If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best wearable to go with it. But what's the best Apple Watch to buy? Just a little while ago, this question was more complicated. In 2024, a court ruling dictated that Apple could no longer sell the latest watches—the Series 9, the Watch Ultra 2, and the Series 10—with a blood oxygen sensor. The medical technology company Masimo alleged that Apple had infringed on its patent. However, in August 2025, Apple redesigned the sensor via a software update, and you now have this feature again. Blood oxygen sensing is back, baby!
The current model is the Apple Watch Series 10, but are last year’s Series 9 and Ultra Watch 2 still worth it? Yes, if you're looking for specific features and not others. I love the Apple Watch. 10 years on, it's still the beautiful, Jony Ive–designed wearable that everyone who has an iPhone has to have. It is the watch I'd wear if I weren't constantly testing other fitness trackers. (Now my children test them as well.) But how can you tell them apart when all of these watches look pretty similar and share a rotating stable of features? We break down which one is best for you and whether older models are worth the price.
Wondering what the operating system for these watches will look like? Check out our breakdown of WatchOS 26 and our other relevant buying guides, including the Best Smartwatches, Best Fitness Trackers, and Best iPhones.
Updated August 2025: We added new information on blood oxygen sensing, WatchOS 26, and the upcoming Series 11.