Apple has released 20 Apple Watch models since the original went on sale in April 2015, and the current lineup is Apple Watch SE 3 from $249, Series 12 from $399 and Ultra 4 from $799.
This guide lists every generation in order with its announcement date, launch price and headline change, then compares the three current models, maps health features to generations and covers what to check before you buy a used watch.
Apple Watch lineup at a glance
Apple's compare page lists three current models, each with a different job. Prices are US starting prices from apple.com.
| Model | Starting price (US) | Case sizes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE 3 | $249 (GPS), $299 (GPS + Cellular) | 40mm or 44mm aluminum | First-time owners, kids on Apple Watch For Your Kids, anyone who wants core health and safety features for the least money |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399 (GPS), $499 (GPS + Cellular) | 42mm or 46mm aluminum, titanium or ceramic | Most buyers: ECG, Blood Oxygen, hypertension notifications, readiness score and a thin case |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $799 (GPS + Cellular only) | 49mm titanium | Divers, hikers and endurance athletes who need 100 m water resistance, satellite messaging and up to 50 hours of battery |
If you only want one answer, buy the Series 12. It carries every health sensor Apple sells at the lowest price that includes ECG and Blood Oxygen.
Apple Watch naming explained
Apple's naming skips numbers, runs two cheaper and tougher lines in parallel, and sells special editions that share hardware with a numbered model. This table clears up the four points that confuse buyers most.
| Naming question | What Apple actually calls it | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| "Series 0" is not Apple's official name | Apple Watch (1st generation), models A1553 and A1554 | Search listings for "1st generation" as well as "Series 0"; both describe the same 2015 watch |
| Series 1 and Series 2 launched together | Both were announced on September 7, 2016 | Series 1 kept the original design with a faster dual-core chip; Series 2 added GPS and 50 m water resistance |
| SE and Ultra are parallel product families | Apple Watch SE, SE 2 and SE 3; Apple Watch Ultra, Ultra 2, Ultra 3 and Ultra 4 | An SE is the lower-cost line and an Ultra is the rugged line; neither replaces a numbered Series |
| Nike, Hermès, Edition and case materials are not separate generations | Apple lists them as variants inside a generation, such as Apple Watch Nike under Series 7 or Apple Watch Edition titanium under Series 6 | A Hermès Series 10 is a Series 10; compare the Series number, not the badge or the case metal |
Every Apple Watch generation in chronological order
Dates are the day Apple announced each model in its Newsroom. Prices are the US starting price at launch, which later dropped for several older models.
| # | Model | Announced | Launch price (US) | Case sizes | What it added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple Watch (1st generation), 2015 | September 9, 2014 (on sale April 24, 2015) | $349 (Apple Watch Sport) | 38mm, 42mm | Digital Crown, Retina display with Force Touch, Taptic Engine |
| 2 | Apple Watch Series 1, 2016 | September 7, 2016 | $269 | 38mm, 42mm | Original design with the new dual-core processor, aluminum only |
| 3 | Apple Watch Series 2, 2016 | September 7, 2016 | $369 | 38mm, 42mm | Water resistance to 50 m, built-in GPS, 1,000-nit display, S2 chip |
| 4 | Apple Watch Series 3, 2017 | September 12, 2017 | $329 (GPS), $399 (GPS + Cellular) | 38mm, 42mm | First built-in cellular option, barometric altimeter |
| 5 | Apple Watch Series 4, 2018 | September 12, 2018 | $399 (GPS), $499 (GPS + Cellular) | 40mm, 44mm | Display over 30 percent larger, ECG app, fall detection |
| 6 | Apple Watch Series 5, 2019 | September 10, 2019 | $399 (GPS), $499 (GPS + Cellular) | 40mm, 44mm | Always-On Retina display, compass, international emergency calling, titanium and ceramic cases |
| 7 | Apple Watch Series 6, 2020 | September 15, 2020 | $399 (GPS), $499 (GPS + Cellular) | 40mm, 44mm | Blood Oxygen sensor and app, S6 chip, always-on altimeter |
| 8 | Apple Watch SE, 1st generation, 2020 | September 15, 2020 | $279 (GPS), $329 (GPS + Cellular) | 40mm, 44mm | First lower-cost SE model |
| 9 | Apple Watch Series 7, 2021 | September 14, 2021 | $399 | 41mm, 45mm | Display nearly 20 percent larger than Series 6, IP6X dust resistance, 33 percent faster charging |
| 10 | Apple Watch Series 8, 2022 | September 7, 2022 | $399 | 41mm, 45mm | Temperature sensing, retrospective ovulation estimates, Crash Detection, international roaming |
| 11 | Apple Watch SE, 2nd generation, 2022 | September 7, 2022 | $249 | 40mm, 44mm | Crash Detection, redesigned back case, lower starting price |
| 12 | Apple Watch Ultra, 2022 | September 7, 2022 | $799 | 49mm | Titanium case, flat sapphire crystal, Action button, 100 m water resistance, up to 36 hours of battery |
| 13 | Apple Watch Series 9, 2023 | September 12, 2023 | $399 | 41mm, 45mm | S9 SiP, double tap gesture, on-device Siri, Precision Finding for iPhone |
| 14 | Apple Watch Ultra 2, 2023 | September 12, 2023 | $799 | 49mm | S9 SiP, double tap, brighter display, expanded altitude range |
| 15 | Apple Watch Series 10, 2024 | September 9, 2024 | $399 | 42mm, 46mm | Thinnest case and largest display at launch, sleep apnea notifications, depth gauge and water temperature sensor |
| 16 | Apple Watch Series 11, 2025 | September 9, 2025 | $399 | 42mm, 46mm | Hypertension notifications, sleep score, 5G cellular, up to 24 hours of battery |
| 17 | Apple Watch Ultra 3, 2025 | September 9, 2025 | $799 | 49mm | Emergency SOS and Messages via satellite, largest Apple Watch display, up to 42 hours of battery, 5G |
| 18 | Apple Watch SE 3, 2025 | September 9, 2025 | $249 | 40mm, 44mm | S10 chip, Always-On display, fast charging, wrist temperature sensing, sleep apnea notifications |
| 19 | Apple Watch Series 12, 2026 | September 9, 2026 | $399 | 42mm, 46mm | Health Sensing System, S11 chip, readiness score, heart rate every five seconds, ceramic case option |
| 20 | Apple Watch Ultra 4, 2026 | September 9, 2026 | $799 | 49mm | Health Sensing System, S11 chip, readiness score, up to 50 hours of battery |
Series 12 and Ultra 4 went on sale on September 18, 2026. Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 went on sale on September 19, 2025.
Current Apple Watch comparison: SE 3 vs. Series 12 vs. Ultra 4
Series 12 and Ultra 4 replaced Series 11 and Ultra 3 in September 2026, so the current three-way comparison is SE 3, Series 12 and Ultra 4. Every figure below comes from Apple's compare page.
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Apple Watch Series 12 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (US) | $249 GPS, $299 GPS + Cellular | $399 GPS, $499 GPS + Cellular | $799 GPS + Cellular |
| Case and size | 40mm or 44mm aluminum | 42mm or 46mm aluminum, titanium or ceramic | 49mm titanium |
| Weight (smallest GPS model) | 26.3 g (40mm) | 32.2 g (42mm aluminum) | 63.0 g (natural titanium) |
| Display | Always-On LTPO OLED, up to 1,000 nits | Always-On LTPO3 wide-angle OLED, up to 2,000 nits | Always-On LTPO3 wide-angle OLED, up to 3,000 nits |
| Chip and storage | S10, 64GB | S11, 64GB | S11, 64GB |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours, 32 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 50 hours, 84 hours in Low Power Mode |
| Fast charge to 80 percent | About 45 minutes | About 30 minutes | About 45 minutes |
| Heart features | Heart rate tracking, high and low heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications | Adds ECG app, Blood Oxygen app, hypertension notifications, recovery HRV, readiness | Same as Series 12 |
| Water | 50 m, swimming | 50 m, snorkeling, depth gauge to 6 m | 100 m, scuba to 40 m, high-speed water sports, EN13319 |
| GPS and connectivity | GPS, optional 5G cellular | Precision L1 GPS, optional 5G cellular | Dual-frequency L1 + L5 GPS, 5G cellular, satellite |
| Safety | Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, Crash Detection | Same as SE 3 | Adds Emergency SOS via satellite and the Siren |
| Durability | Ion-X glass, 4x more crack-resistant than SE 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 on aluminum, sapphire on titanium and ceramic, IP6X | Sapphire crystal, IP6X, tested to MIL-STD 810H |
Audio Intelligence features such as Live Rewind and Siri Recap need a Series 12 or Ultra 4, and Apple lists them as arriving in beta in late 2026.
Which Apple Watch should you buy?
Match your situation to a row. Each pick is the cheapest current model that does the job, using Apple's own feature lists.
| Your situation | Buy this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the cheapest new watch that still gets watchOS 27 | Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS) | $249 with sleep apnea notifications, temperature sensing, fast charging and an Always-On display |
| You are setting up a watch for a child without an iPhone | Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) | Apple Watch For Your Kids needs a cellular model, and SE 3 is the cheapest one |
| You want ECG, Blood Oxygen or hypertension notifications | Apple Watch Series 12 | SE 3 has none of the three; Series 12 has all of them from $399 |
| You want the thinnest, lightest watch for all-day and overnight wear | Apple Watch Series 12 (42mm aluminum) | 9.7 mm thick and 32.2 g in its lightest version |
| You scuba dive, hike off-grid or run ultramarathons | Apple Watch Ultra 4 | 100 m water resistance, satellite messaging, dual-frequency GPS and up to 50 hours of battery |
| You already own a Series 9, Series 10 or Ultra 2 | Keep it | It runs watchOS 27 and already has hypertension and sleep apnea notifications |
| You own a Series 8, SE 2 or first Ultra and want new features | Upgrade | Those models are not on the watchOS 27 list |
Health and safety features by generation
Most health features arrived on one numbered Series and then spread to later models. The second column tells you the oldest watch you can buy to get each one.
| Feature | Which Apple Watch models have it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swim-proof water resistance (50 m) | Series 2 and later, all SE models | Series 1 and 1st generation are rated IPX7: splash resistant, not for submersion |
| Fall Detection | Introduced with Series 4; on all three current models | Uses the high-g accelerometer |
| ECG app | Series 4 and later, all Ultra models | Not on any SE model; for people 22 or older |
| International emergency calling | Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) or later, SE (GPS + Cellular) or later, all Ultra models | Country list varies |
| Always-On display | Series 5 and later, all Ultra models, SE 3 | SE 3 is the first SE with it |
| Blood Oxygen app | Introduced with Series 6; on Series 12 and Ultra 4 | Not on SE models; wellness use only. US watches bought on or after January 18, 2024 with part numbers ending LW/A or LS/A show results in the Health app on iPhone |
| Fast charging | Series 7 and later, SE 3, all Ultra models | Uses the Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C cable |
| IP6X dust resistance | Series 7 and later, all Ultra models | SE 3 is not listed as IP6X |
| Wrist temperature sensing | Series 8 and later, SE 3, all Ultra models | Powers retrospective ovulation estimates and Vitals data |
| Crash Detection | Introduced with Series 8 and SE (2nd generation); on all three current models | Detects severe car crashes |
| Sleep apnea notifications | Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, SE 3 | For people 18 or older without a diagnosis |
| Hypertension notifications | Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, with watchOS 26 or later | Not on SE 3; not for people under 22, pregnant people or those already diagnosed |
| Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite | Ultra 3 and later | Free for two years from activation; Messages and Find My need a carrier plan |
| Readiness score and Health Sensing System | Series 12 and Ultra 4 | Heart rate measured every five seconds |
watchOS compatibility and used-buying longevity
Software support is the best predictor of how long a used Apple Watch stays useful. watchOS 27 runs on eight models and needs an iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), on iOS 27.
| Model | Runs watchOS 27? | What that means for a used purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Series 12, Ultra 4 | Yes | Newest models; longest runway |
| Series 11, Ultra 3, SE 3 | Yes | 2025 models with 5G and current health features |
| Series 10 | Yes | Has sleep apnea and hypertension notifications |
| Series 9, Ultra 2 | Yes | Oldest models on the watchOS 27 list |
| Series 8, SE (2nd generation), Ultra (1st generation) | No | Not on the watchOS 27 list; no new watchOS features from this release |
| Series 7 and earlier, SE (1st generation) | No | Avoid as a primary watch; buy only for parts or as a cheap spare |
Apple Intelligence features on watchOS need a supported language and an Apple Intelligence–enabled iPhone, and some Siri AI features start in English only.
Used Apple Watch buying checklist
Run these checks with the seller present. The Activation Lock step matters most: a watch still linked to the seller's Apple Account cannot be set up by you.
- Ask the seller to open the Apple Watch app on their iPhone, tap My Watch, tap General, then tap About.
- Tap the Model Number field so it changes from the part number to the five-digit number that starts with A, then match it on Apple's Identify your Apple Watch page.
- Confirm the model appears on the watchOS 27 list: Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3.
- Read the case size engraved on the back of the watch and confirm it matches the listing.
- On the watch, open Settings, tap Battery, tap Battery Health, then scroll to see Maximum Capacity.
- Ask the seller to unpair it: in the Apple Watch app tap My Watch, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to the watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch. This erases it and removes Activation Lock.
- For a cellular model, have the seller remove their plan under My Watch > Cellular so you can add your own carrier.
- Put the watch on its charger and confirm the charging indicator appears before you pay.
If the watch refuses to charge during the test, try the usual fixes for an Apple Watch that won't charge first; a watch that still fails is not worth the asking price.
Important limitations and compatibility details
These limits apply regardless of which generation you pick, and several are easy to miss on a spec sheet.
| Limitation | What Apple says | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone requirement | Series 12, Ultra 4 and SE 3 require iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27 or later | Android phone owners and anyone on an iPhone older than the iPhone 11 |
| Water resistance wears off | Water resistance is not permanent, can diminish over time and cannot be rechecked or resealed | Used buyers, especially of older models |
| Bands and water | Leather, stainless steel and several other bands are not water resistant | Swimmers who bought a dress band |
| Cellular service | GPS + Cellular models need a carrier plan; 5G network coverage depends on market and carrier | Anyone who wants calls without the iPhone nearby |
| Satellite features | Only Ultra 3 and later; free for two years after activation | Hikers choosing between Series 12 and Ultra 4 |
| Health feature age limits | ECG, irregular rhythm and hypertension notifications are for people 22 or older; sleep apnea notifications for 18 or older | Teens and kids using a family watch |
| Regional availability | Some features, including Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, are not available in every region or language | Buyers outside the US, including the EU |
How to check which Apple Watch generation you have
Use this before you sell, trade in or compare your current watch against the table above.
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Tap General, then tap About.
- Find the Model Number field, which first shows a part number that begins with M.
- Tap Model Number once to reveal the five-digit model number that begins with A.
- Look up that number on Apple's Identify your Apple Watch page; for example, A3581 is a 42mm Series 12 (GPS) and A3579 is an Ultra 4.
Check the engraving on the back of the watch for the case size and material if the model number covers more than one finish.
Apple Watch generations: frequently asked questions
What is the newest Apple Watch?
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are the newest models. Apple announced both on September 9, 2026, and they went on sale on September 18, 2026. Apple Watch SE 3, from September 2025, remains the entry model in the current lineup.
How many Apple Watch generations are there?
Apple lists 20 Apple Watch models: the 1st generation from 2015, Series 1 through Series 12, three SE models and four Ultra models. Nike, Hermès and Edition versions are variants within those generations, not separate generations.
Is there an Apple Watch Series 0?
No. Apple's official name for the first model is Apple Watch (1st generation), with model numbers A1553 and A1554. "Series 0" is a nickname buyers and resellers use to tell it apart from Series 1, which launched in September 2016.
Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 27?
watchOS 27 supports Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Series 12, Ultra 2, Ultra 3 and Ultra 4. It also needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27.
What is the difference between Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series?
The SE is Apple's lower-cost line. SE 3 starts at $249 and lacks the ECG app, Blood Oxygen app, hypertension notifications and IP6X dust rating that Series 12 has. Series 12 also has a brighter display and longer battery life.
Which Apple Watch has the longest battery life?
Apple Watch Ultra 4 has the longest battery life, rated at up to 50 hours of normal use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode. Series 12 is rated at up to 24 hours, and SE 3 at up to 18 hours.
Is Apple Watch waterproof?
No. Apple describes Apple Watch as water resistant, not waterproof. Series 2 and later are rated to 50 meters for swimming, and Ultra models are rated to 100 meters for recreational scuba diving to 40 meters. Series 1 and the 1st generation are only splash resistant.
Does Apple Watch work with an Android phone?
No. Apple lists an iPhone as a requirement for Apple Watch, and the current models need an iPhone 11 or later on iOS 27. The exception is Apple Watch For Your Kids, which lets you set up a cellular watch for a child who does not have an iPhone.
Is it worth buying a used Apple Watch Series 8 or older?
Only as a cheap spare. Series 8, SE (2nd generation) and the first Ultra are not on the watchOS 27 compatibility list, so they miss this year's software features. A used Series 9 or Ultra 2 is the oldest model that runs watchOS 27.
Are Apple Watch Nike and Hermès models a different generation?
No. Apple Watch Nike and Apple Watch Hermès share the hardware of the Series, SE or Ultra model they belong to. Apple lists them under that generation on its identification page, so compare the Series number rather than the branding.
The bottom line on Apple Watch generations
Buy the Apple Watch Series 12 unless you have a clear reason to go cheaper or tougher: SE 3 for a $249 first watch or a child's watch, Ultra 4 for diving, off-grid hiking or multi-day battery. Series 12 is the lowest-priced current model with the ECG app, Blood Oxygen, hypertension notifications and the new readiness score, and every used model older than Series 9 or Ultra 2 has already dropped off the watchOS 27 list.
