The author compares the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, favoring the slimmer, more comfortable design of the Series 11 for everyday wear and fitness tracking, despite the Ultra 3's superior battery life and dual-band GPS. The Series 11 offers most features at a lower price but lacks some advanced sports features like a lap button and dual-band GPS, which are important for serious athletes. Overall, the Series 11 is a great value for most users, but Ultra 3 remains the better choice for extended outdoor activities.
The Apple Watch SE 3 offers significant upgrades over its predecessor, including an always-on display, faster chip, and new health features, making it a strong, affordable alternative to the more advanced Series 11, especially for first-time buyers or those seeking essential smartwatch functions.
The Garmin Venu 4 is a significant upgrade over the Venu 3, featuring a more attractive all-metal design, a built-in flashlight, brighter display, advanced sports tracking, and multi-band GPS, but it comes at a higher price. The Venu 3 remains a capable, more affordable option with longer battery life and an extra button, making it suitable for those who don't need the latest features.
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 are flagship smartwatches with distinct designs and features. The Series 11 offers health updates like hypertension alerts and Sleep Score, with a rectangular display and premium finishes, priced starting at $399. The Galaxy Watch 8 features a circular display, advanced health metrics, and a more traditional watch look, costing around $350. Both provide over 24 hours of battery life, with differences in ecosystem compatibility and specific health and safety features, making the choice dependent on user preferences for design, ecosystem, and health tracking capabilities.
The 2025 Apple Watch models feature significant upgrades in design, materials, and health sensors, with prices ranging from $249 to $799, improved battery life, and advanced health tracking capabilities, making them more versatile and durable than previous versions.
A test comparing the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic during a 5,000-step walk found the Apple Watch to be slightly more accurate in step counting, with both devices providing similar distance and elevation data. The Apple Watch Series 10 was determined to be the more precise fitness tracker overall, though both performed well in tracking metrics.
The Galaxy Watch 8 marks a significant upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 4 with a new design, larger and brighter displays, more powerful hardware, and improved health tracking features, making it a compelling choice for those looking to upgrade from the older model.
