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Tom's Guide's best smartwatch for iPhone and Wirecutter's upgrade pick, adding continuous heart-rate tracking and a Readiness score. But it costs $150 more than the SE, it looks the same as the Series 11, and its headline Audio Intelligence features weren't available yet when the experts tested it.
Top complaints
- Headline features not ready yet
Wirecutter says the Live Rewind and Siri Recap Audio Intelligence features, and parts of the new health tools, weren't available to test. It says the watch isn't worth buying for those features yet. Tom's Guide couldn't try them either and says they have already been controversial despite Apple's privacy emphasis.
- Little change from the Series 11
Tom's Guide lists the same design and display as a con, and Wirecutter says it will be a disappointing upgrade for owners of a recent Apple Watch.
- Health data is scattered and confusing
Wirecutter says Readiness, Vitals, Heart Rate and the iPhone Health and Fitness apps all analyze your data in different places, which can be confusing and a lot to keep track of.
Source: Wirecutter (Apple Watch guide)
What owners love
- Continuous heart-rate tracking and Readiness score
Wirecutter says heart-rate readings every five seconds make activity tracking more accurate and put it on a par with Whoop and Oura, with no subscription. Tom's Guide lists improved heart-rate and HRV tracking as top pros.
- Best battery of any non-Ultra Apple Watch
Wirecutter measured 39 hours, including two nights of sleep tracking, and 82% charge after 30 minutes.
Source: Wirecutter (Apple Watch guide) - FDA-cleared heart tools
Wirecutter notes hypertension alerts, blood-oxygen readings and an ECG app, which the SE lacks.
Source: Wirecutter (Apple Watch guide)
- You use an Android phone
- You already own a Series 11 or 10
- You're buying it for Live Rewind or Siri Recap
- iPhone owners who want ECG, hypertension alerts and recovery scores
- Going more than a day between charges
- Upgrading from an Apple Watch that's several years old
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best smartwatch for iPhone (updated 2026-09-21). The cons are the same 24-hour rated battery and the same design and display as before.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Upgrade pick: a larger, tougher display, longer battery life and advanced health tools, but $150 more than the SE, and some headline features aren't available yet.