An Apple Watch makes tracking your health and fitness simple throughout the day while also alerting you to new messages and calls. This article helps you decide if you should buy an Apple Watch and how it can enhance your life relating to your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
Apple has currently disabled the Oxygen sensor in the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 due to a ruling by the ITC. It only affects newly sold Apple Watches (Ultra 2 and Series 9) in the United States.
Who Should Get an Apple Watch
Smartwatches are great for more than just tech enthusiasts. Consider one if you:
- Enjoy fitness tracking and being able to pay with your wrist
- Want a modern watch that offers more than just the time
- Want to spend less time on your iPhone
Who Shouldn't Get an Apple Watch
A smartwatch isn't essential for everyone. Here's why it's not for you:
- You don't own an iPhone
- You prefer to switch off from the world sometimes
- You don't like wearing a watch
An Apple Watch can track your health and fitness while alerting you to new messages and calls. It can be an expensive investment, so this guide is here to help you decide if you genuinely need an Apple Watch based on your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
Why You Should Buy an Apple Watch
Apple Watches offer many different benefits. Even people who are not tech-savvy can find a reason to enjoy an Apple Watch, thanks to its ease of use and the convenience it brings. Here are some of the core reasons you may wish to buy an Apple Watch.
You Need Fitness Motivation
One of the Apple Watch's greatest strengths is its ability to motivate you to move. It offers gamified physical fitness with its Activity Rings that monitor how much exercise you're partaking in each day, how many calories you burn, and how often you stand up. The system also includes workout streaks, monthly challenges, and a social element so you can compete with friends. It's an effective way of holding you more accountable when sticking to a workout regime, plus it's satisfying to see your achievements rack up.
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You Want to Reduce Distractions
It's easy to pick up your iPhone for five minutes, and suddenly, an hour is gone from scrolling through content. An Apple Watch can receive important notifications from your phone without you being distracted by other apps. The Apple Watch does not have a web browser, so you can stay more focused without missing important messages or alerts.
You Want a Modern Watch
Many people stopped wearing a watch after getting a smartphone, but an Apple Watch works well as a far more advanced timepiece. You can see the time at a glance from your wrist without digging out your phone, but its set of complications and watch faces means you can see much more information. Viewing the current weather, upcoming appointments and even sports scores at a glance is possible.
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You Want to Pay Easily
Set up Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, and you hardly ever need your credit card again. You need to press a button on your Apple Watch and hold it close to the payment terminal to pay for anything. Contactless payments save you from carrying an extra card that can be lost or stolen; plus, it's more secure because the moment your Apple Watch loses contact with your skin, it's impossible to pay with it.
When You Shouldn't Buy an Apple Watch
An Apple Watch is a good purchase for many users, but it's not essential for everyone like all tech. Here's a look at some key reasons you don't need one.
You Don't Have an iPhone
It's possible to use an Apple Watch without an iPhone, but its features are limited. You won't be able to update the operating system or install new apps, so it's not a great idea to own an Apple Watch if you don't also have an iPhone.
You Hate Wearing Things on Your Wrist
Not everyone feels comfortable wearing a device on their wrist, whether mechanical or digital, and an Apple Watch won't solve that issue. While buying more comfortable straps is possible, a nice strap won't improve things sufficiently if you prefer your wrists to be free of devices.
You Don't Need Constant Reminders
The Apple Watch offers a Do Not Disturb mode and a Cinema mode, but if you want to be entirely free of reminders and notifications, there's not much point in owning an Apple Watch. It's still going to nudge you about things, and if you have it in Do Not Disturb mode all the time, you may as well buy a regular watch.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Series 9 vs Apple Watch SE
The latest three Apple watches available are the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Series 9, and Apple Watch SE. Apple's watches all share a set of features and run the same operating system, but they have different capabilities based on the hardware.
| Ultra 2 | Series 9 | SE | |
| Starting price | $799 | $399 | $249 |
| Expected battery life | Up to 36 hours | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Storage | 64GB | 32GB | 32GB |
| Water resistance | Up to 100m | Up to 50m | Up to 50m |
| Display Sizes | 49mm | 41mm-45mm | 40mm-44mm |
| Display Type | Always On | Always On | Wrist Raise |
| Max Brightness | 3,000 nits | 2,000 nits | 1,000 nits |
Display and Screen Size
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a larger and more robust display than the Apple Watch SE. The Series 9 has a 45mm or 41mm case size compared to the SE's 44mm or 40mm. The Ultra 2, however, has a whopper of a screen that only comes in a 49mm size.
The bigger the screen, the more information is visible at any given time. So, deciding how much you want to see at a glance is a good idea before buying an Apple Watch. If you are unfamiliar with these sizes, even 40mm or 41mm is bigger than watches of the past.
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The Ultra 2 and Series 9 have what Apple calls an Always-On display, meaning it's on and updating information on the screen even if you aren't looking at it. The SE's display, in contrast, only turns on when it detects you've raised your wrist (presumably to look at the watch). The Ultra 2 and Series 9 can get quite bright (helpful in the sunlight). We've used previous models of the Apple Watch, and only the very early models posed some problems in the brightest of sunlight.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 also have a crack-resistant front crystal screen with certified IP6X dust resistance. The Apple Watch SE can be used around water and is resistant to 50m of water. Remember that the IP rating diminishes over time, so the older a device is, the less likely it has the same IP resistance.
Different Sensors
Apple Watches can detect irregular heart rhythms, high and low heart rates, and sleep stages. While the watches aren't official medical devices, they offer some guidance.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 8 can take a simplified version of an ECG. This should not be used in a medical context but can be a helpful guide when working out.
Faster Charging
The Apple Watch Series 7 charges 33% faster than the Apple Watch SE, although both watches offer up to 18 hours of usage, which corresponds to a couple of days in real-time use.
Should You Wait for Apple Watch Series 10?
The Apple Watch Series 10 (the name has not officially been announced, so we're guessing it will be called the Series 10) will likely be announced sometime in September 2024. Typically, Apple Watch changes have been incremental, so the changes from one series to the next aren't as significant as skipping a generation or two. That being said, Apple did make a big leap on the iPhone when coming out with the iPhone X. We don't know if Apple has a big jump in mind for the Apple Watch, however.
Rumors suggest the watch could offer a new flat-edged design or a better micro-LED screen. There's even a chance of new sensors like blood glucose tracking or blood pressure monitoring, but that technology seems far away, so the current Apple Watches should suffice for many users.
Do You Need an Apple Watch to Lead a Healthier Lifestyle?
No one needs an Apple Watch. They're enjoyable and practical devices that can simplify some tasks but are not essential. When pursuing a healthier lifestyle, it's helpful to have encouragement, such as via the Apple Watch's Activity Rings, but willpower can also assist here. Also, free apps for your smartphone or a cheaper wearable such as a Fitbit can help.
However, the Apple Watch is a good option if you want a good-looking smartwatch for an evening out or at work. It's more stylish than a Fitbit and, for tech fans, a great way of feeling more in control of your lifestyle.
An Apple Watch alone won't make you live more healthily, but it can encourage you when you need it most, and it's harder to ignore than a notification or two.
FAQ
How do I charge an Apple Watch?
Like the iPhone, the Apple Watch charges through a USB cable that you can plug into the wall (with an adapter) or a Mac. The Apple Watch doesn't have a charging port, however; it uses a magnetic "puck" that sticks to the back of the device to deliver power.
How do I change an Apple Watch band?
You aren't stuck with the band that came with your Apple Watch. Both Apple and other companies make a variety of straps that you can swap in for a new look. To remove the band, take off the watch, and hold one of the oval-shaped clasps near where the strap attaches, and then slide it off in the opposite direction from the Digital Crown. Repeat these steps for the other side; the new band will slide into the slots until you hear a soft click.
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