibly snappy. The haptic feedback is also quite nice and nowhere near distracting.

Despite lacking a blood oxygen sensor and ECG, the Apple Watch SE still has a great lineup of features. It knows if you have a fall, and also offers noise monitoring, an altimeter, and an optical heart sensor in addition to handling texts, calls, notifications, and voice control. If you have no use for an ECG or monitoring blood oxygen, it has the potential to be your first Apple Watch.

There’s always room for more—more features, better durability, a longer-lasting battery—if the past generations of Apple Watches fell short, then perhaps you were just waiting for the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s uniquely designed for outdoor activities thanks to a combination of military-grade durability and useful remote features.

Take water resistance, for example, where the Apple Watch Ultra can withstand depths of 100 meters, which is twice that of past generations. If you prefer scuba diving, then you’re in luck because it’s perfectly suited for dives up to 40 meters. It’s in shallow oceans where you’ll get to test out the watch’s depth gauge and Apple’s Oceanic+ app acting as a dive computer.

Most Apple Watches are great hiking companions, but the Apple Watch Ultra’s Compass Waypoint changes everything. It allows you to mark your location, so if you wander off, the Compass app (and onboard GPS) will lead you back. And with a 36-hour battery, which you can double with Low Battery mode, you can spend quite a few hours wandering.

While the Series 7 is marginally better than the previous generation in terms of performance, the design has gone through the most significant changes, with a focus on the watch's screen. Apple now offers the Series 7 in its biggest size yet: the monstrous 45mm and 41mm.

Along with thinner bezels, the full QWERTY keyboard is more user-friendly than ever before. It’s also fitted with crack-resistant front crystal and IPX6 dust resistance for added durability. Under the hood, the Apple Watch Series 7 is using the S7 chip. Apps and functions are now snappier and more responsive than the S6 chip from the last generation, so if you want the most powerful Apple Watch, the Series 7 is the way forward.

For those that are health-conscious, the Apple Watch Series 7 boasts ECG functionality and the ability to measure blood oxygen levels. If you’re asthmatic and feeling symptoms of low blood oxygen, running a test on the spot is invaluable as is seeking medical attention immediately. An ECG can sense irregularities in your heart’s rhythm—a possible sign of atrial fibrillation. In both cases, the Apple Watch Series 7 provides notifications if anything appears out of place.

For those shopping for value, the Apple Watch Series 6 is a fantastic option. While it’s the predecessor to the Series 7, it comes equipped with near-identical features. However, it’s a small step-down in terms of performance, durability, and design. For example, the Apple Watch Series 6 is built with the S6 chip instead of the S7 chip inside the following generation.

It's still a great chip though and runs apps efficiently enough to provide 18 hours of battery life. This is despite having an always-on display. The Series 6 has slightly thicker bezels than the Series 7 and smaller overall size. It has two options: 40mm and 44mm, sufficient for most users who are keen to spend less money but still get the premium feel from Apple's smartwatch lineup.

The Apple Watch Series 6 provides the most value for those with health conditions. It can monitor fitness metrics during the day, in addition to a SpO2 sensor. If you suffer from COPD or congenital heart defects, knowing your blood oxygen levels is invaluable. However, if your budget doesn't stretch as far as the Series 6, you may find the Apple Watch SE a better fit, sporting many of the same features at a lower cost.

If you're not fussed about having the latest tech, the Apple Watch Series 5 is still a valuable option. It features several aspects of future models, like ECG, GPS, and an always-on display. The thin bezels and the watch face are designated to cater to the always-on display. You won’t have to press any buttons to reveal the time or tap the screen—a small, yet welcomed trait. Though it’s always on at a dimmed state, it doesn’t hinder the incredible 18-hour battery life.

For those keen on exercise and health, it keeps track of health-related metrics and detects the workout you’re doing. It’s tough enough to withstand water at 50 meters, allowing you to add swimming to your workout regime. And, if you happen to fall, the watch's fall detection can activate and, in the worst-case scenario, initiate an emergency SOS call.

For your health, the ECG comes in handy whether you experience any heart conditions or not. It can get a read on your heart’s rhythm and possibly any irregularities your doctor may want to investigate further. The Apple Watch Series 5 is an excellent smartwatch if you can look past a slower CPU and lack of a blood oxygen reader.

For iPhone users wanting to keep a closer eye on their heart health, the Apple Watch Series 4 is an easy choice. The Series 4 is the generation to introduce the ECG sensor. The ECG is so sensitive, it can detect if you’re at risk for atrial fibrillation. It acts as both an on-demand checkup, but also as a helpful preventative tool if your family has a history of heart conditions.

When in use, it will monitor the rhythm of your heart and detect irregularities. Naturally, the Apple Watch Series 4 doubles as a workout companion. It has the nifty ability to detect your workout. If you’re performing a downward dog, the Series 4 will know you’re engaging in yoga and track your progress. Your progress is then logged in the Activity app.

Should you find yourself in dire circumstances or harm, the Apple Watch Series 4 comes with both fall detection and emergency SOS. It's a great entry-level smartwatch for those who are starting their fitness journey and want the option to receive smart alerts to motivate them throughout the day.

Picking the Best Apple Watch for You

Given the similarities between every Apple Watch, finding the best Apple Watch for you comes down to budget, performance, and features. Performance gradually improves from generation to generation, in addition to seeing a greater number of features. Some you might be able to live without, while others you can't.

If you love keeping your health in check, exercise regularly, and love the idea of a smartwatch being an extension of your iPhone, then the Apple Watch Series 8 is a no-brainer. Its S8 chipset is fast and responsive, and the Low Battery mode ensures it'll last all day.

Of course, the second-generation Apple Watch SE still has fantastic value. It's been souped up with the Series 8's chipset, but with a much lighter build, such as a lack of an ECG and blood oxygen sensor. If either sensor isn't crucial to your well-being, you can do without the top-of-the-line models. And you'll still have access to fitness tracking as well as text, calling, notifications, and even fall detection.