With three Apple Watch models to choose from, ranging from $249 to $799, make sure you know what sets each one apart before you decide which is right for you.
I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
Apple just unveiled three new smartwatch models and they cover a wide range of features and prices. There's the entry-level Apple Watch SE($249), the standard Apple Watch Series 8 ($399), and the all-new, extreme-environment-focused Apple Watch Ultra ($799). Here's how they stack up against one other.
The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8 are both available in two sizes (40 and 44mm for the SE, 41 and 45mm for the Series 8), while the Ultra only comes in one (comparatively huge) 49mm model. That big case might be a bit bulky if you have smaller wrists, especially since the Ultra's titanium body is also by far the heaviest at 2.2 ounces. The SE is only available in aluminum, while the Series 8 is available in aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum will keep the watches much lighter, between 0.9 and 1.4 ounces, while a 45mm stainless steel Series 8 is a fairly hefty 1.8 ounces.
The Ultra is only available in a titanium finish, though it does come in three versions with very different wrist straps in multiple colors. The Apple Watch SE comes in black, white, or silver finishes, while the Series 8 adds (Product Red) to the mix for its aluminum models, as well as graphite, silver, or gold stainless steel versions. Of course, there are dozens of different wrist straps available for the SE and Series 8 in multiple styles of silicone, nylon, and other materials.
The Ultra's titanium body might be chunky, but it's also by far the sturdiest of the three Apple Watch models. It's IP6X dust resistant, tested to MIL-STD 810H, and has EN13319 certification, with a recreational dive rating to 40 meters and water resistance to 100 meters.
The SE and Series 8 are no slouches, however. Both are water resistant to 50 meters, and the Series 8 shares the same IP6X dustproof rating as the Ultra.
The 49mm Ultra is the largest watch of the bunch, so it also has the biggest screen with a 410-by-502-pixel resolution. The 45mm Series 8 follows with 396-by-484 resolution, while the SE predictably has the smallest and lowest-resolution screen at 324-by-394 for the 40mm model.
The difference between the watch screens is about more than size, though. The SE and Series 8 can put out up to 1,000 nits of brightness, while the Ultra can hit double that at 2,000 nits. This should make the Ultra's big screen even easier to see in snow, surf, and sunlight.
The SE has a distinct disadvantage from the other models in that it doesn't have an always-on display. Our smartwatch expert Angela Moscaritolo considers an always-on display a must-have feature for smartwatches, since it lets you discreetly check the time when your wrist is down.
Smartwatches aren't the best devices for listening to music or talking to people (though you can always pair some Bluetooth earphones with one), but all three Apple Watches do come with their own speakers and microphones for making calls and using the surprisingly fun walkie-talkie feature.
Both the SE and the Series 8 have what Apple helpfully describes in the specs as "microphone" and "speaker." The Ultra, meanwhile, has dual speakers that Apple claims sound 40% louder than the Series 8, and a beam-forming, three-microphone array to provide wind noise cancellation.
If you want to watch your heart rate, track your mensural cycles, or let someone know if you fall, all three Apple Watches have you covered. Past that, though, the SE falls significantly behind the other two. While the SE has heart rate monitoring, the Series 8 and Ultra offer blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, and temperature sensing, along with retrospective ovulation estimates that can help you figure out when you're most fertile.
Outside of personal health, all three Apple Watches feature crash detection, letting you call for help or alert emergency services and contacts if you're involved in a car crash. The cellular models also support international emergency calling.
The Ultra adds another potentially useful feature if you encounter trouble away from the road: a built-in 86dB siren that Apple says can be heard up to 600 feet away.
All three Apple Watches support the well-established and most common L1 GPS signal for tracking you, whether you have a cellular model or not. The Ultra adds the new L5 GPS frequency, providing more coverage and precision. L5 GPS has been in use for only about a year, but according to Apple the dual-frequency system on the Ultra will improve accuracy in dense cities thanks to L5's improved signal processing.
Outside of GPS, all three watches have always-on altimeters and compasses for figuring out where you are. The Ultra, again, goes a step further with diving-specific features like a depth gauge, water temperature sensor, and full dive computer app.
This is where you'll see the most obvious distinction between the three watches. The SE starts at $249 for the GPS-only model in 40mm, or $299 for the GPS and cellular model in 40mm, with the 44mm versions adding another $30 to that.
The Series 8 starts at $399 for GPS-only or $499 for GPS and cellular in 41mm, again with a $30 premium for the larger 45mm size. That's for the aluminum versions, at least; the stainless steel models only come in GPS and cellular, starting at $699.
That might seem like a lot for a smartwatch, but the Apple Watch Ultra has it beat. It only comes in one size, and only in GPS and cellular, and it costs $799.
It seems pretty clear that Apple is setting three distinct tiers of Apple Watch for different types of users. The Series 8 is the standard Apple Watch, the feature-filled model for iPhone fans who want everything Apple can reasonably offer, but aren't extreme athletes or adventurers. The SE is the introductory Apple Watch, aimed at children and older family members who might benefit from some of the features, but might be best served having their watches set up and monitored by family members. Meanwhile, the Ultra is the high-end Apple Watch that specifically targets divers, mountain climbers, cross-country runners, and other active users who will get the most out of those extra navigation and fitness features.
We'll be testing each of the new Apple Watch models soon, so make sure to check back for our full reviews.
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I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
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