There are just three models of Apple Watch \u2014 and $500 separates the most affordable from the premium model, with the flagship landing somewhere in between. Before the launch of the overhauled<\/a> Apple Watch SE 3 in late 2025, it was pretty easy to direct most people to the Apple Watch Series 11. But with its new display and faster charging, the budget model makes a lot more sense now. There\u2019s also a case for recommending the refreshed Apple Watch Ultra 3 to diehard adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. Here, we spell out just what differentiates the models as well as what you get when you buy any Apple Watch. Using insights gleaned from Engadget\u2019s own reviews, this guide will help you pick the best Apple Watch for you.<\/p>\n Cherlynn Low for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Chip<\/strong>: S10 SiP | Sensors<\/strong>: Electrical heart, optical heart, blood oxygen, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, light, depth gauge, water temp | Display<\/strong>: Always\u2011on Retina wide-angle OLED display, max 2,000 nits brightness | Battery<\/strong> life<\/strong>: 24 hours | Case size<\/strong>: 42mm or 46mm<\/p>\n Read our full <\/strong>Apple Watch Series 11 review<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The specs for the Apple Watch Series 11<\/a> look pretty similar to the previous generation. The new watch uses the same S10 chip, has the same case and screen size, and employs the same sensors. Plus, new software features like sleep score and hypertension alerts will work with the Series 10 (and the Series 9, for that matter). But two hardware upgrades make the Series 11 model notably better than the last: a tougher screen and a battery that lasts longer. Oh, and the price didn\u2019t go up.<\/p>\n The battery now lasts for 24 hours instead of the previous 18. That\u2019s still shy of the 30 hours promised for Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Watch 8 and Google\u2019s Pixel Watch 4, but it\u2019s an improvement. In her review, Engadget\u2019s Cherlynn Low said that she managed to get more than 24 hours on a charge \u2014 during a day that included a workout, camera remote use and sleep tracking.<\/p>\n Apple added a ceramic coating to the Ion-X glass on the standard Series 11, making it twice as scratch resistant as the Series 10 (the titanium Series 11 has an even tougher sapphire front crystal). If you’re the type to immediately apply screen protectors to your new gear, you may be able to skip that step.<\/p>\n New features for watchOS 26<\/a> include hypertension alerts<\/a> (available for the Series 9 or later and the Ultra 2 or later), which use the optical heart sensor and an algorithm to look for patterns of high blood pressure over the course of 30-day periods. There\u2019s also a new sleep score, a Workout Buddy to motivate you through your runs and rides, as well as a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications.<\/p>\n A new design was introduced with the Series 10, and the Series 11 maintains that more comfortable, thinner profile and larger screen. The display is easy to read in bright light and at wide angles thanks to the 2,000 nit maximum brightness and the LTPO3 panel. And, as always, the flagship Apple Watch is an excellent companion for your iPhone, does a great job of tracking your workouts and now monitors your health stats even better than before.<\/p>\n If you opt for the cellular-enabled model, you\u2019ll now be able to access 5G networks for faster data connections without your phone.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBest Apple Watch in 2026<\/h2>\n
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