Comparison of the three new Apple Watches and their specifications

During its Far Out event, Apple announced the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, new AirPods Pro earbuds, and a whole new set of Apple Watches. We’re used to seeing an annual Apple Watch refresh, where one flagship in the series gives birth to another flagship — but this year marks the launch of three new models: the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch Ultra, and a new Apple Watch SE. These watches were designed to offer new options in the entry-level, flagship (for generalists) and specialist markets.

At the end of the new lineup, the new Apple Watch SE continues the formula of the 2020 SE. It’s the “bargain” model, sacrificing niceties like an always-on display in favor of a much lower price. Apple’s SE brand of budget-tier products is rarely the most exciting, but at least the arrival of this Apple Watch SE helps end the seedy reign of the Apple Watch Series 3.

Further up the spectrum, the Series 8 continues the usual evolution of previous top-of-the-line Apple Watches, now with a new built-in temperature sensor. And for the first time, there’s a third model at the top, one with a completely different skill set. Despite the new Samsung-sounding moniker, the new Apple Watch Ultra is designed to cater to the hardcore outdoor crowd – those who would typically turn to brands like Garmin to get their needs met.

So that’s a whole lot of Apple Watch. But how do the features and specs play out in this new lineup? And are there any big improvements here over the outgoing Series 7 if you’re considering picking up one of the ones on sale before they’re gone? We’ve only lent a hand so far, but let’s take a look at the specs and see where we can find the biggest differences or look for major omissions in these new units.

Apple Watch SE

Image: apple

At the budget end, the Apple Watch SE brings us a mostly familiar approach: take some of the latest tech and put it in an old case to sell for less. That’s what the original Apple Watch SE did, and that’s what this new SE is doing now. The new SE looks very similar to the previous SE, but packs the S8 CPU and crash detection found on the Series 8 and Ultra. Oh, and the rear of the new SE is color-coordinated with the rest of the case, which is a spicy little tidbit.

What you lose is the always-on display, EKG and blood oxygen monitoring – all of which were missing from the previous SE as well. But what you gain is more money in your pocket, as the new 2022 Apple Watch SE starts at just $249 for a 40mm model with GPS, or $299 with cellular. That’s $30 cheaper than the starting prices of the first SE when it launched in 2020.

Apple Watch Series 8

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

Any other year, the new Apple Watch Series 8 would be the flagship. Continuing Apple’s steady evolution of its watch formula, it looks very similar to the Series 7 but now adds a sensor to detect your body temperature, as well as improved period and ovulation tracking. It also gets the car crash detection that’s prevalent with this whole crop of Apple Watches because Apple seems to be into car crashes right now. (The keynote video had an alarming amount of doom and gloom.)

Unlike the SE, you don’t make any major compromises other than the Ultra’s extra rugged features (more on that in a moment). The Apple Watch Series 8 starts at the usual $399 for the 41mm model with GPS or $499 with cellular, or add $30 for the larger 45mm version.

Apple Watch Ultra

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Finally, the new kid on the block is trying to tackle a whole new segment for Apple. The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s answer to rugged smartwatches and wearables from brands like Garmin and Polar that can be taken to very remote locations for activities like hiking and climbing. The Apple Watch Pro is made of titanium and is water resistant to 100 meters. Its flat display has a diameter of 49 mm, making it by far the bulkiest Apple Watch. It also features a programmable action button on the side. On the connectivity side, it supports multi-band GPS with trackback so you can navigate in very remote locations and track your steps on the return journey. It’s sold in a single model with a natural titanium finish and both GPS and cellular for $799.

Which Apple Watch is right for you?

The Apple Watch has been a mainstay in Apple’s garden for years, but we’ve never had so many options at once. In the past, the question for Apple users has mostly been whether or not they should even get an Apple Watch – since it’s the only game in town that offers this level of iOS integration. Well, finding the right one for you may require a little more thought and consideration. Be sure to check out our spec comparison chart and let us know in the comments if any of these are the right choice for you.