Apple has always been a pioneer of smartwatches – it has been delivering some great pieces for quite a while now. Apple Watch Series 1 was good, Series 2 was better, and fast-forwarding to 2026, they have a bunch of great watches to confuse their consumers. Just kidding!
It’s basically there to serve a diversified market.
Having said that, which one will suit you the best? And which one should be skipped at this point?
I will be exploring that to help you make a sound first Apple Watch purchase decision, or an upgrade. If that sounds good to you, let’s not waste our time and dive right into it.
Apple Smartwatches You Should Buy or Upgrade To
Apple Watch Ultra 3
If you need the pinnacle of smartwatches and that too from Apple, the Watch Ultra 3 is your best bet. Why? Let me explain.
The first reason is its sheer ruggedness. I have been using this watch in almost all sporting scenarios you can imagine. I wear it while swimming, hiking, cycling, and playing soccer. It is yet to get a scratch.
On top of that, if you are a hiker, GPS and satellite connectivity might be important to you. Well, it offers satellite connectivity for emergencies, and the GPS is pretty accurate, too.
Nonetheless, if you already own an Ultra 2, there are very few reasons to upgrade to the Ultra 3. The design philosophy is the same, and it doesn’t offer anything significant apart from a slightly bigger display and a better chipset.
So, yeah, if you want to upgrade from the original Ultra watch or a Series watch, then it’s a good choice.
Apple Watch Series 11
This is the watch that you can wear daily. It checks almost all the boxes apart from being able to use it ruggedly – that’s just unique to the Ultra.
Series 11 is the default choice for most Apple users out there. Although it doesn’t resist a hard environment, Apple has upgraded the front glass on the watch; now, it is more resistant to scratches than ever before.
The watch comes out of the box with Apple Watch OS 26, and is upgradeable to 26.3. While the upgrade may seem minor, it’s fairly heavy. It wasn’t a problem for me, though, because I had subscribed to a fast internet plan by reaching out to Spectrum customer service. It was a matter of a minute that I was able to update the software of this watch to OS 26.3.
Ultra is a heavy watch, so keep that in mind. But if you need a light smartwatch that you would strap on your wrist and forget, it’s Series 11.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still one of the very best smartwatches for hardcore athletes. It may be suitable for the ones who are looking to save up some hard-earned bucks without compromising its tough hardware.
You might be wondering: what’s the difference between this and the Ultra 3?
Well, the first difference is the satellite connectivity, and then there is the display difference (the one in the Ultra 3 is brighter and bigger). The rest of the watch is essentially the same as the Ultra 2. Even the chipsets in both the watches are the same.
That’s one of the reasons it has made it to my list.
You will likely find this at a lower price because it is an old model, and yet the compromises will be basic.
With that said, if you need an Ultra watch without burning a hole in your pocket, the Ultra 2 is the best option you can get today.
Apple Smartwatches to Avoid in 2026
Apple Watch SE 2
If you are looking to avoid spending tons of money on a smartwatch, it’s best to avoid this one specifically. I will share why.
The first reason is that it wasn’t a great watch when it was released. The bezels were thick, and there were better options in the Series at the same price.
Next, if you are really keen to get a new SE Watch, then the SE 3 is way better than the SE 2, especially considering the minimal price difference between them. It is more durable, offers more display, and it is overall better.
However, if you already own an SE 2, it is best to stick with it because the software experience is almost the same as that of the SE 3 and all the other watches. Wait for the SE 4 and see if it’s worth upgrading to or if you should skip it altogether.
Last but not least, as a bonus entry to avoid in the Apple Watch category, steer clear of the original Ultra. Being the first-generation release, it needed refinement that could be seen in the later iterations.
