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7 Best Apple Watches in 2026: Tested & Ranked by Experts
Quick answer: The best Apple Watch for most people in Australia is the refurbished Apple Watch Series 11 at A$549, for its 24-hour battery, hypertension notifications and Sleep Score. The best value in the range is the Series 9 at A$319, which now runs hypertension notifications too, alongside ECG, crash detection and temperature sensing. Athletes and hikers should take the Apple Watch Ultra at A$469 for 36 hours of battery and dual-frequency GPS, or the Ultra 3 at A$949 if satellite messaging matters. On the tightest budget, the Series 8 at A$249 still covers GPS, ECG and crash detection. Every watch here is refurbished, professionally graded, and backed by a 12-month warranty from Phonebot, an Australian refurbished-device retailer based in Melbourne.
Apple Watch is the best-selling smartwatch in Australia, and it is easy to see why. Heart rate monitoring, GPS and crash detection run across the whole range, and every model except the SE adds an ECG you can take from your wrist. These are features you do not get at this price on any other smartwatch brand.
The lineup covers 7 models across a wide price range, from the budget Series 8 to the satellite-equipped Ultra 3. Whether you are buying your first smartwatch, upgrading an older model, or looking for a gift, this guide covers everything you need to make the right call.
7 Best Apple Watches 2026
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 from A$949
- Apple Watch Series 11 from A$549
- Apple Watch Ultra from A$469
- Apple Watch Series 10 from A$389
- Apple Watch SE 3 from A$349
- Apple Watch Series 9 from A$319
- Apple Watch Series 8 from A$249
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Apple Watch Ultra 3
A$949 | 49mm Titanium | GPS + Cellular
The Ultra 3 is the most capable watch Apple makes, and the only one that does not need a phone or a mobile signal to call for help. Two-way satellite messaging covers Emergency SOS, Find My location updates, and ordinary Messages when you are beyond coverage, which is the single feature that justifies the price if you walk, ride or sail anywhere remote in Australia.
Battery is the other reason to choose it. The Ultra 3 runs up to 42 hours on a charge against 18 hours for the standard models, and it reaches 80% in about 45 minutes. The display is the largest Apple has put on a watch, the GPS is dual-frequency for accuracy in gorges and dense city streets, and hypertension notifications and Sleep Score are both on board.
Who it is for: Hikers, trail runners, sailors, and anyone who regularly travels outside mobile coverage.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 42 hours
- Two-way satellite messaging and Emergency SOS
- GPS: dual-frequency GNSS
- Hypertension notifications, Sleep Score, ECG, crash detection, temperature, SpO2
- Case sizes: 49mm only
Apple Watch Series 11
From A$549 | 46mm | GPS + Cellular
The Series 11 is Apple's current flagship and the best all-round Apple Watch for most iPhone users in Australia. It keeps the thin, light design introduced with the Series 10 and fixes the one complaint people had about every flagship before it: battery life. The Series 11 runs up to 24 hours on a charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, so you can track a full night's sleep and still get through the next day.
The aluminium models use a ceramic-coated Ion-X glass that is twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10, and cellular versions step up to 5G. Hypertension notifications watch for signs of chronic high blood pressure over 30 days, and Sleep Score grades each night out of 100.
Two finishes are in stock. The 46mm aluminium sits at A$549 in both GPS and cellular, and the Edition Titanium runs A$699 for 42mm and A$799 for 46mm if you want the premium case.
Who it is for: Anyone buying their first Apple Watch, upgrading from a Series 8 or older, or who wants the longest battery of any standard model.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode
- Hypertension notifications and Sleep Score
- ECG, crash detection, fall detection, temperature, SpO2
- 2x more scratch-resistant display, 5G on cellular models
- Case sizes: 42mm Edition Titanium, or 46mm
Apple Watch Ultra
A$469 | 49mm Titanium | GPS + Cellular
The original Ultra is the value pick of the whole range, and the one most people should look at before they spend A$949. It has the same 49mm titanium case, the same dual-frequency GPS, the same Action button, the same 100m water resistance and the same depth gauge as the Ultra 3, for roughly half the money.
What you give up is the satellite messaging, the larger display, and some battery: 36 hours here against 42, stretching to around 60 hours in Low Power Mode. It also predates hypertension notifications, which Apple limits to the Ultra 2 and later. If you want a rugged watch for training and weekends rather than for genuinely remote country, this is the smarter buy.
Who it is for: Runners, cyclists and hikers who want Ultra durability and battery without the Ultra 3 price.
Key specs:
- Battery: 36 hours, up to 60 hours in Low Power Mode
- GPS: dual-frequency GNSS
- 100m water resistance, depth gauge, Action button
- ECG, crash detection, temperature, SpO2. No hypertension notifications
- Case sizes: 49mm only
Apple Watch Series 10
From A$389 | 46mm | GPS
The Series 10 was Apple's flagship before the Series 11 and remains the best value in the current-generation design. It is the thinnest and lightest Apple Watch Apple has built, with a larger, brighter always-on display than anything before it.
Against the Series 11 you give up the 24-hour battery, the tougher glass and 5G. You keep the same display size, the same sensor suite and hypertension notifications, which reached the Series 10 through watchOS 26. At A$160 less than the Series 11, it is the easiest saving in the range.
Two grades are in stock at 46mm GPS aluminium: A$389 and A$449.
Who it is for: Anyone upgrading from a Series 7 or older who wants the current design without paying flagship money.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 18 hours
- Hypertension notifications and Sleep Score
- ECG, crash detection, temperature, SpO2
- Double Tap gesture, always-on display
- Case size: 46mm
Apple Watch SE 3
From A$349 | 44mm | GPS or GPS + Cellular
The SE 3 is the newest watch on this list and the cheapest way into current-generation hardware. It runs the same S10 chip as the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, and it is the first SE to get an always-on display, so you can read the time without lifting your wrist. Fast charging is included, and 15 minutes on the charger is worth roughly eight hours of use.
There is one thing to know before you buy, and it is the reason the SE costs less. The SE 3 has no ECG app and no blood oxygen sensor. Apple lists both as not applicable on this model. You still get irregular rhythm notifications, sleep apnea notifications, wrist temperature sensing, Sleep Score and crash detection, so the safety features are all present. If taking an ECG from your wrist matters to you, the Series 9 below has one and costs A$30 less.
Two units are in stock: A$349 for 44mm GPS + Cellular, and A$369 for 44mm GPS in better cosmetic condition.
Who it is for: First-time buyers, kids and teens, and anyone who wants the newest chip and the longest run of watchOS updates ahead of them, and who is not bothered about ECG.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 18 hours, with fast charging
- S10 chip, always-on display, 5G on cellular models
- Sleep Score, sleep apnea notifications, temperature sensing, crash detection
- No ECG app, no blood oxygen, no hypertension notifications
- Case size: 44mm
Apple Watch Series 9
A$319 | 45mm Aluminium | GPS + Cellular
The Series 9 is the best-value watch in the range and the cheapest one that does everything. It is two generations behind the Series 11, but it received hypertension notifications through watchOS 26, so it runs the same headline health feature as the current flagship for A$230 less.
It also has the full sensor suite the SE 3 does without: ECG, blood oxygen, temperature sensing and cycle tracking with temperature-based insights, plus crash detection and the Double Tap gesture. The unit in stock is the 45mm with cellular, so it works away from your iPhone once a carrier plan is set up.
If you want a complete Apple Watch and you do not need the newest design, this is the one to buy. You can compare it against the rest of the range on our Apple Watch price page.
Who it is for: Anyone who wants every health sensor Apple makes without paying current-generation prices.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 18 hours
- Hypertension notifications, ECG, crash detection, temperature, SpO2, cycle tracking
- Cellular: Yes
- Double Tap gesture
- Case size: 45mm
Apple Watch Series 8
A$249 | 45mm Aluminium | GPS + Cellular
The Series 8 is a few generations old, but it still holds up, and it is now the cheapest Apple Watch we stock. At A$249 it is the most affordable way to get crash detection, which automatically contacts emergency services if it detects a severe impact.
For anyone with a budget under A$250, this is the one. The health sensors, covering ECG, blood oxygen and wrist temperature, are the same ones you get on watches costing three times as much. It misses hypertension notifications, which start at the Series 9, and it is a thicker, heavier design than the Series 10 and 11. The unit in stock includes cellular.
Who it is for: First-time Apple Watch buyers and anyone who wants ECG and crash detection for the lowest possible price.
Key specs:
- Battery: up to 18 hours
- ECG, crash detection, temperature, SpO2
- Cellular: Yes
- No hypertension notifications
- Case size: 45mm
Want one for less?
Every model on this list is refurbished, professionally graded, and ready to pair with your iPhone.
Shop refurbished Apple Watches →From A$249 · Tested · 12-month warranty · 30-day returns
How to Choose the Right Apple Watch
What is Your Budget?
Budget | Best pick |
Under A$350 | Series 8 (A$249), Series 9 (A$319) or SE 3 (A$349) |
A$350 to A$500 | Series 10 (A$389) or Apple Watch Ultra (A$469) |
A$500 to A$800 | Series 11 (A$549), or Series 11 Edition Titanium (A$699 to A$799) |
A$800 and above | Ultra 3 (A$949) |
Do You Need an ECG?
This is the one spec that splits the range. Every watch here takes an ECG from your wrist except the SE 3, which Apple ships without the ECG app and without a blood oxygen sensor. If you want those readings, the Series 8 at A$249 is the cheapest watch on this list that has them, which makes it better value than the SE 3 for anyone buying on health features rather than on software age.
Do You Need Cellular?
Cellular models work independently from your iPhone, handling calls, messages and music without your phone nearby. You will need a carrier plan from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, which costs around A$5 to A$10 per month. If you train or travel without your phone, it is worth it. If your phone is always with you, GPS only is fine. Most of the watches in stock right now include cellular.
Which Case Size Suits Your Wrist?
- 42mm: smaller wrists and a lighter feel, available on the Series 11 Edition Titanium
- 44mm or 45mm: medium wrists, the size most of this range comes in
- 46mm or 49mm: large wrists, bold look, more screen
If you are shopping for a smaller wrist specifically, our guide to the best ladies smartwatch picks goes through the smaller cases and band options in more detail.
Which Material is Right for You?
- Aluminium: lightest and most affordable, suits everyday use
- Titanium: stronger than aluminium and lighter than steel, used on both Ultra models and the Series 11 Edition
Ready to choose?
Apple Watch from A$249, with every model tested, graded, and backed by a 12-month warranty.
Shop refurbished Apple Watches →Browse all Apple Watch models →Posted by Liam Harris
Liam Harris
Liam Harris is a tech writer at Phonebot, covering refurbished phones, tablets and wearables since 2022. His buying guides and model comparisons draw on live Australian market pricing and Phonebot's experience rehoming over one million devices.
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