The Apple Watch has matured a lot over the years since its inception (we have A full retrospective of that) , but with watchOS 10 It is preparing to deliver a major overhaul of Apple’s wearable platform in WWDC 2023We thought it was time to rank every device in the Apple Watch lineup.
Some benchmarks here: First, we skip the SE models. Although both offered a solid entry price for the platform, the lack of many features found on the premium models makes it hard to recommend them instead.
Second, we’re judging how impressive the device was at the time, as well as what it brought to the Apple Watch in later models. While Series 0 was a solid starting point, for example, everything after that was just as good.
With that in mind, here is our rating for the Apple Watch.
9. Apple Watch (Series 0)
Just as the Apple Watch has to start somewhere, so does our list. The Apple Watch Series 0 certainly looked similar to what we still have today with the latest Series 8, but it would be fair to say that it felt a lot more like a prototype.
Not ideal if you spent thousands of dollars on the gold version, however — Apple’s stance on the Apple Watch as a luxury item was short-lived, and watchOS updates stopped supporting it within a few years. Ouch.
8. Apple Watch Series 1 & Series 2
Apple roughly bundled the two Apple Watches together, and we did the same because while the Series 1 and Series 2 arrived closely together, the former is a slightly faster Series 0.
However, the Series 2 is still awash at this point in the list because the only real big plus is water resistance.
7. Apple Watch Series 6
Now jumping forward a bit, the Apple Watch Series 6 is, to use the iPhone analogy, somewhat similar to the Apple Watch 5S. It’s better than its predecessor, yes, but in small ways that it’s hard to say it was particularly impressive.
Indeed, while a blood oxygen monitor is a nice addition, and updated heart rate sensors are always welcome, the Series 6 is perhaps most notable for the removal of Force Touch — something this writer still wishes.
6. Apple Watch Series 8
Another relatively minor update, the Series 8’s big new additions were twofold. The first, crash detection, is a great technology you never hope to use. It’s a natural progression of fall detection in many ways.
The other addition was a temperature sensor, and while it proved particularly useful for tracking ovulation, we wish Apple had taken Fitbit’s route and had it check for possible infections as well. All in all, though, a very modest upgrade.
5. Apple Watch Series 7
The Series 7 may have been a victim of pre-launch hype, but since many were expecting a more drastic design overhaul, the larger and brighter-screen Series 6 felt a little disappointing.
However, the Series 7 is still fondly remembered for said display, and it’s also the first Apple Watch to get faster charging. This is one way to counter the battery life issue we assume.
4. Apple Watch Series 5
As we get to the top of our list, choosing between versions becomes more and more difficult. The Series 5, and arguably any models from now on, could reach even greater heights on this list.
It bumped up the storage (32GB) and added a compass, but the big factor that separated it from previous models was the Always On Display. In typical Apple fashion, it makes sure to keep private data out of prying eyes, and it felt magical when it first came out that the screen almost reacts to your gaze.
3. Apple Watch Series 3
We’ve always stuck with the belief that the Series 3 should have been pulled off the production line years ago, but that’s only because of its performance as watchOS has grown more ambitious.
The basic design, while a bit dated now, is still intact, and it felt like the first time the Apple Watch had had that moment. It also marked the first appearance of cellular models, something we still have today.
2. Apple Watch Ultra
Simply put, the Apple Watch Ultra is the best Apple Watch you can buy right now. Of course, this counts for something, but what brings it so close to the top of our list is that it showed Apple could make a high-end version of the Apple Watch without charging the Earth for it.
The action button, brighter screen, and built-in siren are great, but the battery life is the best part about it.
1. Apple Watch Series 4
If the Series 3 was the best, the Series 4 was the second album Apple showed its penchant for — and gave the wearable line its first sense of swagger.
A bigger screen on a smaller chassis, vastly improved performance, and a headline-grabbing ECG made it the first Apple Watch that felt like the device we have today—and still looks the part half a decade later.
Ultimately, then, we’d rate the Series 4 as highest for an Apple that was finally confident in what it wanted the Apple Watch to be — but in all honesty, it comes down to personal preference. It’s definitely grown to be a major part of Apple’s business plan, and the good news is that it looks set to keep getting better every year.
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