perfect mixture of performance and price.” It can still track three comprehensive health metrics, including your heart rate, move and stand notifications and sleep. The absence of the blood oxygen sensor, which can be used to monitor respiratory conditions and sleep apnea, is a notable drawback, however, especially because the tech can be useful in flagging potential health issues.
That said, if your health needs are more about making sure you’re staying active, the SE can still handle that. We found it was good at reminding us to get up and move around every hour, as well as tracking HIIT, elliptical and rowing machine workouts. It wasn’t the most precise for GPS-related stats and its heart rate monitor was a little slower to pick up on intense changes in exertion, but otherwise, the Apple Watch SE is a reliable fitness tracker.
We appreciate that Apple kept the look and feel of the SE unchanged, despite the older chip, software and lack of ECG reading. The performance is still smooth and the battery life is more than long enough for daily use. Though Engadget would have preferred to see the bigger 45mm case size option, we don’t think there’s much money left on the table either. Read our review of the Apple Watch SE.
Read our review of the Apple Watch SE
Best for power users: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is top of the line, with a dive gauge and siren.
Pros
Brightest display
Longest battery life
Blood oxygen and temperature sensors
Cons
Large and heavy
Expensive
$699 at Walmart
$700 at Amazon
$800 at Best Buy
Clearly, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers the most features, but you’re going to have to shell out a pretty penny for it. It’s worth noting, though, the $799 titanium model is also the largest and heaviest of the three at 49mm and 99g, respectively. It has the most comprehensive health tracking of the trio, extending its capabilities beyond just tracking fitness.
For example, the blood oxygen monitoring is appropriate for anyone who’s been struggling with respiratory issues, though we suggest you still seek medical advice even if there are no issues detected. The dive features are very technical and are aimed at more serious scuba divers; the Ultra 2’s siren and SOS functions could be useful in emergencies of all sorts, however. Though it’s the priciest, the Ultra 2 is also the brightest watch, with a 3,000-nit display, compared to the SE’s 1,000 and the Series 9’s 2,000. However, its large case has the potential to weigh more than 99g, making it uncomfortable for some wearers.
