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At 10, the Apple Watch has become a mainstay in the company's product lineup, with at least one new model released yearly since its debut in 2015. To celebrate its double-digit birthday, let's take a walk down memory lane and revisit the most important features and updates introduced with each generation, along with the key takeaways from our reviews at the time.
Apple Watch/Apple Watch Series 1: Where It Started
Release Dates: April 24, 2015 ( Apple Watch ), Sep. 16, 2016 (Series 1)
Rating:4 stars
Our Take: The original Apple Watch and Apple Watch Series 1 were actually two different models released roughly a year and a half apart, but they were physically identical and otherwise close enough that we grouped them into one review. We liked the watch as the embodiment of the wrist-based computer envisioned by classics such as Dick Tracy. Making calls and sending texts from your wrist was still pretty novel, and Apple added a robust app store and some basic fitness tracker features to the equation. Overall, it was a very solid first step, if not quite the game changer that the original iPhone was.
Series 2: GPS and Water Resistance
Release Date: Sept. 16, 2016
Rating:4 stars
What Was New?Built-in GPS and a waterproof design, plus a brighter screen, faster processing, and more accurate fitness tracking.
Our Take: We gave the Apple Watch Series 2 another positive review in which we stopped short of calling it a must-have smartwatch . Released the same day as the Series 1, it also had the same battery life, but using the newly added GPS drained it quickly. A new dock screen made it easier to access your favorite apps, built-in voice control through Siri added versatility, and the Activity app was useful for tracking fitness. It wasn’t quite a replacement for a dedicated fitness tracker just yet, as it lacked sleep tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and the minute workout details of a Garmin or a Fitbit.
Series 3: Cellular Connectivity
Release Date: Sept. 22, 2017
Rating:4 stars
What Was New?An LTE-equipped version as well as advanced heart rate monitoring, a barometric altimeter to track elevation, and high heart rate notifications.
Our Take: Built-in cellular connectivity made a big difference if you were looking for a truly standalone smartwatch less reliant on having your phone nearby, though the battery took a big hit when using LTE. The Apple Watch Series 3 also took admirable strides as a fitness tracker, introducing GymKit compatibility for connecting to cardio equipment , smart activity coaching, and a redesigned Workout app with support for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions. It also added resting and recovery heart rate measurements, though it still lacked 24/7 pulse monitoring outside of exercise in order to preserve battery life.
Series 4: All-In on Health and Safety
Release Date: Sept. 21, 2018
Rating:4 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?Automatic workout detection, electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, and fall detection, plus a bigger screen and improved fitness tracking accuracy from the previous generation.
Our Take: The Apple Watch Series 4 was the first to earn our Editors’ Choice award. We still had issues with its battery life and the price, but were otherwise impressed with its big, crisp display and its excellent fitness tracking and safety features. Automatic workout tracking was hit or miss, but detailed running metrics like cadence and pace helped the Series 4 catch up to dedicated fitness trackers while retaining the largest third-party app ecosystem of any smartwatch.
Series 5: Always-On Display
Release Date: Sept. 20, 2019
Rating:4 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?An always-on display, International Emergency Calling support, and a host of new apps, including Activity Trends, Compass, Cycle Tracking, and Noise.
Our Take: The second consecutive Editors’ Choice winner, the Apple Watch Series 5 introduced an always-on display, which made a tremendous impact on the overall user experience, letting you see the time, workout stats, and other information at a glance. It also improved processor speeds and continued to make strides in health tracking through its new selection of apps. It still lacked sleep tracking, but the Activity Trends app made it easy to visualize your fitness data over time.
Series 6: The Pandemic Edition
Release Date: Sept. 18, 2020
Rating:4.5 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?A blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor, sleep tracking capabilities, a 20-second handwashing timer, an always-on altimeter, and increased wrist-down screen brightness.
Our Take: The Apple Watch Series 6 earned the highest rating of any Apple Watch yet, plus our Editors' Choice award for the third consecutive year. We called the Series 6 the best smartwatch you could buy and found all of its additions helpful and well-implemented, with the blood oxygen measurements and handwashing timer particularly useful in the age of COVID-19.
Apple Watch SE: The Affordable One
Release Date: Sept. 18, 2020
Rating:4 stars
What Was Different?No always-on display, blood oxygen sensor, or ECG sensor in exchange for a more affordable price than the Series 6.
Our Take: The first spinoff model, the Apple Watch SE offered most of the features of the excellent Series 6 for $120 less. It came with fall detection, irregular heart rate and rhythm notifications, Emergency SOS, and international emergency calling. It also had access to Apple's huge app library and robust fitness features. We called it an ideal smartwatch for kids and the elderly in particular.
Series 7: More Screen, Greater Durability
Release Date: Oct. 15, 2021
Rating:4.5 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?A bigger case and display, faster charging, improved durability, and a few new health and workout tracking features like automatic cycling detection, a Mindfulness app, and sleep trend data.
Our Take: The first Apple Watch to be fully dustproof, the Apple Watch Series 7 wasn’t the sea change of the Series 6, but it was still far enough ahead of the competition to retain our Editors' Choice award. Faster charging speeds were nice, though the battery life itself still hadn’t really improved. Samsung was starting to make waves on the Android side with its Galaxy Watch4 , but the Apple Watch offered an unrivaled third-party app selection.
Series 8: Temperature Sensing and Improved Battery Life
Release Date: Sept. 16, 2022
Rating:4.5 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?Body temperature sensing during sleep, car crash detection, retrospective ovulation estimates, workout heart rate zone data, plus improved real-world battery life.
Our Take: The Apple Watch Series 8 looked exactly like the 7, but it finally upped the battery life with its Low Power Mode and added important health and safety features, including the ability to measure and track changes in your body temperature during sleep.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation): A Budget-Friendly Upgrade
Release Date: Sept. 16, 2022
Rating:4 stars
What Was Different?A faster processor and improved battery life, plus a new motion sensor for car crash detection, and a $30 price reduction.
Our Take: The second-gen Apple Watch SE is the company's current budget-focused smartwatch, and is well worth considering today if you want access to almost all the connectivity, safety, and fitness features of flagship models for $150 less. It's an excellent alternative to the mainline model for first-time smartwatch buyers, children/teens, and older adults.
Apple Watch Ultra: The Premium, Rugged One
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2022
Rating:4 stars
What Was Different?A bigger battery, brighter display, more tactile controls, and improved waterproofing over Series models, plus a customizable Action button, dual-frequency GPS, and a loud emergency siren.
Our Take: The first truly rugged spinoff, the Apple Watch Ultra was designed for outdoor adventurers. It only came in one large size that could be bulky on a small wrist, but its durable build, tactile buttons, and long battery life made it a good match for endurance athletes and ocean enthusiasts with deep pockets. We called the Series 8 the best option for most people, with the Ultra an interesting alternative if you regularly heed the call of the great outdoors.
Series 9: Controversy Brews
Release Date: Sept. 22, 2023
Rating:4.5 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?A much brighter display for improved outdoor visibility, double-tap gesture control, on-device Siri processing, carbon-neutral product configurations, and an on-trend Pink aluminum case option.
Our Take: The Apple Watch Series 9 was pulled from store shelves for several days in late 2023 during a patent suit over its blood oxygen sensor. It eventually reentered the market with the sensor disabled , removing one of its key advantages over the more affordable Apple Watch SE. Before the controversy began, the Series 9 earned outstanding marks in our review, and we called its brighter screen a nice quality-of-life improvement, especially since it didn’t come at the expense of battery life. Even without an active blood oxygen sensor, the Series 9 offered enough lifestyle, fitness, health, and safety features to remain the best smartwatch for most iPhone users.
Ultra 2: Refined for Adventure
Release Date: Sept. 22, 2023
Rating:4 stars
What Was New?A brighter display, a faster processor, and more design choices than the first-gen Ultra.
Our Take: The rugged launched alongside the Series 9, offering minor refinements over the original Ultra. It's the current Ultra model, and it remains a compelling upgrade for outdoor adventurers, even though its blood oxygen sensor is still currently disabled.
Series 10: Jewelry-Inspired Design Tweaks
Release Date: Sept. 20, 2024
Rating:4 stars, Editors' Choice
What Was New?A thinner case, larger screen, and better wrist-down visibility, plus a new polished aluminum case option, music playback capabilities, sleep apnea notifications, and water depth and temperature sensors.
Our Take: We’ve caught up. The Apple Watch Series 10 earned our Editors’ Choice award as the best smartwatch for iPhone users, but we docked its score a half-point from the previous generation due to its still-inactive SpO2 sensor. Though we're disappointed it doesn't measure or track blood oxygen saturation, we appreciate its accelerometer-powered sleep apnea notifications, which can alert you about interruptions in your regular overnight respiratory pattern. The field of Android competitors has caught up, but the Series 10's stylish and comfortable design, useful health and lifestyle features, and ample third-party app selection keep it at the head of the smartwatch pack.
Series 11: What We Expect
If Apple follows its fall release pattern, we have roughly five months until it debuts the next major version of its flagship smartwatch. If current naming conventions hold steady, it will be called the Apple Watch Series 11. We hope it will find a way to bring the blood oxygen sensor, but that's a legal matter. We'd also love a new Series model with a significant increase in battery life. Given that the Series 10 focused more on design than sensors, the Series 11 might offer an extra dose of fresh health capabilities with a similar look to its predecessor. We’ll get a preview of things to come when Apple debuts the new version of its smartwatch software, watchOS 12, at WWDC in June.
