The Apple Watch, which started as a tech/fashion accessory and evolved into a health and fitness devices, is the world’s most popular smartwatch. It can handle a wide variety of the iPhone’s most popular functions — alerts, phone calls, playing music, etc. — and also track a user’s heart rate, sleep patterns and other health-related metrics.
It is an “incredibly accurate timepiece, an intimate and immediate communication device and a groundbreaking health and fitness companion,” Apple said at the product’s launch.
Here’s a guide to the Apple Watch and its uses.
Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the original Apple Watch on September 9, 2014, calling it “the most personal device we’ve ever created.” But then the company made anxious consumers wait seven months for the first Apple Watch’s launch on April 24, 2015. With fancy showcases and a $17,000 gold model (called Apple Watch Edition), Apple focused on fashion.
From the very beginning, Apple Watch straps came in a wide variety of colors and were constructed from an array of materials. Plus, they were easily interchangeable, so someone could, for instance, wear a comfortable silicone Apple Watch band during a sweaty gym session, then switch to something much more luxurious for a dinner date.
Additionally, users can customize watch faces, manage notifications and install apps tailored to their preferences, using Apple’s Watch app on the iPhone.
Like the iPhone, the Apple Watch utilizes a touchscreen for most interactions. Apple Watch owners also can use Siri voice commands.
The Apple Watch also introduced several innovative features that set it apart from traditional timepieces. The Digital Crown, a small knob on the side of the watch that doubles as a push button, lets users scroll, zoom and interact with the interface without obstructing the display. The Taptic Engine provides subtle haptic feedback, notifying users of incoming notifications or providing prompts during workouts.
When the Apple Watch was released on April 24, 2015, it was met with both excitement and skepticism. Critics questioned its utility and wondered if it would become a niche gadget. However, consumers quickly embraced its sleek design, customizable interface, and array of features.
Apple Watch is fully integrated with other Apple devices, particularly the iPhone (which is required to use the smartwatch). Apple Watch can, for instance, be used to unlock a Mac. This seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem helped solidify the device’s place in the market. It quickly became the bestselling smartwatch in the world.
Just as the iPhone runs on iOS, the Apple Watch runs on watchOS. Apple upgrades the operating system every year, adding features exclusive to new devices as well some for older models. New versions of watchOS typically add new Apple Watch faces as well.
watchOS 1 powered the original Apple Watch. It included nearly two dozen stock apps, including Activity, Alarm, Calendar, Camera Remote, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Passbook (which will become Wallet in later versions), Phone, Photos, Remote, Settings, Siri, Stocks, Stopwatch, Timer, Weather, Workout and World Clock.
Key additions over the years include:
Released on April 24, 2015, the original Apple Watch came in three models: the entry-level Apple Watch Sport with an aluminum body, the “regular” Apple Watch with a stainless steel casing and the Apple Watch Edition with a gold body, which cost $10,000-plus. All came with a built-in heart rate sensor powered by infrared and visible-light LEDs and photodiodes.
Apple’s first wearable introduced the Digital Crown and the Taptic Engine for subtle taps on the wearer’s wrist. It ran apps and allowed notifications, and offered health- and fitness-tracking capabilities. It allowed customization through Apple Watch faces and a variety of Apple Watch bands. However, the underpowered single-core S1 chip in the first-gen Apple Watch led to laggy performance.
Sizes: 38mm and 42mm
Both released on September 16, 2016, these second-gen Apple Watch models benefited from upgraded processors that improved performance. The Series 1 ran on the Apple S1P, a variant of the dual-core Apple S2 chip with the processor’s GPS capability removed. It also added water resistance for swimming.
Apple Watch Series 2 ran on the Apple S2 with GPS enabled for for tracking outdoor workouts. It came with a brighter display and water resistance up to 50 meters. An Apple Watch Series 2 Edition model came with a white ceramic case.
Sizes: 38mm and 42mm
Unveiled on September 22, 2017, Apple Watch Series 3 ran on a dual-core Apple S3 chip and came with an altimeter for tracking elevation. A variant with LTE cellular connectivity via an innovative eSIM allowed calls and streaming of Apple Music tracks and podcasts.
Sizes: 38mm and 42mm
Announced on September 21, 2018, Apple Watch Series 4 brought the smartwatch’s first big redesign. Thinner bezels meant a bigger display, and the overall design was streamlined. The display was also much brighter than previous models. A new sensor worked with the ECG app to enable electrocardiograms. (Apple received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the watch’s ECG feature.)
With Apple’s S4 chip, a 64-bit dual-core processor, Series 4 also gained a performance boost. The smartwatch’s improved accelerometer and gyroscope boosted fitness tracking. And a new fall-detection feature could automatically call emergency features if the wearer suffered a fall.
Sizes: 40mm and 44mm
Unveiled on September 10, 2019, during Apple’s “By Innovation Only” event, the Apple Watch Series 5 was the first model to feature an always-on Retina display. Clever animations allowed apps to “activate” when the watch was lifted, conserving battery power when the watch was lowered. A more energy-efficient Apple S5 chip brought better performance. And a built-in compass appealed to the outdoors crowd. Apple also added an International Emergency Calling feature for cellular models.
Apple Watch Series 5 Edition models arrived in three case options: ceramic and two titanium finishes (natural and space black).
Released on September 15, 2020, during Apple’s “Time Flies” event, the Apple Watch Series 6 added a new sensor capable of monitoring the wearer’s blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). Coming at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a perfect health-related feature.
The Apple S6 chip brought increased performance, while the Apple U1 chip enabled support for ultra-wideband technology for short-range communication with other compatible devices. The always-on display was 2.5 times brighter than the one in Series 5. Apple Watch Series 6 also added an always-on altimeter, 5 GHz Wi-Fi support and faster charging.
Sizes: 40mm and 44mm
A budget model also released on September 18, 2020, the first-gen Apple Watch SE ran on the Series 5’s S5 chip. It lacked key features such as an always-on display, ECG and blood oxygen sensors, and support for ultra-wideband and 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
Sizes: 40mm and 44mm
Released on October 15, 2021, Apple Watch Series 7 boasted a larger, more durable display with even thinner bezels. It added faster charging, slightly longer battery life and anIP6X dust-resistance rating.
Sizes: 41mm and 45mm
Announced at Apple’s Far Out event on September 7, 2022, Apple Watch Series 8 added a new temperature sensor to power women’s health features like cycle tracking and ovulation estimates. It runs on a faster Apple SP8 chip and also adds more precise accelerometers, and a new Crash Detection feature that can call authorities after a car or motorcycle accident.
Sizes: 41mm and 45mm
Also announced at the Far Out event, Apple Watch Ultra is a beefier model aimed at endurance athletes. A larger titanium case (49mm) with a flat front crystal makes it look more like a rugged sports watch. A brighter display proves better for outdoor activities.
A new Action button, which can trigger a specified app or function with a single touch, makes it easier to use in certain situations (like when wearing ski gloves or underwater). Integrated multi-band GPS, a water temperature sensor and a built-in siren also appeal to outdoor adventurers.
Size: 49mm
The final of three smartwatches unveiled at the Far Out event, the second-gen Apple Watch SE also runs on the SP8 chip and offers Crash Detection thanks to advanced accelerometers. However, the updated budget model does not feature an always-on display, a temperature sensor or ECG capabilities.
Sizes: 40mm and 44mm
Announced at Apple’s “Wonderlust” event on September 12, 2023, the Apple Watch Series 9 runs on a more-efficient Apple S9 chip with a faster GPU and Neural Engine that enable on-device Siri. The main addition is a new “double tap” gesture: When the wearer taps a thumb and forefinger together, it’s as if they tapped the watch’s touchscreen. Series 9 also added a second-generation UWB chip for increased range and precision.
Sizes: 41mm and 45mm
Also unveiled at the Wonderlust event, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 packs an even brighter display (up to 3,000 nits) as well as the new S9 chip for on-device Siri. The design remains the same, as do many of the rugged watch’s capabilities.
Size: 49mm
Apple’s WWDC26 keynote brought a wave of updates to Apple Wallet well beyond cosmetic tweaks. From AI-assisted bill splitting to richer hotel stays, iOS 27 turns Wallet into a more capable everyday tool. Here’s what’s coming.
When Apple unveiled watchOS 27 at WWDC26 on Monday, it also revealed that the new version drops support for several Apple Watch models. That leaves many users wondering what this means for their wearable — did it just become rubbish?
Here’s what’s really going on, and why you should be able to keep using the device for years to come.
watchOS 27 will bring the new Siri AI, a smarter Workout Buddy and other useful new features to Apple Watch. While the wearable didn’t receive much attention during the WWDC26 keynote on Monday, Apple said watchOS will get AI-powered upgrades like the rest of its platforms.
“You can start chatting with Siri on your iPhone, pick up where you left off on your iPad, and wrap up on your Mac,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s VP of Siri engineering, during the keynote. “We’re also tailoring Siri AI for watchOS. So you can ask questions and take action right on your wrist. And you can also tap into the Siri app using the new app grid on Apple Watch.”
Apple began selling refurbished Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3 last week in its Certified Refurbished store, all of which debuted alongside the iPhone 17 last September. The GPS version of the 46 mm Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $369, while the Ultra 3 and 40mm SE 3 go for $699 and $209, respectively.
That’s good news if you want the peace of mind that comes when buying directly from Apple. Every refurbished Apple Watch goes through a thorough inspection and cleaning process, ships in new packaging, and comes with the same one-year limited warranty Apple offers with a new device. And they are eligible for AppleCare+ as well.
However, for some models, you can find much better deals elsewhere.
The Apple Watch helps people stay more active by encouraging wearers to stand, move around and exercise. But its workout tracking has a few quirks that users should understand.
Knowing about these Apple Watch exercise oddities — and how to work around them — can help you avoid frustration as you get fit.
The small size and simplicity of the Apple Watch’s screen might fool you into thinking there aren’t a lot of settings you should tweak. But you would be sorely mistaken. It’s a powerful computer on your wrist, and thus, the Settings app is a deep rabbit hole.
You could lose hours going through every last setting, but I can save you the trouble. There are 10 Apple Watch settings I suggest everyone adjust. I’ll show you what they all do and how to change them.
The display in your Apple Watch may already seem pretty great, but a new type of screen technology in development could make models in the next year or two even better by running for longer on a single charge, according to a new report.
When will you be able to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on your iPhone? In the United States, it varies by where you live. It’s not up to Apple: Each state and territory maintains a completely independent registry of drivers and identification cards, so each one must independently pass legislation and implement digital IDs.
If you live in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico or West Virginia, you can do it today. (Our guide will show you how to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet.) Otherwise, check our map and lists below to see how likely your state is to let you add your ID to Apple Wallet, and when it might happen.
In several states, Apple’s state ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watches to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets. And across the United States, you can create an Apple Digital ID based on your passport that can get you through some airport security checks.
The day when an iPhone can completely take the place of an old-fashioned wallet remains years away, but it’s a goal Apple is working toward. Apple Pay is making progress on replacing credit cards, you can put airline tickets in the Wallet app, and the same goes for loyalty cards.
But no wallet is complete unless it can hold an ID. And that’s where Apple’s digital ID initiative comes in. Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license, state ID or federal passport to your Apple Wallet.
If you’ve been sitting on an older Apple device, now might be a good time to put it toward something new. The iPhone giant has quietly updated its U.S. trade-in estimates, boosting values across most of its current iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch lineup.
The Apple Watch’s next big software update — watchOS 27 — will supposedly follow the same strategy as iOS 27: It will focus on stability and performance rather than introducing radical new features.
Apple will not launch its AI-powered health coaching service with the initial build, according to a new report.
Your Apple Watch has a web browser built-in, although it’s somewhat hidden. While Apple doesn’t have a full Safari app for the watch, you can still open links from Messages — so you can text yourself as a hack to browse the web. Or, you can install the μBrowser app for a dedicated user experience with bookmarks and even complications.
Admittedly, it’s not a fantastic experience. The screen is less than two inches tall, so many pages don’t render properly. It’s not especially speedy, either. If your watch is within range of your iPhone, it’ll use the slow Bluetooth connection with your iPhone as a relay instead of connecting to the Wi-Fi network directly, in order to save power.
But having a web browser on your Apple Watch occasionally comes in handy, especially if you have a cellular model and left your phone at home.
Apple is reportedly developing an advanced high blood pressure notification feature for the Apple Watch. And the Apple Watch Ultra 4 might be the first to get the improved hypertension monitoring feature.
If true, it could turn the upcoming smartwatch into a serious cardiovascular health tool. Combined with a much-rumored hardware refresh, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 may be hard to resist for both new and existing users.
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: A fresh iOS 27 rumor says the iPhone’s Camera app will get a serious upgrade. And it sounds like the best of both worlds — heavy customization if you want it, status quo if you don’t.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version embedded below.
The colorful Pride Luminance wallpaper and watch face add beautiful color gradients to your iPhone and Apple Watch. You can download them both after updating to iOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5.
Since they’re part of Apple’s annual Pride collection, they come with a bunch of preset styles for various pride flags. But you can customize the Lock Screen wallpaper and the Apple Watch face however you want. With a light and dark shade of the same color, the vertical stripes and gradients shimmer and animate when you swipe up to unlock your phone. Or you can go to the other extreme, picking up to 12 colors from the Luminance palette.
This is easily the best Pride wallpaper Apple has produced yet — in fact, it’s a great wallpaper, period. Check it out in our quick video or keep reading.
watchOS 26.5, which Apple released Monday, finally fixes a pair of annoying Apple Watch problems. It also brings a wildly customizable — and seemingly quite popular — Pride Luminance watch face that complements the similar iPhone wallpaper.
Here’s what’s new with the watchOS 26.5 update (plus a hint at what watchOS 27 might bring).
After years of iterative upgrades, rumors indicate Apple Watch Series 12 might bring real advancements that make the upcoming model hard to ignore. We could see a much faster chip, smarter Apple Intelligence features and maybe even Touch ID.
Here’s what to expect from Apple Watch Series 12, which should arrive this fall alongside the iPhone 18 Pro.
You can easily connect your Apple Watch to exercise equipment, like a treadmill at Planet Fitness, to record more accurate health data inside the Fitness and Health apps on your iPhone. After all, if you’re working out, you want to make sure your Apple Watch gives you credit for it.
Here’s how.
May 2, 1995: Apple enters the wearables space with its first watch. However, the first Apple watch is a timepiece with no fitness-tracking tech, no on-screen notifications and a whole lot of 1990s styling.
The device comes two decades before wearables actually will become a thing. A regular wristwatch, the freebie gadget is available via a special mail-in offer to Mac OS upgraders.
Tim Cook doesn’t get enough credit for launching groundbreaking products as Apple CEO. He quietly oversaw launches that reshaped how people listen, make purchases and monitor their health. He even revitalized the Mac.
With Cook leaving the CEO spot to become chairman of Apple’s board of directors in September, it’s time for some perspective on his time in office. Here are five examples of Cook embedding Apple deeper into our lives than ever before.
Each morning I wake up and check my sleep score on my Apple Watch. And then I wonder if it’s doing me any good. It’s certainly adding stress and hassle to my day.
That’s why I’m thinking of turning it off. Maybe you should, too.
April 24, 2015: The original Apple Watch launch means consumers, who endured a seven-month wait after the device’s unveiling at a keynote the previous September, can finally strap an Apple wearable onto their wrists.
Apple CEO Tim Cook describes the smartwatch as the “next chapter in Apple history.” Behind the scenes, however, the first Apple Watch launch is a moment long in the making.
What makes the Apple ecosystem so alluring? Individually, the iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch might not be the best devices in their respective categories. Yet, when combined, they form one of the best ecosystems in the world.
It’s this Apple ecosystem — the so-called walled garden — that makes it almost impossible to ditch Apple devices. But what makes it so good?
A smartwatch can help you get in shape for the summer, and a hot deal on Apple Watch Series 11 drops the cost to only $299 for the smaller 42mm size. That’s a $100 discount off Apple’s MSRP — a whopping 25% off!
The same $100 discount applies to the 46mm size, too, lowering it to only $329.
Apple will bring two limited-edition Activity challenges to Apple Watch this month, giving users a reason to get moving in the final stretch of April, the iPhone giant said. The occasions are Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, and International Dance Day on Wednesday, April 29.