Confused about which Apple Watch to purchase? With Apple Watch Extremely 2, Apple Watch Collection 10 and Apple Watch SE at the moment vying on your pockets’s consideration, all of it will depend on what you need out of a smartwatch — and the way a lot you’re prepared to pay.
This shopping for information breaks down what every Apple Watch does greatest, serving to you match your wants (and finances) with the proper gadget, whether or not you’re a health fanatic, an out of doors adventurer or just in search of a dependable, on a regular basis smartwatch.
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Which Apple Watch to purchase: Collection 10 vs. Extremely 2 vs. SE 2
Apple launched the unique Apple Watch in 2015, calling it an “extremely correct timepiece, an intimate and instant communication gadget and a groundbreaking well being and health companion.” Apple additionally centered on the smartwatch’s trend potential, releasing quite a few customizable watch faces and promoting a wide range of colourful Apple Watch bands.
Since then, Apple added new health-oriented sensors and added new options through upgrades to the Apple Watch’s working system: watchOS. The present Apple Watch lineup consists of three fashions: the high-end Apple Watch Extremely 2, aimed toward endurance athletes; the midrange Apple Watch Collection 10; and the second-gen Apple Watch SE, an entry-level mannequin with stripped-down options.
Any of those Apple Watches can function your exercise companion and even save your life in an emergency. However all of them have their execs and cons. Relaxation assured, you don’t want to purchase one of the best or costliest Apple Watch accessible to benefit from the wearable’s revolutionary well being and health options.
Purchase the Apple Watch Collection 10 if…

Picture: David Snow/Cult of Mac
For many on a regular basis customers, the Apple Watch Collection 10 hits the candy spot. With a slimmer design and larger show, it packs virtually all of the options you need. This consists of 50m water resistance, so you’ll be able to put on the watch whereas diving within the ocean. The temperature sensor and depth gauge will aid you maintain observe of your depth whereas snorkeling.
In our Apple Watch Collection 10 evaluate, we known as it “bigger, thinner, lighter and extra lushly curvaceous than predecessors.”
As for well being monitoring, Collection 10 helps ECG, low/excessive coronary heart price notifications, irregular heartbeat rhythm notifications, computerized sleep monitoring with sleep apnea detection and menstrual cycle monitoring.
The one lacking characteristic? Blood oxygen monitoring, which appeared in some earlier fashions. That’s due to Apple’s ongoing patent dispute with Masimo. A 2023 ruling by the Worldwide Commerce Fee discovered Apple infringed upon a Masimo patent — and banned U.S. gross sales of Apple Watches with the characteristic.
Security options that would save your pores and skin
Just like the iPhone, the Apple Watch packs a number of security options: Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Noise monitoring and Backtrack, a characteristic that permits you to retrace your steps in the event you develop into misplaced. You may even use it to unlock sure automobiles and good residence equipment.
The Apple Watch Collection 10 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes. Each variants home a show that may hit a peak brightness of two,000 nits. Plus, it is going to seem 40% brighter than its predecessors when considered at an angle. You will have to cost the Apple Watch Collection 10 each day, because it delivers simply 18 hours of runtime with regular use.
Nonetheless, due to quick cost assist, you’ll be able to high up the Apple Watch Collection 10 battery sufficient to get eight hours of use in simply quarter-hour. And a 30-minute cost will juice up the battery to 80%.
The S10 SiP and 4-core Neural Engine allow on-device processing of chosen Siri instructions and clean system efficiency.
Pricing for the Apple Watch Collection 10 begins at $399 for the smaller dimension with GPS. The mobile mannequin prices an additional $100. It is available in three finishes: rose gold, silver and jet black. These prepared to spend extra can go for a costlier titanium casing with a sturdy sapphire crystal cowl glass for $699. Because of frequent reductions, the Apple Watch Collection 10 normally sells for lower than its MSRP.
Apple Watch Collection 10 [GPS, 42mm]
The Apple Watch Collection 10 sports activities a modern new design with a slimmer chassis, a much bigger show and a quicker chip. The construct high quality can be higher than earlier than.
- Smooth, beautiful design
- Brilliant show
- Quick charging
- Battery life doesn’t final 24 hours.
Purchase the Apple Watch Extremely 2 if …

Picture: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Need an Apple Watch that handles tough environments and provides multiday battery life? A companion that can assist you in your hikes and trails? Or one that may act as a scuba diving pc? Perhaps you like a watch with a beefier design that appears extra like an costly timepiece than a tech accent. Or maybe you simply need the utmost battery life out of your smartwatch.
If all or any of these ring true, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 is the proper match for you.
It contains a extra sturdy 49mm titanium chassis with a sapphire crystal show that may higher face up to tough terrain, dings and scuffs. Plus, its show can hit a peak brightness of three,000 nits. This ensures you’ll be able to see every part on-screen even in direct daylight.
The watch’s customizable Motion button is useful for shortly beginning a exercise (and for marking a section or leaping to the following interval).
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 additionally shines with regards to battery life, which proves nice for endurance athletes and desk jockeys alike. It lasts twice so long as the Apple Watch Collection 10, with as much as 36 hours of battery life in regular use. You may prolong that to 72 hours utilizing Low Energy mode. Plus, endurance athletes can use Low Energy mode to trace out of doors exercises for as much as 17 hours repeatedly.
Its larger battery comes on the expense of slower charging speeds. It takes an hour to high up the battery to 80% — twice so long as the Collection 10.
Works for scuba diving and different journey sports activities
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 provides water resistance as much as 100 meters and meets the EN13319 customary — an internationally acknowledged certification for diving equipment.
With the Oceanic+ app, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 can act as a dive pc. It could actually show No Dec (no-decompression) time, dive circumstances, and extra. It could actually even present haptic suggestions underwater by means of a thick wetsuit.
For runners, the Apple Watch Extremely 2’s computerized observe detection improves the accuracy of your tempo, route, map and distance Twin-frequency GPS supplies better precision in difficult terrains for improved accuracy.
Apple didn’t give the Extremely 2 any significant upgrades in 2024 — it solely launched a brand new titanium black coloration. As a consequence of this, the Extremely smartwatch makes use of an older S9 system-in-package (SiP). There’s not a lot of a efficiency hole between the S9 and the Apple Watch Collection 10’s S10 SiP, although.
Every little thing in Apple Watch Collection 10 and extra
From a health-tracking perspective, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 packs all of the options you get with its non-Extremely sibling. It additionally homes twin audio system, which might emit a siren sound at as much as 86 dB. A 3-microphone array helps beamforming and reduces wind noise.
Out there in pure or black titanium, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 begins at $799. It ships in just one dimension and connectivity possibility: a 49mm casing with LTE functionality.
You may undergo our Apple Watch Collection 10 vs. Apple Watch Extremely 2 comparability for a extra in-depth comparability on which might be a greater purchase.
Purchase the Apple Watch SE 2 if …

Picture: Apple
The Apple Watch SE is a good decide for folks on a good finances who need a smartwatch with primary health-tracking options. It additionally works nice if you wish to give an Apple Watch to your child. It could actually observe your coronary heart price and sleep cycle, and nudge you to maneuver round to shut your exercise objective for the day.
To achieve its lower cost, the second-gen Apple Watch SE skips superior well being and security options of costlier fashions, resembling ECG and sleep apnea notifications. Nonetheless, it covers the fundamentals with irregular coronary heart price notifications, crash and fall detection, and Emergency SOS.
Reducing some corners for a lower cost
In contrast to its costlier siblings, the Apple Watch SE packs a smaller show with chunkier bezels and a most peak brightness of just one,000 nits. It additionally makes use of an older S8 SiP with a two-core Neural engine. On the brilliant facet, Apple charges the watch’s aluminum physique as water-resistant as much as 50 meters, making it appropriate for monitoring swimming periods.
Apple says the Apple Watch SE can present as much as 18 hours of runtime in regular use — the identical because the Apple Watch Collection 10. Nonetheless, anticipate a number of hours much less in each day use. Extra importantly, there’s no quick charging, so the watch takes about 1.5 hours to cost from zero to 80%.
The Apple Watch SE is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with costs beginning at $249. An additional $50 will get you the mobile variant.
Reasonably priced smartwatch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) [GPS 44mm]
Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) is an incredible worth, with options that can assist you maintain motivated and lively, maintain linked and observe your well being with enhanced exercise metrics. Plus, keep protected with Fall Detection and Crash Detection.
- Good finances smartwatch
- All primary well being options supplied
Professional tip: Contemplate shopping for used or refurbished
Don’t frown on the thought of shopping for a used (or renewed) Apple Watch. The primary benefit of this method: You could find an older Apple Watch Collection 8 or 9 with full blood oxygen monitoring assist intact.
Older fashions look virtually the identical because the Apple Watch Collection 10. So long as you purchase no less than an Apple Watch Collection 5, you’ll profit from an always-on show (a particular improve over older fashions). One other bonus: You could find a greater diversity of colours in older variations, together with blue, inexperienced and purple.
As you’d anticipate, second-hand or refurbished Apple Watch fashions usually show considerably cheaper than shopping for a brand new one. You usually can discover an Apple Watch Collection 9 — with extra sensors and an always-on show — for the value of a brand new Apple Watch SE. And you could find older ones at even higher costs.
Apple Watch comparability chart
Mannequin | Launch yr | Key options |
Notable sensors & capabilities |
First-generation Apple Watch (Collection 0) | 2015 | S1P chip, splash-resistant |
Fundamental coronary heart price sensor |
Collection 1 | 2016 | Twin-core S1P chip, splash-resistant |
Fundamental coronary heart price sensor |
Collection 2 | 2016 | Twin-core S2 processor, built-in GPS, water resistance as much as 50m |
Accelerometer, gyroscope, coronary heart price sensor |
Collection 3 | 2017 | Elective LTE (first mobile mannequin), quicker S3 chip |
Barometric altimeter, coronary heart price sensor |
Collection 4 | 2018 | Bigger show, ECG app, Fall Detection |
Electrical coronary heart sensor (ECG), optical coronary heart sensor |
Collection 5 | 2019 | At all times-on show, compass |
ECG, compass, ambient mild sensor |
Collection 6 | 2020 | Blood oxygen monitoring, quicker S6 chip |
SpO2 sensor, U1 chip, always-on altimeter |
SE (1st Gen) | 2020 | Reasonably priced possibility, lacks ECG and SpO2 |
Optical coronary heart sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope |
Collection 7 | 2021 | Bigger show with thinner borders, quick charging |
Similar sensors as Collection 6, improved sturdiness |
Collection 8 | 2022 | Temperature sensor, Crash Detection |
Temperature sensor, improved gyroscope and accelerometer |
SE (2nd Gen) | 2022 | Up to date processor, nonetheless lacks ECG and SpO2 |
Optical coronary heart sensor, Crash Detection |
Extremely | 2022 | Rugged design, 49mm case, 36-hour battery life, dual-frequency GPS |
Depth gauge, water temperature sensor, twin audio system, 3-mic array |
Collection 9 | 2023 | S9 SiP chip, on-device Siri processing, brighter show |
All Collection 8 sensors, improved efficiency and battery effectivity |
Extremely 2 | 2023 | Brighter show, S9 SiP chip, improved battery life |
Similar as Extremely, with enhanced efficiency and show |
Collection 10 | 2024 | Bigger and brighter OLED show, thinner design, quicker charging |
S10 SiP, sleep apnea detection, Vitals app, enhanced well being monitoring options |
Apple Watch and iPhone: A incredible combo
When you’re nonetheless questioning which Apple Watch to purchase, relaxation assured that there’s actually no horrible alternative. Regardless of which Apple Watch you select, you’re assured a terrific expertise.
Apart from well being monitoring and security options, the Apple Watch will mirror your iPhone‘s notifications and act as a companion gadget, serving to cut back your undesirable display screen time. Sporting an Apple Watch proves surprisingly helpful for a lot of widespread duties, together with many you may not have thought of.