Replace, 09/26/2022: We’ve reviewed our suggestions and have up to date this shopping for information with the brand new Apple Watch Collection 8 merchandise.
What to Look For in an Apple Watch in 2022
The Apple Watch is far more than a timepiece with a display as an alternative of dials. When the smartwatch first debuted, it may need been largely a enjoyable gadget that might present the time and buzz you with notifications, however the Apple Watch has come a good distance since then.
As of late, the Apple Watch is a health monitoring machine, a GPS beacon, and a approach to make sure you by no means miss out on an essential message. It’s additionally a versatile trend accent.
All fashions of the Apple Watch are waterproof, so you’ll be able to even put on them whereas swimming. The newest fashions just like the Collection 8 even embody options like an FDA-approved ECG monitor and a blood oxygen sensor to watch your vitals. The Apple Watch is solely laborious to beat in smartwatch expertise.
The most important new characteristic within the 2022 Apple Watch fashions is the addition of Crash Detection, which might help alert emergency providers if it detects you’re in a extreme automobile crash.
Earlier Apple Watch fashions performed it pretty protected with end and coloration choices, however now you may get the latest Apple Watch in varied finishes and colours. You’ll be able to decorate with quite a lot of Apple Watch bands, as effectively.
Now that you realize what you’re taking a look at, let’s get into the most effective Apple Watches you should purchase available on the market in the present day.

Execs
- ✓ Strong efficiency
- ✓ Crash Detection and new temperature sensors
- ✓ Identical nice design and show because the Collection 7
Cons
- ✗ Not a big improve over the Collection 7
- ✗ Battery life nonetheless restricted to a day
The Apple Watch Collection 8 will not be the corporate’s flagship smartwatch for 2022. That crown belongs to the Apple Watch Extremely, however the Collection 8 continues to be the most effective Apple Look ahead to most individuals. It builds upon the already wonderful Collection 7 and contains iterative upgrades, persevering with the corporate’s dominance within the smartwatch area.
You get the identical refined design and incredible show because the Collection 7, however beneath the hood, there are just a few modifications, together with two new temperature sensors. Though these sensors gained’t offer you on-demand readings, the smartwatch makes use of temperature knowledge to supply retrospective ovulation estimates and interval predictions. You can even see nightly temperature readings within the Well being App.
One other marquee characteristic of the Collection 8 is Crash Detection. The smartwatch makes use of a brand new high-g accelerometer and upgraded gyroscope with superior algorithms to detect a extreme automobile crash and name the emergency providers for you.
Past these, the Collection 8 is essentially the identical smartwatch because the Collection 7. Positive, the chip inside now bears a brand new identify—Apple S8—but it surely options the identical CPU because the S6 and S7 chips that powered the Collection 6 and Collection 7, respectively. That mentioned, even and not using a new processor, the Apple Watch Collection 8 is well one of many snappiest smartwatches available on the market.
You additionally get the tried and examined assortment of well being and health options, together with all-day exercise monitoring, sleep monitoring, heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, and the ECG app. And because of the enhancements launched by the watchOS 9, these are higher than ever. So that you now get extra exact exercise knowledge, new working metrics, and superior exercise experiences.
Battery life stays a ache level for all Apple watches, and the Collection 8 isn’t any completely different. You get round a day’s value of energy with this watch. However you’ll be blissful to know that there’s now a Low Energy Mode that may lengthen the battery life by a bit for crunch conditions.
All-in-all, in case you are on the lookout for the most effective Apple Watch, it’s laborious to go unsuitable with the Collection 8. It’s additionally significantly cheaper than the Watch Extremely, which is constructed for these into outside adventures and wish one thing additional rugged.
Greatest Apple Watch General
Apple Watch Collection 8 (GPS, 41mm)
The Apple Watch Collection 8 retains the tried and examined design of the Collection 7 however provides temperature sensors and the Crash Detection characteristic.
Greatest Apple Watch General
Apple Watch Collection 8 (GPS, 45mm)
The Collection 8 has all the pieces most individuals want: strong well being and health monitoring, a refined design, and the newest bells and whistles.

Execs
- ✓ Inexpensive and cheaper than the unique Watch SE
- ✓ Consists of the identical S8 chip as Collection 8 and Watch Extremely
Cons
- ✗ No always-on show
- ✗ Lacks mud resistance
- ✗ No ECG or Blood Oxygen apps
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) will not be solely an improve over its earlier technology but additionally replaces the Collection 3 as the most affordable smartwatch within the firm’s portfolio, making it a no brainer if you need an inexpensive Apple Watch. However that doesn’t imply the brand new Watch SE is a slacker.
The 2022 mannequin packs the identical S8 chip because the costlier Collection 8 and Watch Extremely, so that you get the identical snappy efficiency. The brand new chip additionally makes the smartwatch futureproof, so that you gained’t must improve for at the very least just a few years until you need to.
Nonetheless accessible in 40mm and 44mm variations, the Watch SE (2nd Gen) seems to be the identical as its predecessor, however Apple has redesigned the again to color-match the aluminum case. Plus, the smartwatch contains new accelerometer and gyroscope sensors to supply the Crash Detection characteristic like the opposite new Apple Watch fashions.
The smartwatch can be nice for important well being and health monitoring. You get all-day exercise monitoring, sleep monitoring, and heart-rate monitoring. The watchOS 9 handles the software program duties and brings virtually all of the newly launched bells and whistles, together with up to date Exercise and Compass apps, extra insights into your sleep, and a brand new Medicines expertise.
Sadly, whereas the Watch SE (2nd Gen) presents a variety of what’s accessible within the Collection 8, it lacks an always-on show, ECG app, means to watch blood oxygen saturation, mud resistance, and temperature sensors, among the many vital options.
Nevertheless, if these options are usually not a deal-breaker for you, it’s a wonderful choice for an iPhone proprietor on the lookout for their first smartwatch or a funds decide. Furthermore, the Watch SE (2nd Gen) launch worth is $30 lower than its predecessor, making it a greater worth for cash and an attractive buy.
Greatest Price range Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, 40mm)
From the identical chip because the Collection 8 to the lower cost than its predecessor, the latest Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) has loads going for it.
Greatest Price range Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, 44mm)
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) packs sufficient goodies to fulfill individuals who do not want superior well being monitoring and are proud of a strong smartwatch that does the fundamentals proper.

Execs
- ✓ Potential to make calls and ship texts with out the iPhone
- ✓ Assist for Household Setup
Cons
- ✗ LTE utilization can drain the battery faster
- ✗ Prices $100 greater than the GPS-only model
Mobile connectivity in your smartwatch might be useful should you prefer to go on a run or bike trip with out your telephone. And luckily for you, our greatest general decide—the Apple Watch Collection 8—comes with a variant with mobile modems to allow connectivity on the go even with out your iPhone. You need to use it to make calls, ship texts, stream music, and far more, options which might be in any other case unavailable with out the paired iPhone.
Past the cellular-specific options, this model of the Collection 8 has the identical {hardware} and options because the GPS-only variant. So, you get an attractive always-on show in a elegant design. Plus, you’ll be able to entry all of the well being and health options, together with all-day exercise monitoring, heart-rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and extra.
One other benefit of the Apple Watch with a mobile connection is the flexibility to make use of the Household Setup characteristic. With this characteristic, you’ll be able to arrange the Apple Look ahead to a member of the family who doesn’t personal an iPhone. It’s notably useful should you don’t need to give your little one an iPhone however need them to remain related.
One factor to recollect concerning the Apple Watch Collection 8 mobile model is the affect of LTE connectivity on the smartwatch’s battery life. The extra you’re away out of your telephone and counting on LTE, the sooner Apple Watch’s battery will drain. That mentioned, Apple claims you need to get about the identical battery backup because the GPS-only model so long as you restrict LTE use to 4 hours.
Additionally, the mobile mannequin prices a $100 premium over the GPS-only Apple Watch Collection 8, after which there’s the month-to-month value of the mobile connection.
Greatest Apple Watch with Mobile
Greatest Apple Watch with Mobile

Execs
- ✓ Greatest battery life amongst all Apple watches
- ✓ Twin-frequency GPS
- ✓ Huge, vibrant show
- ✓ Mobile connectivity
Cons
- ✗ Costly
- ✗ Too large for petite wrists
Apple has been step by step enhancing the sturdiness of its smartwatches, and because of IP6X mud resistance, 50m water resistance, Ion-X entrance glass/ sapphire entrance crystal, and an aluminum/ chrome steel case, the Apple Watch Collection 8 is hard sufficient for most individuals. However if you need the most effective Apple Look ahead to sturdiness, there isn’t a competitors for the brand new Apple Watch Extremely.
Concentrating on endurance athletes and people into outside adventures, the Watch Extremely is the corporate’s most rugged smartwatch to this point. It sports activities an aerospace-grade titanium shell that’s additional robust with out being too heavy and a recessed sapphire entrance crystal to keep away from nook injury to the display.
The watch additionally comes with IP6X mud resistance and 100m water resistance. Plus, Apple claims that it has been examined in opposition to the MIL-STD-810H commonplace. Briefly, it’ll be laborious to wreck this Apple Watch.
Accessible in a single 49mm measurement, the smartwatch has the most important show on an Apple Watch, which is 20% greater than the Collection 8 and 27% greater than the Watch SE. This massive display is nice for readability, and because of the watch’s as much as 2,000 nits peak brightness, you gained’t have bother studying, even beneath direct daylight.
The Apple Watch Extremely can be the corporate’s first smartwatch to characteristic dual-frequency GPS with assist for the brand new L5 frequency to supply probably the most exact location, distance, and route knowledge in dense city environments and the wilderness.
One other space the place the Watch Extremely shines in comparison with the opposite Apple Watch fashions is battery life. It simply lasts by way of two days on reasonable utilization. Whereas it’s not a lot when you think about some Android smartwatches, it’s definitely a welcome enchancment for an Apple Watch.
In different options, just like the Collection 8, you get the S8 chip, new temperature sensors, an upgraded accelerometer, and a brand new gyroscope. The Extremely additionally homes a water temperature sensor for swimmers, a three-microphone array for higher calling, and a secondary speaker for loud, emergency sirens.
One other little element that you simply’ll solely discover on the Watch Extremely is the brand new Motion button. You’ll be able to customise it to do whichever operate you need, making it simple to do a particular designated job irrespective of the scenario.
General, the Apple Watch Extremely is ideal for anybody who needs the hardest Apple Watch with all of the well being and health options we count on from the corporate’s smartwatches.
Greatest Apple Look ahead to Sturdiness
Apple Watch Extremely
The Watch Extremely pips the opposite Apple watches in sturdiness due to its titanium case, sapphire crystal entrance, and 100-meter water resistance.
The Greatest Apple Watch Bands

In case you thought that selecting an Apple Watch was tough, simply wait till you attempt to decide a band. When you’ve obtained a handful of fashions and finishes for the Apple Watch itself, there are too many forms of bands in varied coloration choices to try to slim down on this roundup.
Even limiting your choices to these provided by Apple, you continue to want to decide on between about seven or so completely different fashions. That’s not even together with all of the third-party bands available on the market!
The Solo Loop is without doubt one of the greatest starter choices should you’re uncertain what sort of band you need. It’s inexpensive, easy, and is available in quite a lot of colours. When you’ve obtained a greater concept of what you’re on the lookout for, it’s possible you’ll be prepared to maneuver on to different bands.
However don’t fear, you don’t must make this selection alone. For a bit of assist narrowing down your choices, have a look at our roundup of the greatest Apple Watch bands.