Which Apple Watch Should You Buy in 2024?

You've decided to buy an Apple Watch, so where the hell do you start? There are only so many possibilities to buy at this point. First, it's likely you have an old model and just simply need an upgrade. Or you bought another brand that isn't quite Apple enough—and now you're doing what you knew you would do: make the crossover. Or, hey, this is your first time ever getting a smartwatch. Whichever it is, in true tech-company style, there are a million models with random names—so how the fuck do you decide which one is right?

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Deciphering the differences in Apple Watch models is tough because there are tons of old options and we're always playing the game of waiting for the new one. Thankfully, the Esquire tech editors are your on-call gadget experts. And that new watch? Yeah, it just dropped.

Spoiler alert: When the Apple Watch Series 10 came out in September, it leaped to the top of our list. It's similar to the Series 9, only slightly bigger and slightly better. The Apple Watch 10 even has advantages over the sturdy, top-of-the-line Apple Watch Ultra 2.

We'll get to all that, and how the Apple Watch SE stacks up, in short time. First, let's see how we broke down the best Apple Watch models—so you know exactly how to spend your money.

BEST OVERALL APPLE WATCH: Apple Watch Series 10

PROS

• Fastest chipset in the Apple Watch family
• Class it up with a titanium case or stainless-steel band
• Sleep-apnea detection
• Charges from zero to full in less than 45 minutes

CONS

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a bigger screen
• Can't take it diving

I'm sorry. It's really as simple as buying the newest Apple Watch. This is not a product where you really benefit (or save any money) trying to buy secondhand. The Series 10 has everything we loved about the Apple Watch Series 9—improved battery life, the introduction of the double tap—with an even larger and brighter screen. Doesn't hurt that this is the only Apple Watch with the brand-new S10 chip, making it officially faster than the Ultra 2.

Speaking of the Ultra 2, features previously exclusive to that rugged watch have made their way to the classier Series 10. These include sleep-apnea notifications, water-temperature readings, and advanced Cycle Tracking for women.

Like every Apple Watch before it, you have the option to buy with or without cellular data. The one I've linked here is the one I've been wearing. A basic 46mm aluminum case with a sporty loop band and a data plan. If you want to dress it up, you can pay extra to get the stainless-steel Milanese band shown in this picture. That will run you closer to $700 compared with the $400 core 42mm GPS-only offering.

Sizes: 46mm or 42mm
Case Material: Aluminum or Titanium
Display: Always-On Retina OLED (up to 2000 Nits Brightness)
Battery Life: Up to 18 Hours
Chipset: S10 SiP

BEST APPLE WATCH FOR EXTREME SPORTS: Apple Watch Ultra 2

PROS

• A sturdy option for cyclists, swimmers, and even divers
• Ridiculously lightweight
• Ever-expanding selection of watch bands

CONS

• Overkill if you just want a smartwatch
• Bit too big to sleep with comfortably

We've been tooling around with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for a while now, and it's one of the best updates Apple has ever made. The original Apple Watch Ultra (2022) wasn't anything groundbreaking. This one, however, is exactly what Apple meant to put out when it entered the rugged watch world.

It has all the specs an outdoorsy user would want. For divers, it's kitted out with water resistance up to 40 meters (though divers are still divided about the watch's usability and interface). For alpine types, it sports better measurements for climbs and descents. For cyclists and runners, it allows for connection to third-party Bluetooth measurement devices. Plus, an extended 36-hour battery life makes it more useful on weekend expeditions. The only thing it's missing to compete with the likes of Garmin is solar charging. Though there's no word on when the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is releasing, that's a feature I'd look out for.

In the city, it's also the most capable Apple Watch in the lineup. The screen is bigger and brighter than the Series 10 watch, miraculously doubling the battery life at the same time. Clearly the titanium case has been a hit for Apple since it's now an option for the core watch. While I wouldn't recommend it for someone not getting after it in some sort of high-intensity sport, it's by far the best Apple Watch for super-active lifestyles.

Sizes: 49mm
Case Material: Titanium
Display: Always-On Retina (up to 3000 Nits Brightness)
Battery Life: Up to 36 Hours
Chipset: S9 SiP

BEST APPLE WATCH FOR HEALTH TRACKING: Apple Watch SE - 2nd Gen

PROS

• Simple and great if you just need health tracking
• Still has crash and fall detection
• Affordable

CONS

• Data not as detailed as you'd get from an Ultra 2 or Oura Ring
• No sleep-apnea detection or settings

If it's purely health tracking you're after, the Apple Watch SE (released in 2022) is what you should get. This was the Apple Watch I had before I started at Esquire, and it's lasted me multiple years, still in (near) pristine condition.

Under the hood, it's got the same chipset as an Apple Watch Series 8. You get heart-rate monitoring, fitness tracking, and decent water resistance—just no extended swims with this one. You can get a model with cellular if you like working out sans phone, or keep it with the more affordable GPS model if cost is your biggest barrier to smartwatch entry.

Where does it fall short compared with the Ultra 2 and Series 10? In a few different places. While the SE is a great health tracker, it won't give you as much in-depth altitude data and environmental data as the Ultra 2, nor is it as water-resistant. Compared with the Series 10, it's all the day-to-day stuff—processing, battery life, etc. It's two whole generations behind the curve.

But as I said, if all you need is a thing to tell you how many calories you've been burning, what heart rate you hit, and how well you slept, this is a watch that can do that comfortably. Or just get an Oura Ring for the same price and better tracking.

Sizes: 44mm or 40mm
Case Material: Aluminum
Display: Retina (up to 1000 Nits Brightness)
Battery Life: Up to 18 Hours
Chipset: S8 SiP

BEST DESIGNER APPLE WATCH: Apple Watch Hermès

PROS

• Look at that horse!
• Get Hermès faces you can only get on this watch
• Hermès-specific bands are a beautiful upgrade
• Comes with a "free" Hermès sport band

CONS

• Functionally, it's just a more expensive Series 9

The Hermès line is our absolute favorite within the Apple Watch lineup. It's just a hard purchase for most folks to justify, given what it actually is.

This is an Apple Watch Series 10, with everything we love about that watch minus the sub-$1,000 price. For the luxury up-charge, you get the choice of four more premium Hermès bands and access to a few Hermès faces. Does that sound like not enough for the price hike? Well then this watch wasn't made for you.

No, this watch was made for Esquire editor Luke Guillory and everybody else who thought the Apple Watch was too dorky until they gave it the designer treatment. Will that special Hermès screen help me in anyway that's not emotional? No, but it's worth it.

Sizes: 46mm or 42mm
Case Material: Titanium (Polished Silver Finish)
Display: Always-On Retina (up to 2000 Nits Brightness)
Battery Life: Up to 18 Hours
Chipset: S10 SiP

What to Look for in Different Apple Watch Models

Here are the criteria we use to compare different Apple Watches. They're helpful to think about when asking yourself, "What Apple Watch should I get?"

Chipset

For the non-nerds, this is what determines a watch's power as a computer. Each year, Apple iterates on its existing chips, offering more-efficient and -powerful watches.

GPS vs. GPS and Cellular

Essentially, if you want to use your Apple Watch without having your phone nearby, you need to spring for an option with cellular. That way, you can make calls and send messages without having your phone with you all the time.

Sizes

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a huge watch—49mm. It's like a classic yachting timepiece. If you don't want all that on your wrist, think before buying and go try one on in real life.

Durability

Apple has perfected this with the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you're doing anything especially strenuous, go for that.

Looks

I mean, how else can I make the case for the Hermès Apple Watch? It looks ten times better than the regular version, but that's the only way in which it differs.

Should I Buy an Apple Watch Series 9?

Typically, opting for last year's model of Apple product can be a reliable way to get a pretty good upgrade at a discount. Not so with the secondhand Apple Watch market. Try finding a new Series 9 on Amazon, and it will still run you over $300. Maybe a bit less for a renewed one. Regardless, it's not worth it.

When it comes down to it, the Series 9 is only marginally less expensive than the Series 10. If you really don't want to shell out for the newest watch, the Apple Watch SE is right there, and it's also sitting around $300 to start. It's got Series 8 guts, so it doesn't have Double Tap or sleep apnea detection, but it does pretty much everything else the Series 10 can do.

Why Trust Esquire?

We love testing and reviewing new tech, and we've collectively spent multiple decades with the Apple Watch lineup. Many of us use one day-to-day. That’s the thing: We test the devices we recommend, whether it's Apple's newest laptop, the best Bluetooth shower speakers, or the best handheld vacuums, so you can trust we're always ensuring that our picks are the best of the best. We'll always give you the straight answer on which Apple Watch is worth your money. 

This story originally appeared on Esquire.com. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.