Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
---

Title: The best Apple Watch in 2024

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:00:36 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple...

Apple sells just three models of smartwatches ΓÇö the Series 10, the Ultra 2
and the SE ΓÇö and they fall pretty neatly into the categories of flagship,
premium and budget, respectively. But if youΓÇÖre wondering whether the
adventure-ready features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are worth the price bump,
or if the just-the-basics tools of the Apple Watch SE will be enough,
Engadget is here to help. WeΓÇÖve been testing and reviewing Apple wearables
since the beginning and we have lots to say about them. Ultimately we think
the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for most people ΓÇö in
fact, itΓÇÖs our pick for the best smartwatch you can buy from any brand ΓÇö
but read on to dive deeper into the chips, sensors, displays and fitness
tracking features each Apple Watch model offers.

What to look for in an Apple Watch Chips and sensors

The new Apple Watch Series 10 has an S10 SiP (system in a package) chip with
a four-core Neural Engine. The Ultra 2 was updated last September with
AppleΓÇÖs S9 SiP. Both chips allow for on-device processing of Siri requests
as well as dictation, translation, automatic workout detection and the Double
Tap gesture that lets you answer calls or stop an alarm by tapping your thumb
and forefinger together twice. It also enables faster machine learning
performance for interpreting sensor data, speech recognition and performing
other ΓÇ£thinkingΓÇ¥ tasks. The Apple Watch SE still relies on the S8 SiP,
which was also used in the Series 8 and the original Ultra.

Both the Series 10 and Ultra 2 can take an ECG and have temperature sensors
to help track ovulation and both support fall-detection and crash-detection
as a safety feature. All three models have a compass and altimeter. The Apple
Watch Ultra 2 has an onboard SOS siren, as well as dive features like a depth
gauge. Water features were added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but with a
shallower depth rating (just six meters, as compared to 40 meters on the
Ultra). The Ultra includes sensors to measure blood oxygen, but a recent
patent dispute has forced Apple to disable that health feature on new models
sold in the US and the hardware isnΓÇÖt present in the new flagship model.

All three models support near field communication (NFC), the chip that
enables Apple Pay. Once you set it up using the Apple Watch app on your
iPhone, you can pay for stuff at any store that accepts Apple Pay, even if
you don't have your phone with you.

Displays and case sizes

The wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch 10 lets you see the always-on
display from more angles. The Ultra 2 also has an always-on display, but
youΓÇÖll have to lift your wrist to tell time or read notifications on the
SE. The SE can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the Series 10 can
get as bright as 2,000 and the Ultra 2 hits 3,000 nits. Both higher-end
screens can dim to a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark.

The Apple Watch Series 10 came with a new finish and case material ΓÇö a
glossy anodized jet black finish on the aluminum model and the option for a
titanium case. The Ultra 2 also got a new finish, satin black, that utilizes
a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process to apply the color.

As for case sizes, the SE is available in 40 or 44mm. The Series 10 increased
in size from the prior generation and now has a choice of a 42 or 46mm case.
The Ultra 2 comes in just one size measuring 49mm. You also get the
opportunity to pick the length and style for watch bands. The SE and Series
10 come in small/medium or medium/large and the Ultra 2 gives you the choice
of small, medium or large.

Battery life

Since itΓÇÖs the largest wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sports the biggest
battery and can last for a claimed 36 hours on a charge. That number jumps up
to 72 hours if you turn on low power mode. Both the Apple Watch 10 and the SE
are rated by Apple to go for 18 hours before they need a visit to the
charger, and longer when using battery saver mode.

The Series 10 (left) and Series 9 (right). Cherlynn Low for Engadget Fitness
features

Believe it or not, all three Apple Watches have similar fitness tracker
chops. The Activity app uses three ΓÇ£ringsΓÇ¥ to keep tabs on how much
youΓÇÖre moving in a day: The Move ring tracks your active calories; the
Exercise ring monitors the minutes youΓÇÖve spent walking, running, doing
yoga and so on; and the Stand ring tells you how many hours in a day youΓÇÖve
stood up and moved around for at least one minute.

Different internal sensors detect those activities, for example the
accelerometer senses when youΓÇÖre moving versus sitting still, and the
optical heart rate sensor judges how hard you're working out and how many
calories youΓÇÖve burned. You can set your goals for each ring and youΓÇÖll
earn badges and animations when you hit them.

The Workout app lets you start and track an exercise session. The sensors can
even auto-detect when youΓÇÖre working out, tapping your wrist to suggest you
track the activity. Apple Watches will integrate with AppleΓÇÖs Fitness+
subscription, displaying real time heart rate and calorie burn data on your
iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV 4K as you take a class. Fitness+ also includes
audio-guided walks and runs with just your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All
three models support the Activity and Workout apps for free. The Fitness+ app
also works with all Apple Watches, but costs $10 per month.

New features enabled with watchOS 11 include Training Load that gauges your
bodyΓÇÖs response to workouts over time, which could help athletes better
prepare for events like marathons. Users can also now skip a day (or more)
from fitness tracking metrics when they need to rest or arenΓÇÖt feeling up
to the challenge of closing their rings.

Siri

You can get the weather, start a workout, identify a song and dictate a text
just by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raise to Speak
feature that bypasses the need to say ΓÇ£Hey SiriΓÇ¥ and will instead listen
for your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth.

Both the Series 10 and the Ultra 2 utilize onboard processing of Siri
requests. That means executing simple requests like starting workouts and
timers are quicker, as they wonΓÇÖt need to access external networks.
However, requests like sending texts or getting weather forecasts still need
to communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so youΓÇÖll need to have your phone
nearby if you have a GPS-only model.

Price

ThereΓÇÖs a $550 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Apple
Watches. For $250, you can get the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS-only
connectivity; adding cellular connectivity ups the price by $50. The Apple
Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular model in aluminum
and goes as high as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which is only available
with GPS and cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has just one price: $799 for
a titanium 49mm case with both GPS and cellular power.

Best Apple Watch in 2024

How we tested Apple Watches

Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches since the first one came out in
2015. Since then, weΓÇÖve tested every subsequent model Apple has released,
including the Ultra and SE models, spending at least a few days or even a
couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. During that time, we run, hit
the gym, go on hikes and wear it while sleeping, all the while gauging how it
tracks various metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs every other
trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do.

Since we also review smartwatches from other companies, such as Samsung and
Google, our editors can compare Apple Watches not just to previous
generations, but also to other wearables on the market.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple...

---
VRSS v2.1.180528