Though the Apple Watch comes in several different materials, finishes, and sizes, they largely look the same: like squarish river stones. And since nobody wants to be wearing the exact same thing as everybody else, the solution is personalization through screen options and straps to reflect the wearer’s own taste and identity. And the bands are where things get fun and interesting.

Even from a watch enthusiast’s perspective, the quality and innovation of Apple Watch bands is impressive. Apple learned from the traditional watch industry in a number of ways but created its own interesting and user-friendly fastening systems and other solutions. The brand’s own proprietary attachment system makes strap-changing easy, but it means that Apple Watch bands are a closed ecosystem and not compatible with traditional watches or straps.

The brand has also offered enough options that one’s own watch truly can feel personalized, but with plentiful third-party options as well, the world of Apple Watch bands is almost as vast as that of traditional watch straps. From sporty silicone to Hermès leather to metal bracelets of various kinds and much more, there’s a lot to choose from. With the new Apple Watch Ultra and other models also came rugged new strap styles.

What to Look for in an Apple Watch Band

Like buying traditional watch straps, you’ll want to consider the material and finish of your Apple Watch when choosing a band. It’s particularly relevant for the hardware: if your band has a traditional clasp, for example, you’ll want its finish to be appropriate to your watch regardless of the strap material. Many of the considerations for buying an Apple Watch band, from the style and color to the activity you plan to do with it are similar to choosing a traditional watch strap.

Of course, you want to ensure you’re getting the right size, too. Luckily, that part’s pretty simple: there are bigger and smaller sizes of each Apple Watch generation and strap sizes to accommodate them. And the straps are compatible across generations. You also want to consider the length of the strap you order, as you can sometimes get longer ones for larger wrists and shorter ones for slimmer wrists.

Changing an Apple Watch Band

What makes the Apple Watch bands fundamentally different from traditional watch straps is their attachment system. Apple has smartly engineered an easy way to swap straps without strap-changing tools: a button on the watch’s back releases the strap and you slide it out sideways. Attaching a new strap requires only sliding it in until you hear the secure click.

Amazon

Best Affordable Apple Watch Band

SUNFWR Nylon Band

• $20.00 at Amazon

Want something affordable and rugged with a rugged, military look to boot? This Amazon brand offers just that, with velcro, multiple buckles and nylon construction. Perfect for the Ultra, it’s available in multiple color options, as well.

Courtesy

Best Nato Strap Apple Watch Band

Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO-Style Band

• $25.00 at clockworksynergy.com

The Apple Watch doesn’t have traditional lugs through which to thread a one-piece NATO strap. But you can get the look with a two-piece nylon band in a classic style from Clockwork Synergy.

Apple

Best Silicone Apple Watch Band

Barton Elite Silicone Flatwater Blue

• $32.00 at bartonwatchbands.com

We can attest that Barton’s Elite Silone straps are comfortable and that they’ve got a fresh look on the wrist, particularly in Flatwater Blue.

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Athleisure 'Fits

Apple Sport Loop

• $42.00 at Amazon
  $49.00 (14% off)

Switch to this for workouts, or just for plain old comfort and sporty looks.

Apple

Best Solo Loop Apple Watch Band

Apple Watch Solo Loop

• $49.00 at Apple

Released in 2020, the Solo Loop is made from stretchy “liquid silicone rubber” and slips on and off the wrist without the typical bulk and clutter of traditional clasps.

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Working Out

Apple Watch Sport Band

• $49.00 at Apple

Good for an “active lifestyle” look or, you know, actually doing sports and sweating.

Courtesy

Best Retro Apple Watch Bracelet

Speidel Twist-O-Flex

• $38.00 at speidel.com
  $50.00 (25% off)

The classic Speidel Twist-O-Flex from the 1950s — but for Apple Watch! It expands to slide off and on without a buckle and sure holds some nostalgia for some.

Courtesy

Best Casual Leather Apple Watch Band

B&R Bands Tan Calf Leather

• $60.00 at bandrbands.com

A traditional style in leather from one of our favorite makers of traditional watch straps.

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Mountaineering

Apple Alpine Loop

• $99.00 at Apple

Meant to accompany the Apple Watch Ultra, this rugged nylon strap adds even more security that your typical Loop band with a titanium hook. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Diving

Apple Ocean Band

• $49.00 at Apple
  $99.00 (51% off)

Also made for the Ultra, the Ocean band has a “tubular geometry” allowing for a certain amount of stretch while remaining secure. It’s even meant to fit over a wetsuit while diving. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Hiking

Apple Trail Loop

• $99.00 at Apple

This is the band to take on your gnarlier hikes. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

Apple

Best Mesh Apple Watch Band

Apple Milanese Loop

• $99.00 at Apple

The Milanese loop, with its satisfying magnetic closing system, is an Apple Watch classic. It’s available in a couple finishes including silver, gold-toned and graphite.

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Small Wrists

Apple Leather Link

• $99.00 at Apple

A padded French leather band offers comfort and style, and it fastens magnetically for an ideal fit. The Leather Loop offers the same style with a different fastening system.

Apple

Best Braided Apple Watch Band

Apple Braided Solo Loop

• $99.00 at Apple

The stretchy, single-piece Solo Loop also comes in a braided textile version make from 100% recycled materials.

Apple

Best Colorful Apple Watch Strap

Apple Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop

• $99.00 at Apple

Celebrate pride with this colorful special edition of the standard braided Solo Loop.

Juuk Design

Most Unique Apple Watch Bracelet

Juuk Design Locarno

• $139.00 at juukdesign.com
  $159.00 (13% off)

Something a bit unique for your Apple Watch is this specially designed steel bracelet by Hong Kong-based Juuk. Other finishes and designs are worth checking out as well.

Shinola

Best Classic Apple Watch Strap

Shinola Leather Apple Watch Strap

• $255.00 at Shinola

You might be surprised how classic an Apple Watch can feel when on the a high-quality leather like this one from Shinola.

Apple

Best Luxury Apple Watch Band

Hermès Orange Swift Leather Single Tour

• $339.00 at Apple

By not buying a functionally inferior and far more expensive mechanical watch, the money you saved could go to a strap made from some of the best leather in the world.

Apple

Best Apple Watch Band for Diving

Apple Link Bracelet

• $349.00 at Apple

Pricey, but this is probably the best way to wear an Apple Watch if you like the feel of a sturdy steel bracelet. Comes in silver or black.

Mr. Porter

Best Fashionable Apple Watch Band

La Californienne Leather Watch Strap

• $300.00 at MR PORTER
  $400.00 (25% off)

You can certainly go high-end with Apple Watch straps, as well. The brand La Californienne offers high-quality leather with refined, but colorful hand-painted designs and nicely tapering silhouettes.

Two highly likely things: 1. If you exercise with a fitness tracker, it’s an Apple Watch. (It’s by far the most popular smartwatch in the world.) 2. When you exercise, you listen to music. (It’s a great motivator, pumping you up for a better, longer workout.) 

One thing that’s not so predictable? Which music streaming service you use while working out. It’s likely Apple Music or Spotify, of course, as they have long been the most popular music streaming services, and both have dedicated Apple Watch apps. 

In the past few years, the experience of using Spotify and Apple Music has become pretty similar. Maybe the most significant change has been that, as of late 2021, both services support offline music; you can download playlists and albums directly to your Apple Watch and leave your iPhone at home. No cellular plan required. 

Of course, there are some subtle differences when using Apple Music or Spotify on the Apple Watch. You might assume that, being Apple’s service, Apple Music would be the all-around better option. And while that case can be made, it’s not the full story.

Below, we break down the key differences between using Apple Music and using Spotify on the Apple Watch.

1. Apple Music is a more visual experience on the Apple Watch

Photo by Tucker Bowe

Photo by Tucker Bowe

It might seem like a small thing, but one of the biggest differences between Apple Music and Spotify on the Apple Watch is the visual experience. It’s probably not a huge surprise that Apple’s own service, Apple Music, looks better. 

When you’re listening to a song, your Apple Watch shows the album artwork. By contrast, if you’re listening to the same song on Spotify, you’ll just see the song information and playback controls. There’s no artwork or vibrancy. 

It’s not a huge difference, but it’s probably the most noticeable one.

2. It’s a bit easier to your manage downloads for offline listening with Spotify

Photo by Tucker Bowe

Photo by Tucker Bowe

For Apple Watch wearers who don’t have a cellular plan for it — i.e. most people — and prefer to exercise without their iPhone nearby, downloading music directly to the Apple Watch is a big deal. The good news is, both Apple Music and Spotify support downloads on the Apple Watch for offline listening, but they go about it a bit differently.

Both music services allow you to download playlists and albums to your Apple Watch from either your Apple Watch or from your iPhone. It’s a lot easier to manage this downloaded music from your iPhone as its bigger screen is a lot easier to use. 

When using your iPhone to manage downloaded music on your Apple Watch, Apple Music is actually a little less intuitive. You can’t do it in the Apple Music app on your iPhone. Instead, you have to open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone > select Apple Music > select Add Music. 

With the Spotify app on your iPhone, there’s actually an option to download a playlist or album directly to your Apple Watch. You simply go to the playlist or album > select the ellipsis (three dots) > select “Download to Apple Watch.” It’s refreshingly easy.

Of course, both Apple Music and Spotify also allow you to choose the playlists and albums you want to download to your Apple Watch … directly on your Apple Watch. You simply open Apple Music or Spotify on your Apple Watch, go to the playlist or album, and select the down arrow.

3. Surprisingly, Siri works mostly the same for both services on the Apple Watch

Photo by Tucker Bowe

Photo by Tucker Bowe

Siri is not surprisingly the only voice assistant available on the Apple Watch, and you can use it to control your music whether you’re listening to Apple Music or Spotify. With either streaming service, using Siri voice commands is a pretty similar experience.

When your Apple Watch isn’t tethered to your iPhone (or a cellular connection), Siri is pretty limited on both Apple Music and Spotify. You can ask the voice assistant to pause and play music, play the next or previous track, or ask the name of the song that is playing. And that’s pretty much it. If you ask Siri to play a specific song or a playlist, you’ll get the response “To do that, you’ll need to be online” — no matter which streaming service you use.

If you are online – meaning your iPhone is nearby or your Apple Watch has a cellular connection — Siri is more versatile. You can ask it to play a specific song, album or playlist, and it’ll do it for both Apple Music and Spotify subscribers. However, Siri is noticeably more accurate when using Apple Music. More times than not, Siri has failed to play my requested playlists on Spotify; its hit rate is much higher with Apple Music.

So while it’s far from a game changer, the Siri experience is a bit better for Apple Music users.

4. Navigating songs on playlists with both services can be a struggle

Photo by Tucker Bowe

Photo by Tucker Bowe

I frequently get the urge to listen to a specific song at a specific time during a workout. If you don’t have cellular Apple Watch or your iPhone nearby, it’s not the most intuitive experience with either Apple Music or Spotify — even if that song is on the playlist or album that you’re currently listening to. 

The truth is, navigating music on the Apple Watch can be frustrating, no matter which streaming service you’re using.  When listening to a playlist on Apple Music or Spotify, you can’t swipe down on your Apple Watch to see what track is next or scroll through the entire playlist to pick a certain song. It’s a little more involved. 

On Apple Music, to find a specific song on a playlist or album, the easiest thing to do is to select the ellipsis (three dots) in the top-right corner of your Apple Watch > select Playing Next. Then you can see the next five songs — but only the next five songs. You can also scroll further down and select Go to Playlist, in which case you can see a total of eight songs, but it’s never the entire playlist.

The last option is the most complicated. You can go all the way back to main Apple Music screen on your Apple Watch > select Library > scroll down and select the playlist you’re listening to. This is the only way I have found to see all the songs on the playlist, but it’s cumbersome.

On Spotify, doing the same thing is a little less intuitive, but it also allows you to select any song on a certain playlist. To find a specific song on a playlist or album, swipe right to find your Playlists and select a playlist. From here you can select any song on that playlist. It’s a bit weird having to select a playlist while already listening to said playlist, but it’s nice that Spotify actually lets you select any song on that playlist directly from your Apple Watch.

Verdict? It’s pretty much a toss-up when it comes to the Apple Watch. But digging into the details below may help you decide which service makes more sense for you in the big picture.

Apple

Apple Music

Apple Music really changed the game in 2021 when it introduced a lossless streaming tier at no extra cost. Now, you can get access to lossless and spatial tracks for the relatively price of $11/month. The service has a tight integration with Apple devices, especially its line of HomePod smart speakers.

Specs

Cheapest Subscription	$11/month
Free Trial?	Yes
Number of Tiers	2

Pros

• You have access to lossless and spatial tracks
• You really need an Apple Music subscription if you have a HomePod smart speaker

Cons

• User experience isn't as great on non-Apple devices
• You need to use a separate app to listen to podcasts

• $10.99 at Apple

The Apple Watch is already one of the best fitness wearables on the market. Now, with the forthcoming release of watchOS 11 — previewed at the June 2024 WWDC and scheduled come out this fall — it’s about to become even better at tracking workouts and delivering health insights to users.

“This fall, watchOS 11 makes Apple Watch an even more essential companion by offering users additional actionable insights into their health and fitness, more personalization to fit their unique needs, and new ways to stay connected while on the go,” says David Clark, Apple’s senior director of watchOS Engineering.

Apple

Though battery life will remain a perennial issue for some endurance athletes, the Apple Watch will soon boast cutting-edge health and workout features that have become standard among Apple’s competitors like Whoop, Oura, Garmin and others.

Training Load

It looks like Apple took a page out of Whoop’s playbook for something the Cupertino company is calling Training Load.

Apple

In a nutshell, Training Load will track the intensity of your workouts over time using metrics such as heart race, pace and elevation, then deliver a score from 1 to 10. Users will be able to manually adjust their score if they felt like their perceived effort was over or under what their score says.

The Apple Watch will also establish a 28-day training load, as well as a weighted average. This way, users can see how recent workouts compare to their baselines and whether they’re progressing, maintaining or deloading when it comes to volume and intensity.

Rest days

Recovery is key element of any training program, but in motivating its wearers to get up and move, the Apple Watch has done a poor job at encouraging it.

Apple

With watchOS 11, users will have more customization when it comes to the Activity rings, namely with the ability to pause their rings when they’re nursing an injury or just need a day (or even a week) off.

Users will also have the ability to customize their rings by the day of the week, “so the rings provide the right amount of motivation at the right moments,” the company says.

Vitals, at a glance

Tracking health metrics is one thing. Delivering actual insights to users is a whole other ball game.

Apple

That’s exactly what Apple hopes to do with a new app called Vitals, which will give users a snapshot view of heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration and blood oxygen levels.

When two or more of these vitals are out of the ideal range, users will receive a notification, as well as information about environmental factors (such as elevation) that may be causal.

Other Apple Watch updates

Apple

The new Apple Watch operating system will bring a bevy of additional features, such a revamped Photos watch face, a built-in Translate app that supports 20 languages and a smarter Smart Stack feature that surfaces timely widgest before you realize you want them.

Compatibility

The new operating system, watch OS 11, will roll out this fall to the following devices:

• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

In the meantime, you can preview watchOS 11 and all its new features on Apple website. For more Apple updates, check out our coverage of WWDC 2024 and more.

Apple makes some of the most popular gadgets on the planet, chief among them are AirPods and Apple Watches. The good news is that Amazon is having a big sale on every pair of AirPods and every model of Apple Watch that Apple currently sells.

That’s right, there are big deals on the AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 and entry-level AirPods. And there are deals on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Series 9 and entry-level SE (2nd Gen). It’s a great time to get your holiday shopping done early.

Apple

AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

• $259.00 at Amazon

Just released a few months ago, Apple’s elite noise-canceling wireless earbuds now via USB-C instead of Lightning. You can get a good deal on them this Cyber Monday.

(Read our review the AirPods Pro 2, here.)

Amazon

AirPods (3rd Generation)

• $160.00 at Amazon
  $169.00 (5% off)

These are Apple’s midrange wireless earbuds. They lack active noise-cancellation, but support premium features like spatial audio and wireless charging.

(Read our review the AirPods 3, here.)

Apple

AirPods (2nd Generation)

• $99.00 at Amazon
  $129.00 (23% off)

You can pick up Apple’s most entry-level AirPods for under $100. The case charges via Lightning — this is not the wireless charging model.

Apple

AirPods Max

• $529.00 at Amazon

These are Apple’s first and only pair of over-ear headphones. They’re luxurious and one of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Available in multiple colors.

(Read our review the AirPods Max, here.)

Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 2

• $699 at Amazon
  $799 (13% off)

The Ultra 2 is a slight improvement over last year’s original Ultra. It has the same capabilities and ultra-rugged design, but it boasts a brighter display and a few handy new features (such as Double Tap gestures and Precision Finding).

(Read our review the Apple Watch Ultra 2, here.)

Apple

Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS)

• $329.00 at Amazon
  $399.00 (18% off)

Just released this September, the Series 9 is our pick for the best Apple Watch for most people. It’s very similar to the Series 8, but has a faster processor and a few new features (such as Double Tap gestures and Precision Finding).

(Read our review the Apple Watch Series 9, here.)

Apple

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

• $240.00 at Amazon

The second-generation Apple Watch SE is the most entry-level smartwatch that Apple currently sells. It was not updated this year, but still has a lot of the same features and capabilities as the Series 9.

Looking for even more great savings? Head over to Today’s Best Deals page to see all our top deals from today and sign up for our Daily Deals newsletter.

In any other year, the Series 8 would have been the best one on the market, but with the Apple Watch Ultra looming large over its head, we’ll just say that the 8 is the best for most people — adventurers and ultra-runners notwithstanding. So, if you’re looking to add an Apple Watch to your wrist but don’t want to spend big on the expensive behemoth that is the Ultra, the top option is the much more affordable Apple Watch Series 8. The best part is it’s 33 percent off today, which is the cheapest it’s ever been.

The model that is discounted on Amazon today features a versatile 45mm face and has both GPS and cellular capabilities. It has a high-quality heart-rate monitor and blood oxygen sensor for accurate health tracking along with a new body temperature sensor for female health tracking. It supports fast charging (which the older SE lacks) and even supports car crash detection. One of our tester’s favorite features, though, is the addition of low battery mode, which keeps your watch among the living for much longer than previous models.

The prices on these watches fluctuate often, so if you’re looking to snag a deal, act quickly because the price could go up tomorrow (or even this afternoon).

Amazon

Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular 45mm]

• $549.95 at Amazon
  $549.95 (0% off)

You have to feel for the Series 8 a little bit. If this were any other year, it would plainly be the “best Apple Watch you could buy,” but now that the Apple Watch Ultra ($799) — Apple’s huge, rugged behemoth of a smartwatch — been entered the fold, the Series 8 has been relegated to the role of middle child. It’s better and more beautiful than the Apple Watch SE ($249), but substantially less capable and (arguably) less attractive than the Apple Watch Ultra.

Of course, not everybody wants to wear a huge smartwatch on their wrist. Nor do they want to spend nearly as much on their smartwatch as they are on their new iPhone. So, for the vast majority of people looking for an Apple Watch, the Series 8 will be the go-to option. And it’s still an excellent smartwatch.

The Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7

Tucker Bowe

As somebody who has worn the Series 7 for the past year and who has now been wearing the Series 8 for the past week, I can tell you that they are very similar. In fact, they’re basically identical. They have the same display, same battery life, same charging abilities and pretty much the same everything else.

The only real difference is that the Series 8 has a new body temperature sensor and a few updated sensors (specifically its accelerometers and gyroscopes). However, both these things enable health and safety features that I admittedly don’t use.

The body temperature sensor isn’t designed to tell you if you’re sick, but it’s instead meant to help women better track their period cycles. This ability to gauge body temperature helps women more accurately predict their next ovulation, which is vital for couples looking to conceive and start (or grow their) families.

The Series 8’s updated accelerometers and gyroscopes don’t enable any new fitness or activity tracking features, but instead enable the new car crash detection feature (just like in the new iPhones). If you get in a crash and you don’t respond to the Series 8’s notification, either because you can’t reach it or you’re unconscious, then the watch will call emergency services for you. It’s a really cool feature, but also I hope I never have to use it. (And no, I did not get in a car crash for this review.)

When deciding, it’s really between the Series 8 and new SE

Tucker Bowe

When deciding on a new Apple Watch, the choice most people will have to make is between the Series 8 and the new SE. They are basically identical — and if you want the Ultra, you already know it — but like in years past the Series model has a couple big advantages over the SE model.

Like before, the biggest advantage is that the Series 8 has an always-on display, which allows you to check the time or peep a notification at a glance; you don’t have to turn your wrist upward so that the watch lights up.

The Series 8 has a few other notable advantages. It has a superior heart-rate monitor and a blood oxygen sensor (which the SE lacks), so it can more accurately track your health. It has the new body temperature sensor (which the new SE lacks) for female health tracking. It supports fast charging (which the SE lacks). And it’s available in both cellular and GPS-only models, while the SE can’t be bought in a cellular model. Both watches support car crash detection.

The only other factor is price. While the Series 8 starts at the exact same price as the Series 7, Apple has actually lowered the price of the new SE by $30 — it now starts at $249. That $150 price gap is pretty huge and, on paper, the new SE looks like a heck of a value.

The killer feature is low-power mode

Tucker Bowe

The truth is that the best new feature of the Apple Watch isn’t exclusive to the Series 8. With watchOS 9 — available now — Apple has rolled out a new low-power mode that will extend the life of any Apple Watch (must support watchOS 9, so Series 4 or later). When turned on, lower power almost doubles the “all-day” battery life of the Series 8 (and SE), taking it from roughly 18 hours to 36 hours.

Apple has had a “power reserve” mode for years, but that is different because it basically turns off all apps and is meant for more emergency situations. The new low-power mode turns off a lot of the Series 8’s normally-on features, such as its always-on display, automatic workout and heart rate detections. If you’re away from your iPhone, it pauses some notifications, too. But it’ll still log your steps, keep track of your data and even do workouts.

Essentially, the new low power mode goes a long way to solving one of the biggest issues that the Apple Watch has had pretty much forever.

Apple Watch Series 8: The Verdict

The Series 8 doesn’t feel like the new hotness this year, admittedly. The Apple Watch Ultra stole a lot of its thunder and, considering how similar it is to last year’s Series 7, a lot of people won’t feel the need to upgrade this year. That said, the Series 8 is great for the exact same reasons that the Series 7 was great. It’s beautiful, versatile and feature-packed. And its new health tracking and safety features could sway some folks over.

But the Series 8 is really designed for people who haven’t bought an Apple Watch in a few years and don’t want the huge and expensive Ultra. For those people, the Series 8 will definitely feel like an upgrade. And its combination of features and fitness-and-health tracking still make it the best option for most people.

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8

• $49.95 at Apple
  $399.00 (87% off)

Apple is set to announce its next Apple Watches in less than two months and, naturally, rumors are swirling thick and fast.

In years past, it’s become pretty standard practice for Apple to upgrade each of its Apple Watches with improved chips, brighter displays and a few new features without updating the actual design meaningfully.

For example, the Series 9 looks identical to the Series 8 and Series 7. The same is true with the Ultra 2 and the Ultra. And Apple didn’t even update the Apple Watch SE last year — it still sells the 2022 model.

But that could be set to change this year. Some rumors appear to be conflicting, but one of the most reliable leakers, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, has revealed that Apple could be set to give the Series 10 one of the best features of the Ultra 2: a much bigger screen.

The Series 10 could come in a larger, 49mm size

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

For years, Apple has offered its mainstream “Series” Apple Watch in small and big sizes. The Series 9, Series 8 and Series 7 have all big available in either 41mm and 45mm models.

At 49mm, the Ultra 2 (and Ultra) is considerably bigger. Thus, in addition to the rugged design and some advanced features, one of its major selling points has been its size. It’s the best option for those who want a big-screen Apple Watch.

According to Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, the Series 10 could be set to launch in a larger 49mm size, giving it the same display size as the current Ultra 2. This would make the Series 10 significantly more appealing given that it would be a big-screen smartwatch that’s several hundred bucks cheaper than the Ultra 2.

If true, Apple is expected to offer the Series 10 in a 45mm size, while the smaller 41mm size will be reserved for the next-gen Apple Watch SE.

A new low-cost entry-level Apple Watch

Photo by Tucker Bowe

As previously mentioned, Apple didn’t announce a new Apple Watch SE last year — it still sells the second-generation model that was released in 2022. And it sells it for $249, which by entry-level smartwatch standards, it still fairly pricey.

The good news is that Apple looks set to announce a new and improved Apple Watch SE this year. According to Gurman, it’s expected to look very similar to the current model, but with a next-gen chipset and a few new abilities.

The big news is that this third-gen SE could cost just $199, which is $50 cheaper than before. According to Gurman, Apple will achieve this by “swapping out the aluminum shell in favor of rigid plastic.” This could make it a little bit lighter, too.

Expect a third-generation Ultra, too

Tucker Bowe

Most people were surprised that Apple released the Ultra 2 last year. It was expected just to release a “space black” variant of the original Ultra — but that didn’t even happen — and that’s it.

This fall, Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but it likely won’t be a major upgrade over the current Ultra 2. According to Gurman, it’ll get a next-gen chip that “could lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road.”

The Ultra 3 will likely look identical to the current Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch has been the most popular smartwatch since its advent in 2015. In fact, it’s been so popular that it hasn’t just been outselling every other smartwatch, but in 2019 the Apple Watch actually outsold the entire Swiss Watch industry, which includes manufacturers like Rolex, Swatch, TAG Heuer and Tissot. Naturally, with more Apple Watches out in the work, more people are looking for accessories — such as new bands, cases and chargers — to make their Apple Watch feel more personal. And boy, there’s a lot out there.

The good news is the Apple Watch hasn’t changed that much in the past years. It still looks mostly the same — except for the brand-new Apple Watch Ultra, for those who want Apple’s most rugged, feature-packed and expensive smartwatch — and charges basically the same way, for example. That said, there are really only two things to remember when shopping for an Apple Watch accessory.

First, the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, Series 6 and the SE all have the same size body, so the same case or protective screen will work with all of them. The outliers are the new Series 7 and the Series 8, which have a larger screen; and then there’s the Series 3 (which Apple just stopped selling in late 2022), which shares the very old design of the antiquated Series 1 and Series 2.

And second, if you’re shopping for a band, make sure to get the correct size. Almost every Apple Watch model comes in two sizes. The Series 4, Series 5, Series 6 and SE all come in either 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the new Series 7 and Series 8 comes in 41mm and 45mm. The Ultra only comes in 49mm size.

If you’re shopping for a watch band, the Series 7 and Series 8 are backward compatible for watch straps (meaning the 41mm model will work with older 40mm watch straps, and likewise for the 45mm model with 44mm watch straps). And the Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with the same watch bands as the 45mm Series 7 and Series 8.

More Apple Watch Guides/Reviews

• The Best Apple Watch Bands You Can Buy Right Now
• Apple Watch Ultra Review: Meet Apple’s Best-Ever Running Watch
• Apple Watch Series 8 Review: The Best Choice for Most Apple Watch Buyers
• Which Apple Watch Is Right for You? (All Models Compared)
• The Best Apple Watch Deals to Shop Right Now

Apple

Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock

• $50.00 at Amazon
  $79.00 (37% off)

For those who just want the most elegant charging dock that Apple itself makes— this is it. It comes with an extra USB to Lightning cable that plugs into and powers the charging dock.

Amazon

Scosche BaseLynx Watch Charger

• $22.00 at Amazon
  $25.00 (10% off)

This neat Apple Watch charger because it allows you to charge your smartwatch either flat or in Nightstand mode. It also can be linked with Scosche’s modular BaseLynx system for charging multiple other Apple devices. Available in black or white.

belkin

Belkin BoostCharge Pro

• $48.00 at www.belkin.com

Belkin’s charger for the Apple Watch allows you to charge the smartwatch in either flat or Nightstand modes. It also is integrated with the newest architecture that allows you to charge the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 33-percent faster. Available in white or black.

Amazon

Satechi USB-C Magnetic Charging Cable for Apple Watch

• $40.00 at Amazon

This is different from the standard Apple Watch puck in two key ways. Satechi’s option comes with a braided cable and has a thicker and more sturdier charging puck so that it better stays put on your desk’s surface.

Apple

Apple MagSafe Duo Charger

• $99.00 at Amazon
  $129.00 (24% off)

The MagSafe Duo is Apple’s fancy 2-in-1 wireless charger that has a foldable design and can simultaneously charge any model of iPhone 12/13 and an Apple Watch. It’s expensive for what it is, admittedly, and it doesn’t come with a wall adapter, but it’s a great travel accessory for anybody with an Apple Watch and a new iPhone.

Apple

Satechi USB-C Watch AirPods Charger

• $50.00 at Apple

This is a nifty 2-in-1 charger for your Apple Watch and AirPods Pro (or AirPods with a wireless charging case). It plugs via USB-C into your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro or iPad Air, and then acts as a wireless charger. On one side is the Apple Watch charging puck. One the other is the AirPods Pro wireless charger. Unfortunately, you can’t charge the two devices simultaneously.

Satechi

Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank

• $100.00 at Amazon

This is a versatile portable battery pack with a 10,000 mAh capacity. It has the capability to charge three devices simultaneously via the Apple Watch puck, a Qi wireless charging pad and USB-C or USB-A charging ports.

Satechi

Satechi USB-C Magnetic Charging Dock

• $40.00 at Amazon

This accessory is ideal for anybody who has a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air (or really any other USB-C laptop). It plugs directly into the side USB-C port and adds a spot to charge your Apple Watch. No charging cable needed.

Mophie

Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger

• $150.00 at Apple

Released in 2022, this is a 3-in-1 wireless charger for your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (with wireless charging case. It’s fully compatible with MagSafe, so it supports 15-watt fast iPhone charging. And, while expensive, it comes with the necessary USB-C wall adapter to power all those devices (which is a rarity). It also folds up and comes with a fabric carrying case, making it a great travel accessory for Apple enthusiasts.

Belkin

Belkin Boost Charge Power Bank 2K

• $60.00 at verizon.com

This is portable power bank that’s specifically designed for your Apple Watch. It’s tiny enough to easily fit in your pocket, but most importantly it’s capable of added up to 63 hours of juice to your Apple Watch.

iWalk

iWALK Portable Apple Watch Charger

• $40.00 at Amazon
  $70.00 (43% off)

This is 9,000mAh portable charger that comes with an integrated Lightning cable, so it’s designed to charge your iPhone or AirPods. The neat thing is that integrated into the body is an Apple Watch charging puck. This allows you to simultaneously charge multiple Apple devices. Available in either white or black.

Wearlizer

Wearlizer Adapters

• $9.00 at Amazon

These convenient little adapters allow you to use any traditional watch band that you already have with your Apple Watch. Available in silver or grey finishes.

Amazon

Otterbox All Day Case

• $19.00 at Amazon
  $25.00 (22% off)

Otterbox’s rugged case adds a level of protection (thanks to smooth bumper guards) that’s perfect for any outdoor enthusiasts. It’s available in a wide variety of different colors.

Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro

• $22.00 at Amazon
  $24.00 (8% off)

This extremely rugged case and watch strap is made of Thermoplastic polyurethane. It has a matte-finished body and carbon fiber details. It’s available in several colors and is compatible with the latest Apple Watch models.

Amazon

Spigen Liquid Air Pro

• $19.00 at Amazon
  $35.00 (46% off)

This is a protective case and strap for your Apple Watch. It’s made of soft silicone, similar to many of silicone straps that Apple sells. Available in either blue or black.

Invisible Shield

Invisible Shield GlassFusion+

• $30.00 at ZAGG
  $150.00 (80% off)

Invisible Shield is probably the best known screen protection manufacturer and the GlassFusion+ is the perfect way to extra scratch resistance to your Apple Watch — especially if you have an aluminum model, which scratches the easiest.

Caseology

Caseology Nero

• $13.00 at Amazon
  $15.00 (13% off)

The Nero adds a protective TPU bumper around your Apple Watch. It’s bespoke and easily snaps on to your Apple Watch. It’s available in two different colors: black and pink.

Twelve South

Twelve South ActionSleeve

• $40.00 at twelvesouth.com
  $60.00 (33% off)

The ActionSleeve is a workout armband that your Apple Watch slips into, and then straps to your arm. It’s ideal for runners. It’s compatible with Series 4, 5, 6 and SE, but not the new Series 7.

Twelve South

Twelve South ActionBand

• $30.00 at twelvesouth.com

The ActionBand is a traditional sweatband that can house your Apple Watch (compatible with Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6 & SE, but not the Series 7). It’s ideal for athletes and workout enthusiasts. And yes, you can throw it in the wash with the rest of your dirty clothes.

Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit

• $15.00 at Amazon
  $18.00 (17% off)

The Spigen Thin Fit easily slips over your Apple Watch — Series 7 or Series 8 — adds bumper protection against scratches and dings without adding much bulk. It’s available in multiple different colors.

Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal

• $14.00 at Amazon
  $15.00 (7% off)

The Liquid Crystal case adds even more protection because, in addition to the bumper around the case, it also has clear screen cover to protect against scratches. Again, it’s very slim and barely adds any bulk to your Apple Watch.

Catalyst

Catalyst Impact Protection Case

• $50.00 at catalystcase.com

The Impact case by Catalyst is a rugged case and band that adds military-grade drop protection without being super bulky. And the case doesn’t get in the way of the side button or rotating crown dial. It comes complete with a breathable sports band that buckles.

(Note: Catalyst makes a number of rugged Apple Watch cases. Check out its collection, here.)

Editor’s note: Apple has released the Ultra 2, a new and improved version of its original Ultra. Check out our review of the Ultra 2, here.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a new kind of smartwatch for Apple. It’s bigger, brighter, more rugged, longer lasting and more capable than any other Apple Watch to date, including the also-new Series 8 ($399+). And at $799, it’s also twice as expensive as the other new watch.

If you’ve seen the advertising or “hype” around the Ultra, you likely think it’s a smartwatch for adventurers, extreme athletes and even scuba divers. And while it can definitely be a good fit for all those types of people…I am admittedly none of those things.

So after wearing and testing the Ultra for a whole week, I’m convinced that aside from the obvious — that it’s going to be the Apple Watch of choice for anybody who wants a big-screen smartwatch —the Ultra is also going to be the go-to choice for runners. It’s Apple’s best-ever running smartwatch. Here’s why.

The Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button is a game-changer.

Tucker Bowe

The Ultra feels like any other Apple Watch in a lot of ways. It runs the same operating system and works with the same combination of a digital crown (albeit it’s larger here) and side button, and once you get over the size difference, it can be admittedly easy to forget that you’re wearing the Ultra.

That said, the biggest and most meaningful improvement with the Ultra, in my opinion, is the new Action button on the left side of its case.

The Action button can be customized to work in a variety of different ways. You can program it to work as a stopwatch or to turn on a flashlight. You can also have it set waypoints, or help you retrace your steps if you get lost. Ultimately, it can be made to work as simply as you need it. For me, that meant quickly pressing it to quickly start an outdoor run workout — and then, if you’re a serious runner, you can press the Action button during your run to mark your intervals and then compare them to your previous runs.

Tucker Bowe

Another neat thing with the Action button is that if you simultaneously press it with the side button, it will pause your workout. If you do this again, it’ll then unpause your workout. (Note: To do this on any other Apple Watch you need to simultaneously press the digital crown and side buttons, which, being on the same side, doesn’t come quite as easy.) For somebody who runs in suburbia and who is constantly starting/stopping at lights and intersections, this is a godsend because — any Apple Watch wearer will know — it’s really annoying trying to navigate your watch screen with sweaty fingers.

The Ultra has crazy-accurate GPS.

Tucker Bowe

The Ultra has the most advanced GPS-tracking ability of any Apple Watch out there. Specifically, it has a dual-frequency L1 and L5 GPS, while other non-Ultra Apple Watch models just have L1 GPS. The inclusion of L5 allows the Ultra to have better GPS tracking and navigate around things like buildings, tunnels and even tall trees and still get a signal. Most of the serious GPS smartwatches by the likes of Garmin and Suunto have L1 and L5 GPS — but this is the first time Apple is doing it as well.

Apple claims that the dual-frequency GPS will greatly benefit runners in cities and in more remote areas — places that have to deal with these taller obstacles and spottier satellite connectivity. But even if you do lose the GPS signal on your run or workout, the Apple Watch Ultra is smart enough, because it uses data like steps, cadence and pace to accurately fill in those gaps in your workout. This means even if you don’t have a great signal, Apple claims that the Ultra is able to track your runs more accurately than most other GPS smartwatches.

The Ultra has a secret feature for runners.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Tucker Bowe

The Ultra has an extra feature that no other Apple Watch is able to take advantage of, and it’s really convenient for runners. It’s called “Precision Start” and it’s really quite simple. When turned on, it’ll start your workout right when you press the Action button (or initiate the workout through the app). It eliminates the countdown — 3…2…1…Start — that continues to be on every other Apple Watch.

For anybody who has worked out with an Apple Watch and been frustrated by this delayed start, Precision Start really is nice. You just press and go. It feels like a feature that should be on every other Apple Watch, but it’s not — because it’s designed to work hand-in-hand with the Ultra’s Action button.

(To turn on Precision Start, you can open the Settings app in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone or the Settings app on Apple Watch itself: Settings > Workout app > Precision Start.)

The Ultra feels big, but it won’t slow you down.

Tucker Bowe

One of the biggest things (pun intended) that I was worried about with the Ultra was that it was not only going to look big, but also feel big. On paper, it kind of is. The Ultra has the biggest display (49mm) of any Apple Watch. At 61.3 grams, it’s also the heaviest Apple Watch. By comparison, the larger size of the Series 8 is 45mm and weighs 51.5 grams.

But thankfully, the Ultra doesn’t feel like a drastic jump up from the Series 8. At least, it wasn’t for me. I wore it on several runs and beach walks over the last week, and it didn’t feel overly cumbersome or like it was weighing me down. The Ultra does feel a little bigger on the wrist, but it doesn’t feel much heavier. Basically, it didn’t feel like it was slowing me down.

The added size of the Ultra does come with a few advantages for runners, too. The extra screen size allows for you to see just a little bit more. Only a few apps are optimized at launch for the Ultra’s larger screen size, but one of those is the Workout app. When you’re finished with a workout, the Ultra is able to see an extra line of metrics compared to the Series 8. (The keyboard also appears bigger on the Ultra, so that it’s just a bit easier to type. And the buttons on the calculator app also are bigger.)

How else is the Apple Watch Ultra different from the Series 8?

Tucker Bowe

Tucker Bowe

The Ultra is more than Apple’s best-ever running smartwatch, admittedly, as it has features and capabilities that go above and beyond any other Apple Watch — including the Series 8. Its display can get twice as bright (2,000 nits versus the Series 8’s 1,000), which helps make it easier to see in direct sunlight. It has the biggest and longest-lasting battery of an Apple Watch; Apple says that it gets up to 36 hours on a single charge (versus the Series 8’s 18), and that can extend up to 60 hours when using watchOS 9’s new low power mode.

The Ultra is the most rugged and water-resistant Apple Watch to date, too. It has a flatter display to better protect it from dings and scratches. It has an IP6X rating, just like the Series 8, but it’s also certified to be a diving watch; it has a new Depth Gauge sensor and will be compatible with a new scuba diving app, called Oceanic+, that will launch later this year.

Tucker Bowe

As far as other hardware is concerned, the Ultra and the Series 8 have a lot in common. They have many of the same sensors, including the same bloody oxygen sensor, optical heart and electrical heart rate sensors, and the new body temperature sensor. They run on the same S8 processor, too. The Ultra does have a superior set of speakers and microphones, so that taking phone calls on your watch is a little better experience. There’s a built-in siren on the Ultra, too, which you can blast in the case of emergencies or you just want someone (or something) to know where you are.