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After a couple of months with the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2), there’s no other way to put it: this is the best golf watch on the planet right now

11:52 am | October 2, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): One minute review

Simply put, the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is the best golf watch money can buy, and one of the best bits of tech I have ever tested or even used, period. There, I have said it. I said something similar about the Garmin Approach S70 when I tested that last year, I know, but this premium watch really is something else.

I’ve tested a whole range of tech in my years, and there’s only a handful of products that I’ve really hated letting go of, and in a very strong field, this golf watch is absolutely one of them. If you’re looking for a do-everything golf watch but one that does everything at a premium level, brilliantly, then this is it.

In every functionality I tested, this watch has excelled, and from strap to screen, its design and build have proved a perfect balance of confidence-giving robustness, ease of use, and slick looks.

Design-wise, the Golfer (Gen 2) is a beauty. My review unit is the Carbon Edition, and its sleek black and green colorway makes for an aesthetically pleasing watch on the face of it, but there’s sturdiness under the hood from the leather and rubber strap, to the robust bezel and case, and especially the excellent domed glass screen – itself a joy to use. It also has a pleasant weight and size to it that makes its one size (46mm total diameter) hit the goldilocks physical size for me of being great for sport, as well as a daily driver.

The watch comes with all the excellent golf features that we’ve come to expect from Garmin. Extra features like the PlaysLike Distances are brilliant; there are 43,000 courses preloaded, and there are so many other features, such as swing tempo measures, stat tracking, and more. Throw in the fact that when you buy the watch, you get three CT10 trackers that you can put in the top of your clubs too, and the package is basically complete and void of holes (nearly). Then, team this with the Garmin Golf Membership subscription – sadly not included with the watch despite its high price – and you have the ultimate on-course caddie if you really are going big.

It not only looks the part on the wrist as a daily smartwatch, but it’s chic, easy to use, responsive, and does everything well. I wish there were a more ‘premium looking’ font on the watch, though, as Garmin’s default one doesn’t scream more-than-two-thousand-dollar device.

A lot will be made of the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)’s price tag, but we’re swimming in premium waters here; an end of the pool that all markets of tech have. And there is a market for this. And if this isn’t for you, then Garmin offers a host of alternative options that are cheaper and more focused. But if you are in the market for a best-of-the-best golf watch, then read on to find out why the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is the absolute peak of wrist-bound on-course companions and the premium option for you.

If you’re looking to go big, go premium, and go once on your golf watch, this is the watch for you.

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Specifications

	Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)
Price	Starts at $2,300 / £1,999.99 / AU$3,900
Dimensions	1.8 x 1.8 x 0.59in / 46 x 46 x 15mm
Weight	2.89oz / 82g
Bezel/case	Titanium (Grade 5) / fused carbon fiber bezel / Fused carbon fiber with titanium rear cover
Display	390 x 390px; 1.2in / 30.4mm; Domed sapphire crystal AMOLED
GPS	GPS+GLONASS+Galileo+SatIQ Technology
Battery life	Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days; GPS only: Up to 42 hours; All satellite systems: Up to 32 hours
Connection	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
Water resistant?	Yes, 10 ATM

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Price and availability

The Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) boxed and on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

List prices of $2,300 or $3,100 / £1,999.99 or £2,699.99 / AU$3,900 or AU$5,249 (Fused Carbon or Titanium version)
Premium price tag makes it expensive, but the value proposition is strong
No subscription included feels a little mean

Right, let’s get the big one out of the way first: this is an expensive smart or golf watch. There is a market for this level of premium golf watch, and the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) certainly doesn’t swim alone here.

Garmin, as a brand, is also one of the best for offering watches up the entire scale of golf watch premium-ness, too; heck, even some of its non-golf devices can help you out on the course. As a result, the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) earns its place in the brand’s lineup, appealing to those who are on the lookout for a top-tier golf and smart watch that delivers without compromise.

So, it’s expensive, but does it offer good value? After using it for a long while, and comparing it to my also-premium TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition, I think it does. Its featureset and capability are unrelenting and truly top-tier. As I said above, if you really are looking for one premium golf watch to rule them all, then this is it. It does everything the Tag Heuer does, and it’s got all that Garmin excellence in data tracking, too.

It’s also worth noting that, at the time of writing, there are two variants of the watch available and a sizable gap between them in terms of price. My unit is the Fused Carbon Fiber model, which sits a full $800 / £700 / AU$1,349 more than the Grade 5 Titanium model. As a result, the latter makes a much more compelling value proposition argument, and is only a ‘bit’ more than the Tag Heuer.

There is one notable drawback on pricing, for me, though: it feels a little mean to offer a complete golf watch but not include a Garmin Golf Membership subscription.. This feels like it would be a worthy addition from both price tag and premium-experience perspectives.

Value score: 4/5

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Design

The Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

1.2in / 30.4mm AMOLED screen is superb
Domed sapphire crystal lens material is a joy to use
Slick, robust, chic, perfectly weighted, and well-made

The case and bezel are rock solid and confidence-inspiring, and the aesthetic of the Carbon model is slick and a good balance of understatedness and a bit of flash. The build is so good here: you’re also getting a good water resistance rating of 10 ATM, allowing it to withstand swims.

The AMOLED screen is wonderfully sharp, bright, and vivid, and the domed lens is something I wish all smartwatches had across the board. The screen is also slightly smaller than the Approach S70 (a purely golf-focused watch), which is something to be aware of if you value screen real estate above all else, but I actually find it to make for a better watch overall.

Even the watch strap is top-tier. The outside is a smart-looking leather strap that ensures it looks the part at all times, and the inside is made of an FKM rubber, which is perfect for when you get hot on the course, as well as for ensuring it doesn’t slip and slide all over the shop. Take note, other golf watch manufacturers.

A big gripe of mine with the brand's golf watches – and even with some of the best Garmin watches – is the subpar bespoke charging mechanism, which means you have to lay your watch flat on its front and have a cable sticking up from its rear. Luckily, the Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) features a different solution, which, much like my Samsung smartwatch, involves a flat charger tool that means you can lay your watch flat on its back. It’s not the nice dock that I have with my Tag Heuer, but it’s definitely an improvement.

The buttons are intuitive to make navigating the watch and apps very easy, easier than the S70’s three buttons, which have multiple functions each. However, I do have a minor gripe with one small design element: Garmin’s default font.

While it’s a perfectly serviceable font and makes for clear reading, it started to grate on me a little after a while using the Gen 2. It looks a bit simple and not as chic as the font on my Tag Heuer, and thus doesn’t feel as premium as the watch itself or befitting of such an otherwise premium experience.

Design score: 5/5

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Features

The Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) on a wrist on the golf course — (Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

All the golf features you could want (bar one)
All the fitness trackers you could want
All the daily smartwatch features you could want

In brief, when it comes to features, the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) is bursting at the seams and has everything you could possibly wish for from a premium golf watch. Or a smart watch. Or a fitness tracker. Or a sports smart watch. There are frankly too many to go over.

Headlines in the golf feature set make for delightful reading, though. It has all the courses you could want and presents them beautifully. It’s got a supremely accurate golfing yardages, built into a fulsome and complete virtual caddie experience, offering features for shot dispersion, wind direction and speed, pin finder for blind shots, club tracking (with the CT10 trackers), a brilliant PlaysLike distance feature which tells you the actual yardage of the holes with weather and topography factored in, information about hazards and doglegs, score and stat tracking, swing temp features, and more. It’s frankly wild how much Garmin has crammed in just from a golfing perspective.

The only golf feature ‘missing’ is the green contour data and imaging. This can only be acquired via a paid subscription to the Garmin Golf Membership – that’ll still be an extra $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$14.49 a month, sadly. I really think Garmin could have included that with this watch, given the device’s price tag and commitment folks will be making.

As a Garmin watch, it also channels the best of the brand’s pedigree when it comes to sports, fitness, and health tracking, too. Once again it is impossible to go through all those features, but know that if you’re looking for your next golf watch to be capable of handling your exercise and workout routines, sleep health and body battery monitoring, body condition tracking, offer maps for walking and trail hiking, as well as have you covered for stock trading, skiing, paying with your watch, then the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) can handle it.

As a premium watch, it also offers a superb experience for daily use, with plenty of functions for messaging, music control, calendar, sunset, and weather viewing. Whatever you think you want your watch to do, the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) can almost certainly do it.

Features score: 5/5

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Performance

Unparalleled on-course performance
A joy and easy to use with intuitive controls
Excellent as a day-to-day smartwatch and for fitness and health, and its battery lasts forever

As might be obvious already, this is probably the closest thing to a perfect golf watch as you can get right now. The Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) is basically unparalleled in its on-course golfing features and makes for the perfect virtual caddie. This is something I cannot emphasize enough, either.

There are basically too many excellent golf features to mention individually, but the headline ones are sublime. Firstly, you’ll be incredibly hard-pushed to find a course that it doesn’t have a map for, with over 43,000 preloaded onto the device.

Once you are on the course, the complete virtual caddie role that the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) successfully plays is extraordinary. The maps of the holes are clear, the yardages are accurate and on-point, the wind speed and direction tool is useful, and I cannot imagine playing without the PlaysLike distance feature now. This feature is so good and brilliant on the course, factoring in weather and environmental conditions as well as topography to give you a more accurate yardage for club selection. Combine this with the brilliant views of greens and hazards, a shot dispersion feature that can help you factor in what could come into play, and the pinpointer feature for when you have zero sight of the green, and it’s a complete experience. And that’s before the quality round and score logging, too.

Enhancing this further is the shot tracking that the watch is capable of when combined with the CT10 trackers for your club. While my Tag Heuer has built-in shot tracking and is thus more convenient for this, the Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) covers its bases on that front by coming with three of said trackers too.

The display and domed glass make the watch a delight to use, whatever the weather outside on the course, too, with the domed form of the lens making a brilliant screen to interact with compared to a flat screen – it’s a subtle design difference, but an impactful one.

Flitting back between normal smartwatch and golf mode is as simple as one button press, and this ease of use and intuition is a microcosm of the broader experience of having the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) on your wrist. Its design and build mean that it’s also beautifully weighted and comfortable, looking great for sports and socialising alike.

Engaging with other features is a joy, too. From messaging to maps, from stress to sleep, and the array of wider health and fitness apps, the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) excels.

The above is all supported by a battery life you’ll rarely have to worry about. For example, I used the watch for two weeks, all day, every day, and for two full rounds of golf, and still had a bit more than 10% battery life left over. Garmin lists the battery life as “Up to 16 days” when in smartwatch mode, and “up to 42 hours” in GPS-only mode, and my experience has me believe that this is accurate. After a while, I gave up counting and tracking the battery life; in all honesty, it is that good.

My gripes are tiny, and I feel like I’m nitpicking intensely, but at this price, it pays to be hyper-aware of anything that impacts the experience.

As previously mentioned, it seems like a misstep to not include a subscription to the Garmin Golf Membership to unlock even more features for the watch. Additionally, the default Garmin font doesn’t ‘feel’ at home on such a premium watch. A small nitpick, I know, but compared to the slick Tag Heuer presentation of text, this does let the Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) down. Finally, I have noticed that the default style for notifications is showing the original or first message that gave you the notification, not the most recent. As a result, glancing at the watch to see what’s been said most recently in a conversation or group chat is impossible after you’ve received a few messages.

However, these really are nitpicks of the smallest kind. Overlooking these tiny complaints, the Garmin Golfer MARQ (Gen 2) does everything spectacularly, and it’s the best smart or golf watch I have ever used.

Performance score: 5/5

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Price	This is a premium watch, and the price tag is high. It does offer value in the premium market, though, and will be all the golf and smartwatch you ever need.	4/5
Design	The layout, build quality, screen, and overall design of the watch are a joy to use. It also does away with the annoying charger found on other Garmin watches, and even the strap is a balance between rubber for activity and leather for looks.	5/5
Features	This is a perfect golf watch for those looking to maximise a device’s usefulness and assistance on the course, as well as get a premium smart watch.	5/5
Performance	Unsurprisingly, the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) puts all its excellence in features and design to near-perfect use on the course and as a daily driver. The perfect on-course companion in terms of accuracy, navigation, features, and practicality.	5/5
Total	Quite simply, the best golf watch on the market right now, if you’re looking at the premium end of the market, then this should basically be your only contender. A fantastic, exquisite device.	5/5

Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want the very best golf watch on the market

Making me even consider how much I love my Tag Heuer premium golf watch, the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) offers the full package for a premium golf watch and features all the tools and options for those looking to get the absolute most out of such a course companion.

You want a gadget that can be a premium day-to-day smartwatch, too

The Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is a joy to use every day as a smartwatch and features all the capabilities and performance you’d expect from a top day-to-day device. Even the domed glass makes it a delight to use for the most mundane things.

You want Garmin’s fitness and health tracking pedigree and features

All of Garmin’s trademark fitness and health tracking features are present on the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2), so it only enhances the watch's total package offering.

You’re looking to upgrade within the Garmin ecosystem

If you’re the owner of one of Garmin’s lower-end golf watches and have been saving up to go to something bigger and more premium while keeping all of your data conveniently and easily, then the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is perfect for you.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t need slick smartwatch looks, capability, or performance

The MARQ (Gen 2) is a premium smart watch as well as a sublime golf watch, but if you don’t need the former, then you can save money by going elsewhere.

You don’t need Garmin’s full smartwatch featureset

If you are only after a premium golf watch with some extra features, but not a huge range like the Golfer (Gen 2) offers, then you’ll likely find a better golf watch fit elsewhere.

You’re on a budget

It’s obvious, but the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is a seriously premium watch with a pricetag to match, so for some, it’s going to be flat-out prohibitively expensive.

Also consider

	Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)	TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition (42mm / 45mm)	Garmin Approach S70
Price	$2,300 or $3,100 / £1,999.99 or £2,699.99 / AU$3,900 or AU$5,249	$1,750/$1,950 / £1,500/£1,700 / AU$2,500/AU$2,800	$649.99/$699.99 / £549.99/£599.99 / AU$1,099/$AU$1,199
Dimensions	1.8 x 1.8 x 0.59in / 46 x 46 x 15mm	1.77 x 1.77 x 0.6in/ 45mm x 45mm x 15.3mm / 1.7 x 1.7 x 0.55in/42 x 42 x 14.2mm	1.8 x 1.8 x 0.5in/47 x 47 x 13.4mm / 1.7 x 1.7 x 0.5in/42 x 42 x 12.6mm
Weight	2.89oz/82g	1.7in/50g / 2.1oz/59.4g (45mm)	2oz/56g / 1.6oz/44g
Case/bezel	Titanium (Grade 5)/fused carbon fiber bezel / Fused carbon fiber with titanium rear cover	Titanium Sand-Blasted/Fixed Bezel Ceramic	Ceramic
Display	390 x 390px; 1.2in / 30.4mm; Domed sapphire crystal AMOLED	454 x 454px (45mm); 1.28in/32.5mm / 1.39in/35.3mm; AMOLED	454 x 454px / 390 x 390px; 1.2in/32mm / 1.4in/35.4mm; AMOLED
GPS	GPS+GLONASS+Galileo+SatIQ Technology	GNSS	GPS+GLONASS+Galileo
Battery life	Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days; GPS only: Up to 42 hours; All satellite systems: Up to 32 hours	Full day (18 holes plus normal smartwatch use) / Two full days (smartwatch use only)	Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days/up to 10 days; GPS mode: up to 20 hours/up to 15 hours
Connection	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
Water resistant?	Yes, 10 ATM	Yes, 50m	Yes, 5 ATM

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition

Now priced at a few hundred dollars or pounds under the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2), the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition is a superb premium option to consider if you’re only looking at the top end of the market. It offers a whole host of similar golf features, is a lovely smartwatch to use every day, and it also comes as a premium package with ball markers and some Titleist Pro V1s (but sadly, no shot trackers for your clubs).

Read our full TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition review

Garmin Approach S70

If you must have a Garmin golf watch and the brand’s pedigree, but can't stretch to the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) - and don’t mind missing out on the watch’s other features and premium-ness - then you can pick up the Approach S70 as a golf-focused solution for a much lower price tag.

Read our full Garmin Approach S70 review

How I tested the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)

I used the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) over the course of several weeks, playing multiple rounds at my home course in Somerset and away in Germany, and using it as my daily driver smartwatch. I have used almost all of its features, including messaging, music controls, fitness and sleep, and more.

I compared the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) to my TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition, as well as a cheaper ShotScope G6 GPS watch, to see how big the gap is between a competitor and a simpler option on the market.

I was able to compare the watches on the course to see how yardages, features, and overall ease of use as golf watches and smartwatches matched up between them, as well as live with it for a long while to gauge the everyday qualities of it.

Sick and tired of ugly under-desk treadmills? With its wood grain finish, the Urevo Spacewalk E4W is both stylish and affordable

1:30 am | September 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Exercise Equipment Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Urevo Spacewalk E4W: Specifications

Specifications
Component	Value
Dimensions	119cm x 48cm x 11cm
Price	$229.99 / £249.99 / around AU$500
Maximum User weight	265 lbs (120 kgs)
Deck	Double shock absorption
Top speed	6km/h
Wheels?	Yes
Controls	Remote, via app

Urevo Spacewalk E4W: One minute review

Urevo Spacewalk E4W treadmill — (Image credit: Future)

The Urevo SpaceWalk is an ideal home walking pad for people looking to get extra steps in during rainy days or for remote workers trying to bring an element of movement to their working day. It has a generously-sized tread belt with ample shock absorption, measuring 100cm x 38cm, which is similar to other market leaders.

The speed range is 0.5 to 6km per hour, which can be adjusted by either a remote control or by the Urevo app on your phone. The app itself contains a whole host of functionality, recording activity data, offering challenges to participate in and ‘World Tour’ videos to accompany your walks.

The walking pad is exceptionally quick to set up – very much a plug-and-play piece of apparatus with a reasonable 1.8m cable length which, given that the equipment is likely to be under a desk near a plug, will be suitable for most users. The walking pad has an LED display that shows the speed, distance, time, steps and calories, all that most users will need for walks. Estimating steps on the display is a useful inclusion and, I found, to be very accurate.

The walking pad weighs 18kg, making it quite a bit lighter than others I’ve tested, ideal for moving from room to room and up and down stairs, which I have done while switching between using it under my work desk and in front of the TV. The noise levels are very low considering its 2.25HP motor, and I had no complaints from my co-workers on Teams whilst I was using the device.

The main drawback of the device is its limited top speed, at only 6km per users are limited to not much more than a light jog – it’s sadly unsuitable for runners. It's at a slightly higher price point than the usual super-budget Amazon options, so users may want a device like the Mobvoi Home Treadmill SE that provides a dual purpose, but still a great buy.

Category	Comment	Score
Price	More expensive that other walking pads on the market, but likely worth it for most.	3/5
Design	Very easy to move from room to room. No handles or safety bar but this feels appropriate for the products’ top speed.	4/5
Features	Variety of speeds is good, more controllability on the app than the remote, app provided good activity tracking over time.	5/5
Performance	Buttons responsive, felt stable and provided a smooth walking experience.	5/5

Should I buy?

Buy if if...

You are looking for a walking pad you won’t want to run on

No need for a running machine? No problem

You need a lightweight option

The Spacewalk E4W can be moved from room to room.

You need something quiet

Your colleagues won’t hear it: I took Teams calls while using it without issue.

Don't buy it if...

You're looking for the cheapest walking pad

There are slightly cheaper options out there if your budget is tight.

You are looking for a dual-use walking pad

There's no running mode or incline, like most walkingpads, so fit users are unlikely to break much of a sweat.

Also consider

Mobvoi Home Treadmill SE

The best under-desk treadmill for joggers.

Read our full Mobvoi Home Treadmill SE review

JTX Movelight

The best portable under-desk treadmill.

Read our full JTX Movelight review

How I tested

I tested the walking pad for two weeks, mostly walking on it for an hour every day. I typically used it at a pace of 3km per hour but jogged up to 6km per hour speed. I tried using it with and without shoes, but preferred wearing trainers because the surface got hot. I also tested both the remote control and the app-controlled functionality.

Laifen Wave SE Toothbrush review: Gentle, affordable, dual-action cleaning

1:30 am | September 24, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: Australia | Comments: Off

Laifen Wave SE Toothbrush: One minute review

The Laifen Wave SE is the second electric toothbrush from the Chinese manufacturer. This Special Edition variant is a follow-up to the original Wave which looks – and is in most ways – very similar.

The standout difference in the SE over the Wave is that this offers what the company calls a more "cozy" brushing experience. How? It vibrates less. Yup, while the original Wave pushed out a brain buzzing 66,000 vibrations per minute, this variant is a far more gentle 26,000. There are also a few more color variants available in the SE, too.

So while this might make the best electric toothbrush list alongside sonic and traditionally oscillating models, this brush both oscillates and vibrates, carving its own niche in electric toothbrush options.

One other big shift in the SE is that this model has been certified by the American Dental Association. That makes this the first dual-action toothbrush to achieve this accolade, helping this unique offering stand out even more.

The battery life is another area this manages to perform very well in thanks to a 50-hour top-end, possibly due to its lower power. The brush can be charged to full in only three hours using a standard USB-C port, meaning you may only need to take one cable when travelling.

Most Laifen replacement heads will work with the SE, and you get two with the unit including travel cases for each. But you can also use Philips SonicCare heads, which is great if you need to pick one up in a physical shop, where you likely won't find Laifen anytime soon.

Laifen Wave SE review: Price and availability

Priced at $90 in the US
£90 in the UK
AU$200 in Australia

The Laifen Wave SE follows up the original, which arrived earlier in 2025, and is priced at $89.99 in the US, £89.99 in the UK and AU$199.99 in Australia.

That price gets you the brush unit, two replacement heads with their own travel cases, and a USB-A to USB-C charger cable. You also get an impressive two-year warranty and a 30-days "no hassle" guarantee.

Usefully, depending on your region, you can buy via Amazon for a quick and secure delivery – which can be free for Prime members.

You can buy a set of three replacement heads in various designs and levels of stiffness, including Super Clean, Gum Care, or Ultra-Whitening. In all cases, the price is the same at US$15.99 / £15.99 / AU$14.99 for a set.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Laifen Wave SE review: Specifications

Component	Value
Battery life	50 days
Sonic vibrations	26,000 per minute
Charger	USB-C
Timer	Yes, two minute with 30-second haptics
Noise	55 dB
Charge time	3 hours

Laifen Wave SE review: Design

Two colors
IP68 waterproof
Cushioned heads

At first glance you'd struggle to spot the difference between the Laifen Wave SE and the original model. That's because they're almost identical, only this version comes in two new colors: the Matte Yellow you see in these photos, plus a Meadow Green option.

In both cases, the outer is a soft matte PU coating that gives it a gentle feel but also adds plenty of grip, even when wet. At the top is a soft-to-touch power button topped by three LED lights to show which of the three settings you are using.

At the base is a cover which can be lifted to access the USB-C charging port. When closed, this creates a flat base so the brush can be stood up effectively. Up top is a metallic connector allowing you to swap heads with an easy slide on-and -off action. This is thanks to what the company calls an "advanced copper-free tufting process" which apparently prevents rust while keeping the heads in place.

The heads themselves are coated in soft food-grade TPE. The bristles themselves are ultra-fine to ensure they give the most accurate clean. Everything is IP68 waterproof which should mean you can give this a rinse under the tap without any worries.

Design score: 4 / 5

Laifen Wave SE review: Features

50-day battery life
Fast 3-hour charging
USB-C port

Despite this offering both 60-degree oscillation movement and sonic vibrations at 26,000 per minute, this manages to deliver an impressive 50-day battery life, providing it's kept on the softer setting. Then, when it comes to charging, the brush reaches back up to full in less than three hours. Crucially, the USB-C connection means you can use any old charging cable – a great feature when traveling, as you could use your phone charger if needed.

The oscillations themselves are a big part of the appeal: oscillating brushes are slightly higher by dentists, as you can see in our rotating vs sonic toothbrush examination. The oscillation mimics the kind of up and down action your dentist may have told you to do.

The app offers setting variations so you can find the ideal brush setup for you, including adjusting the level of vibration intensity, oscillation range and oscillation speed. These are presets available, so you can set up three separate presets on the brush and jump between them depending on what you want that day.

Brush heads are available from Laifen, but if you're stuck out you can always pick up a Philips Sonicare head from a shop and that will also fit on the brush. It's nice to see it's not entirely proprietary.

Features score: 4 / 5

Laifen Wave SE review: Performance

Powerful top-end
Long battery life
Highly adjustable

This brush offers a quiet setting at just 55db and an impressive 50-day battery life. But that's on the gentle mode, which I found it to be far too weak. With the settings pumped up, I noticed the battery life did drop, and that noise jumped quite a bit louder. However, neither was to the point of being a problem and this will still get you more than a month of use – and the noise isn't annoyingly loud – it brings the toothbrush more in line with its high-power contemporaries. What you have here, essentially, is a toothbrush with a low-power option.

The power button won't allow you activate with a long hold or double-tap to change mode. So while you can have three preset modes, you'll need to dig out the app to change them, which is frustrating, and it reset after charging. I had to dig out the app to get back to how I like it. Not ideal.

The brush handle did a great job of absorbing vibrations while the head still delivered a powerful brush to your teeth. It strikes that perfect balance of being comfortable in the hand while giving your teeth a good, deep clean. Changing heads was easy, charging was fast and simple, cleaning was a doddle and the brush packed a soft, grippy outer that makes using this a pleasure.

Performance score: 4/5

Laifen Wave SE: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	A decent price for what you get	4.5/5
Design	Clean, easy to hold and effective	4/5
Features	That oscillation angle and battery performance	4/5
Performance	Great cleaning, top battery and excellent comfort. Some minor frustrations.	4/5

Laifen Wave SE: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want soft cleaning

The actions are dual so you will get a good clean, but you can reduce the power for a gentle clean to protect your gums if you need.

You don't want to think about charging

The 50-day battery life combined with three-hour charge time make the thought of battery life one you needn't often concern yourself with.

You want oscillating power

This brush oscillates for improved cleaning, at the price of a decent sonic brush.

Don't buy it if...

You don't like oscillating heads

To be clear this moves a lot, up and down, so expect action even if on the gentle setting.

You don't want to buy heads online

At time of publishing you can only get replacement heads online for delivery, so if you like the option of picking yours up in-store, this might not suit you. There's always the Sonicare options though.

Also consider

Component	Oral-B iO Series 6	Colgate Hum Smart Rhythm
Battery life	20+ days	90 days
Movement	8,800 oscillations+ 20,000 pulsations per minute	30,000 vibrations per minutes
Charge time	12 hours	AAA batteries
Modes	Five	Two

Oral-B iO Series 6

An affordable way to get all the power of the iO Series with its pulsations and oscillations combination, to get the ultimate clean as well as that display for helpful feedback and mode selection.

Read our full Oral-B iO Series 6 review

Colgate Hum Smart Rhythmic

For a well-price sonic toothbrush, that offers replacement batteries as an option, this is a powerful pick with 30,000 vibrations per minute and two modes for decent brushing control.

Read our full Colgate Hum Smart Rhythmic review

How I tested

I used the Laifen Wave SE multiple weeks in order to test the effectiveness of the brush itself, along with battery performance. I used this for travel, overnight, and in various bathrooms with multiple chargers.

My brushing was twice daily with its two-minute timer and haptic half-minute guidance vibrations used to get a full and fair brush. I was also testing other brushes from Oral-B, which allowed me to see the difference between features like extra modes, oscillations versus sonics, battery life, apps and more.

The way Panasonic’s attractive new open earbuds sound makes me smile, but they’re so annoying to operate

7:00 am | September 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Headphones Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: EQ | Comments: Off

Panasonic RB-F10: Two-minute review

Being a little down on a product you fundamentally really like feels uncharitable. It’s the audio equivalent of Ebenezer Scrooge giving Tiny Tim a pair of the incredible Shokz OpenFit 2+, then swapping that sweet sonic stocking stuffer for Bob Cratchit’s humble morsel of goose. Bah, humbug, indeed.

Truthfully, though, if you did buy me a pair of Panasonic RB-F10s for Christmas or my birthday, I’d be pretty smitten. Yes, they have their faults, but if you can overcome slightly fiddly on-ears controls, Panny’s recent buds are stylish, affordable, and feel so comfortable once they’re on, you might as well have a couple of pixies giving your ear canals a luxurious bubble bath.

I adore how these open earbuds feel on my lugholes. There’s no question the main selling point here is the soothing snugness the RB-F10s bring to your listening experiences. I genuinely forgot I was wearing Panasonic’s open earbuds, which weigh 8.79g each, during the vast majority of my testing.

I can’t think of a single occasion where the fit irritated me, be it in on a recent skin-sizzling 93F trip to Fuerteventura or enduring a mild Scottish downpour closer to home. These wrap-around buds neither slip or irritate your skin, nor do they begin to chafe after hours of prolonged use. Granted, I might be guilty of the (ahem) occasional wildly definitive-sounding declaration over the years, but I stand by the following statement: the Panasonic RB-F10s are the most comfortable earbuds of any kind I’ve ever worn. Stick that on the box, Panny.

Elsewhere, problems sadly surface that lower these otherwise supremely sturdy buds' score. With grown-up looks, a classy charging cradle, and satisfyingly loud, well-weighted audio, there’s a whole lot to like about a pair of open ears that cost comfortably less than $100.

Yet it’s hard to stuff my fingers in my ears and pretend the RB-F10s don’t have issues – chief among them are some of the fiddliest, least dependable on-ears controls I’ve encountered on a pair of buds. At best, they’re semi-reliable. At worst? The simple task of pausing or skipping a track has made me chuck Panasonic’s ear accessories onto my sofa multiple times – a feeble bout of frustration the best open ear buds wouldn’t bring out in me.

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds on a rock — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

I’ll get to the RB-F10’s fuller audio performance shortly, but if you want the abbreviated version, they’re damn good. With weighty 17mm x 12mm drivers, they bring boom in spades for such svelte buds, while also delivering acoustics you’d never describe as either tinny nor scratchy.

Feature-wise, we’re looking at somewhat of a mixed bag. That's a bag you’d drop every time you did your shopping thanks to those misfiring on-ear controls that are as dependable as a lion going for the vegan option at an all-you-eat zebra buffet. Though IPX4 waterproofing is welcome (and effective in my experience), battery life doesn’t exactly have my knees aquiver.

If you don’t have Panasonic’s nicely minimalist charging cradle to hand, you’re looking at a meagre seven hours of juice. If you’re a fiendish podcast binger like myself who often leaves home without a dock, these may not be the buds for you.

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) has also been left off the party list and software support is non-existent. Though not the most feature-rich buds, the RB-F10s do at least support convincingly solid dual mic audio calls, and the presence of reliable Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is also welcome.

If it weren’t for those overly finicky on-ear controls, I’d unquestionably be giving the Panasonic RB-10s a higher score that would have it ruffling the feathers of some of the best earbuds. Yet due to those unpredictable controls and only so-so battery life, you may be better off looking at the sublime Nothing Ear (a), or the slightly more premium Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Specifications

Drivers	17mm x 12mm
Water resistant	IPX4
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (including charged case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	8.79 per bud / charging case 36g
Active noise cancellation	No

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Price and availability

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds and charging case on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Released in June 2025
$110 / £79.99 / AU$165 (approx.)

The Panasonic RB-F10s have been out for a few months at this point, but you’d be hard pressed to tell. You’d have an easier time spotting a neon-dipped snow leopard during a blackout than finding these buds readily on sale.

Currently, the only place I’ve been able to locate these attractive, relatively affordable earbuds is the official UK Panasonic site. Available in black or a two-tone white scheme, these $110 / £79.99 / around AU$165 buds are very reasonable considering their overall build and sound quality.

Knowing Panasonic, the F10s are unlikely to become significantly easier to pick up going forward, so if you do see them in stock on the UK’s official site or somewhere like eBay (and fancy the cut of their jib), put your money where your sonic-slaying mouth is.

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Features

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds sat on a stone head — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

IPX4 waterproofing works well
Seamless Bluetooth multipoint connections
Average battery if they don’t get a full charge

If there were a Deep Impact style meteor-centric oblivion on the horizon and you were forced to draw the short straw on who gets to board the shuttle to survival…. well, suffice to say that comet is cooking F10 owners. That’s a fruity way of saying the RB-F10s aren’t exactly feature-rich.

A lack of ANC or software support is perhaps expected at such an agreeable price point, but what’s considerably harder to stomach is the F10s’ battery life. I’ve seen mayflies with heaving drinking problems boast longer lifespans.

Unless you carry the handsome dock around you like it was a court-mandated bracelet, these open earbuds will die on you a little after seven hours. If you obsessively charge the buds in their dock, and I mean every single day, you’ll get a much healthier 25 hours of juice. Nevertheless, during my seven weeks of testing, I found Panny’s buds died out of nowhere an alarming amount. If you’re a committed jogger, these probably aren’t the earbuds for you.

Don’t walk away at a brisk pace just yet, though. The RB-F10s aren’t entirely no-frills and an IPX4 waterproof rating should never be taken for granted from a native Scot like myself. If you live in an area with regular showers you’ll definitely appreciate this feature. Thanks to their open ear design that shows off a whole lotta lobe, nailing down an IPX4 waterproof rating was key.

I was once caught in a downright biblical lashing of hailstones while nipping out for a lunchtime burger during my F10s testing, and it was mercifully only my soggy quarter pounder that met a watery fate that day. On the few times I have encountered showers while out and about, I’ve yet to hear all those sky tears cause any audible distortion while listening to music on the RB-F10s.

The F10s’ Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connectivity is probably the most forward-looking feature these buds boast. Capable of pairing to a duo of iOS/Android devices at the same time, the F10s can register to 10 separate devices, though you can obviously only swap between a single pair at once.

The pairing/disconnecting process is relatively simple, involving holding the sensor button down on each bud for several seconds. Once you hone in on your two favorite devices, these buds will intuitively pick up on whatever content you were listening to on them last. It’s smart, hassle-free stuff.

Dual mic support also makes the F10s solid for voice calls. As glamorous – and depressingly unstaged – as this sounds, I had to take a relatively important fraud call from my bank while wearing Panasonic’s buds. The company’s claim that voice signals hold up to around 33ft proved largely true, and even taking an irritating security call while wandering about my Spanish friend’s (in no way death) cellar, the clarity of the audio never wavered.

So the F10s just about get a passing grade in the features department. Still, any prospective future teacher would be sticking a big, fat “could do better” before a pair of F11s rock up to school next year.

Features score: 3/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Sound quality

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds and carrying case on a rock, in front of a cactus — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Bass satisfies for such lightweight buds
Vocal clarity is usually excellent
No software but EQ tweaks seldom needed

As someone who normally wears the best over-ears headphones in everyday life I’ve been mightily impressed by the range of sounds these sleek buds pump up. Keen to hear how the buds would fare, I decided to forgo my increasingly decrepit musical tastes and listen to some fresher bangers from Glastonbury 2025. Not in a mud-caked field in Somerset, you understand. Rather from the comfort of my reclining chair with an RF-10 popped into each ear.

Now let’s jump down the YouTube rabbit hole!

The five-piece indie pop group Wet Leg slithered around Glasto’s Other Stage and immediately wormed into my brain with Catch These Fists. Sensationally steely, winkingly erotic before exploding into a scrappily raunchy crescendo, it’s a bloody fun tune, and one where the RB-F10s powerful 17mm x 12mm drivers effortlessly pick up lead singer Rhian Teasdale’s growling lower registers.

I was also taken aback that the RB-F10s made the upbeat Yougotmefeeling by Parcels come alive in a full-bodied way that briefly made me do a double take on whether I was listening to their summery banger on budget earbuds or one of the best surround sound systems. There was one moment the video cut to the super sweaty crowd, and the subsequent swirling chorals almost made me believe I was standing among the throng covered in knocked-over plastic lager glasses.

Sticking with YouTube, I was delighted to bump into an energetic performance of Don’t Back into the Sun by The Libertines. The fact Carl Barat turned up with chaotic longtime collaborator Pete Doherty, who not only looked reasonably healthy, but didn’t flub his lines, was a nice surprise. That definitely wasn’t on my Glasto bingo card. Back to the Panasonic RB-F10s, Gary Powell's pounding drumwork and John Hassall's satisfyingly punchy bass came through without overwhelming Pete and Carl’s duets.

Even though I do a lot of my headphones testing on my iPhone, I must admit to consuming a lot of content on my iPad Pro, be it the best Netflix movies or the best Amazon Prime shows. On that note, I’ve been rewatching The Boys season 3 for roughly the 43rd time. Herogasm! Anyway, there’s a song that plays during a later episode where Homelander “might” be getting his morning milk from an unconventional source. Yick.

Still, if it wasn’t for that udderly unacceptable act, I’d never have found 1968’s Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells. Talk about a psychedelic headtrip banger for the ages. This trance-like ‘60s tune is mellow yet somehow quietly sinister. For all three minutes and 25 seconds the RB-F10s deliver the big beats with aplomb while also delivering on the shakier strands that make you wonder if your entire head is about to fall into your buds.

So it shouldn’t come as a Tyler Durden-style shocker that I’m into the audio quality the Panasonic RB-F10s deliver at such a comparatively reasonable price. Bass also feels nuanced, with drivers capable of handling both big orchestral numbers without letting lyrics get lost in the shuffle. Sound-wise, these are some of the most well-rounded, best-judged buds I’ve tested.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Design

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds and carrying case on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

So light you can barely feel them
Classy little charging cradle
On-ear controls can be a nightmare

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Not enough? Alright. Zip those lips and take even more of my cents. I’m smitten with the design of the Panasonic RB-F10s, especially with the ultra alluring two-tone white shade (also available in black). Unfussy yet dignified, they have an aura of quiet confidence about them I really dig. And then there’s the comfort.

If it was legal to wed a pair of open earbuds based purely on how ludicrously comfortable they feel to wear, I’m slamming a ring on the RB-10s pronto…. before finding a cave where I can live out the rest of my days in shunned solitude. Hot dang, do these buds feel lovely.

I’ve worn some supremely comfy cans of late (like the likeable yet uneven Happy Plugs Play Pro over-ears), but Panasonic's lightweight offerings are on another level. Once you get them out of their cute charging cradle, popping them on is a breeze. With a few tweaks I found the RB-10 almost immediately adjusted to a position that wrapped around my lobes in an entirely satisfying, seamless way.

I suspect this is down to two major factors. Firstly, the flexible (but not cheap-feeling) plastics they’ve been constructed from, which lets them contort around the shape of your ears with minimal fuss. Secondly, their oh-so-lightweight footprint. At well under 9 grams per bud, and thanks to their open design that leads to what Panasonic describes as an “unintrusive fit”, it’s almost alarmingly easy to forget you’re wearing the RB-F10s.

Fun fact: I went on a four-hour round trip to see the deeply underwhelming Jurassic World Rebirth semi-recently, and not once on that lengthy inner city tour could I feel Panasonic’s open buds rub my ears up the wrong way while listening to Jurassic-themed podcasts. Hey, you gotta keep it on brand, right? Honestly, I'm wearing them while currently writing this review and I legit can’t feel them. Witchcraft!

Sadly, the on-ear touch sensors are about as reliable as a chocolate watch… and a timekeeper that’s been placed into a giant oven at that. They simply don’t function as they should often enough.

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds, with a finger in shot to provide a sense of scale, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Located on the main body of each bud, a single tap should play/pause whatever you’re listening to, and touching the left bud’s sensor rapidly three times will turn the volume up (a double tap turns it down). Meanwhile, a trio of touches on the right earbud will skip forward a track (again, a double tap to go back a song).

The trouble is, these sensors are both weirdly sensitive and not sensitive enough. During my weeks of testing I’d find they’d follow the commands I wanted maybe 40% of the time. Hardly an ideal batting average, right?

If you’re sitting at a desk judging the exact position and pressure you need to hit the RB-F10s is easier. In motion, though? That’s a far more flustering story. I lost count of the times I accidentally skipped to a new podcast episode on walks due to my right bud’s sensor having a mind of its own.

Pausing tunes via the left earbud also proved to be a teeth-gnashing chore. It’s such a pity, because if the Panasonic RB-F10s controls were more reliable, I’d be awarding these attractive buds another half star.

To round off this finger-flummoxing package on a cheerier note, I’ve got to pour some love all over the RB-F10s’ charging “cradle”. Sorry, “dock”! Not only is it incredibly easy to jam into even the tightest of pockets, but the way both buds magnetically snap into their holders – Nintendo Switch 2 style – is stupidly satisfying.

Design score: 3/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Value

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds case on some driftwood — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Build feels premium
Sound exceeds expectations for the price

The RB-F10s are a bit of a steal. Full disclosure: DO NOT STEAL. Packing that Panny quality without skimping on audio quality, they hit a lovely sweet spot between price and performance. In an age where it’s all too easy to pick up any random pair of buds for $20 at an airport, the F10s’ design and sonic quality shine through.

The very fact I’ve barely given my beloved Apple AirPods Max much of a look-in of late speaks volumes – and I’m in no way sorry about the tangential pun. Rocking premium build quality and striking sound at a rough $100 price bracket, the F10s are easy to recommend for homebody audiophiles who aren’t fussed about ANC, so are less likely to contend with noisy commutes.

Value score: 4/5

Panasonic RB-F10: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Features	Standard seven-hour battery life not suited for runners; no ANC or software.	3/5
Sound quality	Resonant bass combines with a satisfyingly wide-sounding mid-range; acoustics easy to pick out.	4.5/5
Design	Stylish, practical and supremely comfortable, but fiddly controls drag them down.	3/5
Value	Made with quality components that exude class usually reserved for pricier buds.	4/5

Panasonic RB-F10: Should I buy?

Panasonic RB-F10 open earbuds on a stone pillar — (Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Buy it if...

You crave comfort
I can’t recall ever wearing a more comfortable pair of earbuds. I forgot I was wearing the lightweight and breathable RB-F10s the vast majority of the time I was using them. You could use them for hours and not feel these tremendous buds.

Big sound at a good price
Despite lacking ANC, the RB-F10s deliver a well-balanced soundscape that tackles most music genres well thanks to reasonably deep bass levels and midranges that rarely lose vocal clarity even in busy tracks.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t want to constantly carry its charger
Seven hours of sonic juice isn’t exactly terrible compared with other buds, but it’s not that impressive either. If you find yourself on a long-haul flight, you'd better bring the RB-F10s' charger or the buds won’t make the distance.

You have big hands
I constantly struggled with the Panasonic RB-F10s’ on-ear touch sensors. Simple acts like track skipping and pausing became headaches in reality, and even after weeks of testing they never performed as reliably as I wanted them to.

Also consider

	Panasonic RB-F10	Huawei FreeAarc	Final Audio ZE3000 SV
Drivers	17mm x 12 mm	40mm dynamic	10mm F-Core SV dynamic
Active noise cancellation	No	Yes	Yes
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (charging case)	7 hours (earbuds); 23 hours (charging case)	7 hours (earbuds); 28 hours (charging case)
Weight	8.7g per bud	8.9g per bud	4g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4	IP57	IPX4

Huawei FreeArc
One of the earlier fantastic examples of a truly great set of open earbuds. Not only do the FreeArc’s little buds sound brilliant, they’re affordable, while also providing a comfortable fit. Open-ear efforts don’t get much better.

See our full Huawei FreeArc review

How I tested the Panasonic RB-F10

Tested for seven weeks
Used at home, outdoors and on flights

I tested the Panasonic RB-F10 over a seven-week period. Forgive me if that seems like an overly long testing window. I turned 40 during the review process and suffered a tiny existential breakdown. Thank heavens I had the F10s’ quality sound output to pick me up during my darker moments.

During that time I used these open earbuds to listen to my favorite tunes and podcasts across different environments, spanning my ground floor apartment, on walks through city centers and on public buses. I primarily connected the headphones to my iPhone 14 Pro – and to a lesser extent – my Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (2024).

First reviewed: September 2025

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability

$799 in US
£749 in UK
AU$1,399

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for $799 / £749 / AU$1,399. This is the same price as its predecessor in most regions, although the Ultra 3 is slightly cheaper in the UK – the Apple Watch Ultra 2 cost £799 in the UK, so the Ultra 3 is better value there.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review — (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Same 49mm case as Ultra 2
Slightly larger screen
Recycled Natural or Black Titanium finishes

In the same way that Apple is sticking with the rounded 'squircle' look of previous iterations for its Series 11 smartwatch, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is sticking with its tried-and-tested design here. It still offers a supersized 49-millimeter display in a thicker, more durable titanium body.

The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, and I’ve been testing the latter, which looks especially sleek. You can pair it with a custom-match Ultra Milanese Loop – a personal favorite band of mine – with one of the new 2025 options, like the Trail Loop, which now features reflective material on the edges, or with older bands that fit the 49mm / 46mm / 44mm sizes.

One change Apple made here is using a 3D printing process to build the case from recycled titanium, though you won’t notice any difference in appearance. The display, however, is seriously improved. Like the Series 11 – and the Series 10 before it – the Ultra 3 now boasts an always-on Retina OLED display with an LTPO3 panel, giving it finer control over the refresh rate for additional smoothness in motion. This shines with watch faces like the new Flow, Waypoint, or Exactograph.

It also enables wide-angle viewing, so even when glancing to the side you have a better chance of reading what’s on the display – I’ve found this especially helpful when checking notifications with my arm extended or in low brightness. Apple has also slimmed down the bezels by 24% all around. While noticeable when comparing the Ultra 3 to the Ultra 2 side by side, it’s most apparent when viewing maps – like hiking trails – or photos on the 49mm display.

The Ultra 3’s display can flex its brightness from as high as 3,000 nits in peak sunlight to as low as 1 nit in darkness. Much of the interface uses the Liquid Glass design language introduced in watchOS 26; and even though it looks snappy, it’s also plenty fast for handling actions thanks to the S10 chip inside.

It still charges with the same magnetic puck included in the box, but now supports faster charging.

@techradar
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Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features and performance

Emergency SOS instructions intuitive
Satellite connectivity genuinely useful
I'm loving the new Sleep Score software update

Satellite connectivity for communication makes a lot of sense on a device that you’re likely to be wearing into areas without cell service, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch to support satellite connectivity.

The headline feature Apple announced at its September launch event was Emergency SOS via Satellite, and while I hope you never need it, I did get a demo at Apple Park. Much like the iPhone’s satellite connectivity, it walks you through the process of sending an alert: identifying the issue, guiding you on how to point your wrist for a satellite connection, packaging the info, sending it into orbit, and beaming a response back down.

In the demo, we triggered SOS on the Ultra 3 by dialing 911. Once it realized there was no grid connection, it began sending an emergency text via satellite. The watch guided us through a questionnaire – we selected “lost or trapped,” confirmed it was just us, and noted no active injuries. This is especially handy if you’re lost on a trail. As a final step, you can also notify emergency contacts.

The watch then instructed us to move our wrist left until it locked onto a satellite. At that point, it packaged the watch’s location, questionnaire details, and the linked medical ID. A relay center receives this data and can send messages back down.

This was, of course, a demo, but it shows how impressively the system works. Notably, it can sometimes transmit data without you moving your wrist, which could be helpful if it’s triggered as a backup during crash or fall detection.

Emergency SOS via Satellite is available for free for two years in the United States – though Apple has a history of extending that – and in the UK and Australia, it’s also free, along with the additional Find My features, which also operate via satellite. I was able to test Find My myself, but in the US, Find My and Messages require an active cellular plan.

With Find My, you can send a basic message (with a character limit) via satellite and even update your Find My location. You’ll go through the same process of moving your Ultra 3 into the right path of a satellite as it passes overhead. With Find My, you’ll know the location was updated this way via a satellite icon on the map next to the person.

Satellite connectivity is a genuinely useful addition to the Ultra 3, and I’m keen to test the Messages and Find My functions more. Beyond this, the Ultra 3 also gets a number of new features as part of watchOS 26, including the Liquid Glass interface, new apps like Notes, and a new Wrist Flick gesture.

Just like the Series 11 and SE 3 – as well as some older models that can run watchOS 26 – the Ultra 3 also gets the new Sleep Score. This builds upon the watch’s ability to track sleep and detail time spent in each stage but now quantifies it with a score from 0 to 100. I’m really enjoying this feature so far, and it feels like it’s about time it arrived here.

The Ultra 3 also adds Hypertension Notifications, meaning that on a rolling 30-day basis, the watch can alert you to potential hypertension (high blood pressure) and recommends you see a doctor for a full diagnosis. This feature is FDA-approved for use in the US.

While the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is technically getting an upgrade to the S10 chip, it’s mostly a repackaged version of the S9 chip found in the Ultra 2. The good news is that the Ultra 3 still feels just as responsive as the other new Apple Watches and competing smartwatches on the market. I think you’d be hard-pressed to slow it down.

This is paired with a new 5G antenna and redesigned antenna band visible around the outer lip of the watch. Apple says it’s more efficient than the previous onboard antenna, and can use two bands at once when needed to improve reception.

Apple also redesigned the internals of the Ultra 3, and thanks to that, there’s a bigger battery inside. Apple rates the Ultra 3 for up to 42 hours with normal use, and I’ve easily been hitting a long day and a half with sleep tracking before noticing a meaningful drop in battery life. It’s simply a powerhouse, and I’ll be testing it more, including the Low Power Mode that can stretch runtime to a remarkable 72 hours.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: A Garmin-rivaling powerhouse for adventurers, and a lovely daily driver

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series, Garmin Fenix, UK | Comments: Off

It's been a hectic release cycle for Apple's wearables, with the heart-rate monitoring AirPods Pro 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3 all dropping at once. However, we're here to talk about Apple's flagship fitness powerhouse: the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been tested extensively, both at Apple Park and beyond the environs of the launch event. TechRadar’s Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans and US Managing Editor for News, Jacob Krol, have pulled double-duty on this review, testing it to develop a complete picture of how the Apple Watch Ultra 3 operates as a daily driver. Spoiler alert: it's great.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability

$799 in US
£749 in UK
AU$1,399

It's the most expensive Apple Watch, and 5G comes as standard, with no option to downgrade unlike other models. Whether it's good value entirely depends: if you're a casual exerciser or gym-goer looking to stretch your budget, this is more watch than you'll need and we'd advise you to get the Series 11 or SE 3.

If you're an outdoor enthusiast looking for a top-flight watch with a longer battery life, this is a terrific option.

Value score: 4/5

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design

Same 49mm case as Ultra 2
Slightly larger screen
Recycled Natural or Black Titanium finishes

In the same way that Apple is sticking with the rounded 'squircle' look of previous iterations for its Series 11 smartwatch, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 rocks its tried-and-tested design here. It still offers a supersized 49-millimeter display in a thicker, more durable titanium body.

The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, and I’ve (Jake) been testing the latter, which looks especially sleek. You can pair it with a custom-match Ultra Milanese Loop – a personal favorite band of mine – with one of the new 2025 options, like the Trail Loop, which now features reflective material on the edges, or with older bands that fit the 49mm / 46mm / 44mm sizes.

It still charges with the same magnetic puck included in the box, but now supports faster charging.

Design score: 5/5

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Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features

Emergency SOS instructions intuitive
Satellite connectivity genuinely useful
I'm loving the new Sleep Score software update

The headline feature Apple announced at its September launch event was Emergency SOS via Satellite, and while I hope you never need it, we have used the demo version available on the watch. Much like the iPhone’s satellite connectivity, it walks you through the process of sending an alert: identifying the issue, guiding you on how to point your wrist for a satellite connection, packaging the info, sending it into orbit, and beaming a response back down.

In the demo, you trigger SOS on the Ultra 3 by dialing 911, 999 or your country's emergency code. Once it realized there was no grid connection, it began sending an emergency text via satellite. The watch guided us through a questionnaire – we selected “lost or trapped,” confirmed it was just us, and noted no active injuries. This is especially handy if you’re lost on a trail. As a final step, you can also notify emergency contacts.

Apple also redesigned the internals of the Ultra 3, and thanks to that, there’s a bigger battery inside. Apple rates the Ultra 3 for up to 42 hours with normal use.

Features score: 4/5

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Performance

Heart rate graph cropped screenshot — (Image credit: Future)

Battery life better than described
Very accurate heart rate
New Sleep Score is nice to have

Matt here! The Apple Watch Ultra 3 performs as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 did during extended testing: it’s simply good to use on a day-to-day basis. The screen is easily brightened, and at max intensity it makes other watches with otherwise-bright AMOLED screens seem dull. Sorry, Garmin Venu 4, you just don’t quite cut it here.

Speaking of, now I’ve had the opportunity to test the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s fitness credentials, I’m happy to say they pass muster. I tested it against an industry-standard heart rate monitor, the Polar H10, during a 20-minute stationary cycle and a 45-minute run, also comparing the GPS readings from the latter against a Garmin watch.

The Ultra 3 is successful in all respects, especially during heart rate monitoring. During both tests, the Ultra 3’s heart rate readings cleaved very closely to the Polar H10, with only 1bpm difference in the ‘average heart rate’ metric and very similar-looking graphs. I’ve not yet tested it underwater, but given that we had a diver conduct a test with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and rated it fine for recreational dives, I’d be very surprised if anything changed here.

The Sleep Score being added to Apple Watches was long overdue, and it’s nice to see more contextual information available on the Apple Health app. The feature is really supported by the Ultra 3’s longer battery life, which during testing, allowed me to leap out of bed and into the day without needing to charge the watch at all. Apple’s battery life claims of 42 hours are accurate even with normal use, including a 45-minute run. With careful use and low-power mode, it’ll easily last several days.

I’ve not had to test the emergency satellite communication for real, but the demo features as described above work a treat. Really, it’s been a great experience, as you’d expect: I’ve loaded the watch up with my favorite third-party apps (Strava, Audible, Spotify, AllTrails, all the usual suspects) and it’s just a really solid daily driver with accurate metrics and a longer-than-ever battery life. If you’re looking to really push the watch’s capabilities, the extreme sports functionalities are there if you need them.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin Venu 4 on the same wrist outdoors — (Image credit: Future)

Performance score: 5/5

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	The most expensive Apple Watch, and more than most will need.	4/5
Design	Utilitarian and functional, with the best display in smartwatches.	5/5
Features	Great, but not a huge amount to separate it from the Ultra 2.	4/5
Performance	Taken on its own merits, outstanding in every respect.	5/5

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want the best Apple Watch

This is the top of the range, bar none, so if money is no object the Ultra 3 is the one to get.

You’re an extreme sports fan

Want satellite messaging in the wilderness, or a working dive computer without paying for a specialist device? The Ultra 3 has you covered.

You want more battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 packs almost double the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 11, and more than the Ultra 2.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a casual exerciser

For most runners, hikers or gym bunnies, this is more watch than you’ll ever need.

You’re not intending to add to a data plan

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is 5G capable by default, and you’re paying for the extra infrastructure.

You don’t use an Apple phone

It sounds obvious, but if you’re not already using or intending to switch to iPhone with this purchase, you may as well get a Garmin or Samsung Galaxy Ultra.

Also consider

Garmin Fenix 8

The best system-agnostic adventure watch you can buy.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 review

Apple Watch Series 11

A cheaper option.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 11 reviewView Deal

Apple Watch Ultra 3: How we tested

Both Jacob and Matt, who share credit on this review, tested the Apple Watch Ultra 3 during and after its launch period. We wore it constantly, draining the battery down and charging it back up, and Matt performed fitness tests against a Polar H10 heart rate monitor and other smartwatches. We loaded the watches with third-party apps, tested its demo satellite navigation feature, and wore it to bed to determine Sleep Scores.

First reviewed: September 2025

Apple Watch Series 11 review: Finally, a mainline Apple Watch that can go the distance

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series | Comments: Off

Apple Watch Series 11: One-minute review

The Apple Watch Series 11 looks a lot like the Apple Watch Series 10 – both have the same rounded-square design and come in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and both are just 9.7mm thick, making them the thinnest Apple Watches you can buy. You still get two speakers on the left, the Digital Crown and side button on the right, and ample water and sweat resistance.

The big highlight here is the display: an Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED that drops down to 1Hz, peaks at 2,000 nits for visibility in direct sunlight, and is protected by Ion-X glass that’s twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10.

On the software side, watchOS 26 refreshes the interface with Liquid Glass elements and the new Flow watch face, while an updated Photos watch face maybe steals the show. With the latest watchOS, you get Notes on your wrist, and call screening makes it easy to dodge spam. Additionally, gestures build on the familiar Double Tap with a new Wrist Flick that lets you go back a step with – you've guessed it – a flick of your wrist.

Health tracking is as comprehensive as ever, with heart-rate alerts, ECG; wrist temperature, respiratory rate and cycle tracking, and hearing health, plus two additions. Hypertension Notifications, FDA-approved in the US and rolling out to more than 150 countries, use the optical sensor and Apple’s algorithm to flag possible high blood pressure. You will, of course, want to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis if you get an alert.

Sleep Score finally turns your sleep tracking data into something easily digestible, giving you a 0–100 rating with color-coded factors, and even retroactively scoring past nights. And blood oxygen tracking is back in the US after an August 2025 update.

Performance is powered by the same chip as the Series 10. Inside the Series 11 is the S10 chip with a dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. In testing, both Apple apps and third-party ones like Flighty, Tesla, and Carrot Weather opened quickly and ran smoothly.

The bigger story is battery life: battery capacity is up 9% on the 42mm model and 11% on the 46mm. Apple rates both models for 24 hours of typical use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. In practice, I pulled my 46mm review device off the charger at 54% one night, slept with tracking enabled, and didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm the next day – so I got about 17 hours from half a charge. With light use, a full day and a half is very realistic.

A new 5G antenna for the LTE models makes using internet services faster when you're away from your iPhone. And the onboard mics continue to impress – even during a noisy, sold-out exhibition baseball game at Yankee Stadium, calls came through clearly, with the person on the other end hearing me well.

The Series 11 isn’t a radical redesign, but between the refined durability, new health features, and the much-needed battery gains, it feels like the most capable and balanced Apple Watch yet.

That said, if you’re rocking a Series 10, you likely don’t need an upgrade unless you’re eager for better battery life. Those coming from an older Apple Watch, like an SE or a Series 8 or earlier, will see a bigger difference in performance – although the new Apple Watch SE 3 is equally compelling in this respect.

Apple Watch Series 11: Specs

Apple Watch Series 11: Specifications

Component	Apple Watch Series 11
Price	From $399 / £369 / AU$679
Dimensions	42mm x 36mm x 9.7mm (42mm), 46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm (46mm)
Weight	30.3g (42mm); 37.8g (46mm)
Case/Bezel	Aluminum with a metal back or Titanium (100% recycled)
Display	Always-on Retina LTPO3 display Wide-angle OLED at 374 by 446 (42mm) 416 by 496 (46mm). Ion-X scratch-resistant
GPS	L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life	24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, second-generation ultra-wideband chip, and 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance	WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch Series 11: Price and availability

$399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 40mm
$429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 44mm
Cellular costs extra

The Apple Watch Series 11 42mm with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity starts at $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the entry-level aluminum finish. That's the same price as the Series 10 in the US, and a price cut if you're in the UK; however, there's a slight increase for Australia. The larger 46mm model with the same connectivity, also in aluminum, starts at $429 / £399 / AU$699 – that's the same price as last year in the US and Australia, while again UK gets a price cut.

Cellular connectivity, which now includes 5G access, will cost you a bit more. For instance, in the United States, the Series 11 is $100 more in either size, plus the cost of a monthly plan. The Apple Watch Series 11 in aluminum comes in a new Space Gray finish as well as Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, and in Slate, Gold, or Natural Polished Titanium finishes.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is up for order now in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond, with an official launch date of September 19, 2025.

Value score: 4/5

Apple Watch Series 11: Design

Apple Watch Series 11 REVIEW — (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Ultra-thin build with improved durability
All your existing bands and chargers will work here
watchOS 26 refreshes the design

Other than the new colors for the aluminum and titanium finishes, the Apple Watch Series 11 is pretty much indistinguishable from the Apple Watch Series 10. Placing my 46mm Series 11 review device next to a Series 10 I see an identical rounded-square Apple Watch, aside from the updated paint job; this year, my testing unit is in Space Gray, whereas last year’s was in Jet Black.

The overall similarities here aren’t necessarily a negative. Apple, now 11 years into the Apple Watch, seems set on this look for the core of its smartwatch lineup, and it’s refining the formula rather than reinventing it. I also really liked the changes the Series 10 ushered in over the Series 9 last year – mainly thinning out the overall build and sloping the screen down the edges – so I'm very happy that Series 11 retains those.

Both the 46mm and 42mm models are just 9.7mm thick, meaning they barely protrude from your wrist and remain the thinnest Apple Watches yet; there were times when I forgot it was even there during my seven days of testing.

Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 measures 42 x 36 x 9.7mm for the smaller 42mm size, and 46 x 39 x 9.7mm for the 46mm size. Both models weigh ever so slightly more than the previous generation, but you’d be hard pressed to feel it on your wrist in daily use.

You still have two speakers on the left-hand side, with the Digital Crown and main button on the right. It’s all very familiar to anyone who’s used an Apple Watch before, and easy enough to get the hang of if you haven't.

Furthermore, while other smartwatch makers have experimented with different types of band attachments, Apple is sticking with what it's used since the original Apple Watch. That’s great news if you already have a collection of bands, or if you’re adding new ones. I’m especially fond of the new Nike Run Sport Loops; they’re comfy and fit well.

As well as sticking with the ultra-low profile, this year’s Apple Watch also keeps the excellent display that its predecessor introduced. It's an always-on Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display – that’s a lot of tech jargon, but the gist is vibrant colors, deep contrast, and the ability for the refresh rate to drop to as low as a 1Hz. This means that watch faces like Flux and Reflections still update subtly in always-on mode.

The screen also gets plenty bright – up to 2,000 nits – for use in direct sunlight or under harsh artificial lighting, and the Ion-X glass layer is now twice as scratch-resistant as before. Considering the entire front of the watch is all screen, it’s a welcome improvement in durability, and it complements the WR50 and IP7X sweat and water resistance ratings, unchanged from the Series 10.

While the internals have been re-engineered, the outer build is mostly the same, extending to the rear. Here, you’ll find the main sensor stack, which protrudes slightly. A slightly different colored line around the rim denotes the antenna stack if you opt for a cellular Apple Watch Series 11.

As a whole, the Apple Watch Series 11 design is familiar, but still feels modern alongside other flagship smartwatches. It complements a variety of styles while still offering the smooth, fluid response you’d expect, and a large enough touchscreen to make watchOS 26 easy to navigate. Those wanting something entirely different may want to look to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, or wait for a future redesign.

Design score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Features

The new Glow watch face is engaging and shows off Liquid Glass well
watchOS 26 is filled with new features, including an useful new gesture
Sleep Score is a long-awaited arrival that's executed perfectly

Out of the box, the Apple Watch Series 11 runs watchOS 26 – a packed update that brings a fresh look to the core interface. And yes, Liquid Glass is finally on your wrist. You’ll see this in subtle navigation elements that are now translucent, as well as in watch faces.

The Photos face now lets you place numerals for time or complications above the image, giving a better sense of depth. However, the new Flow watch face might be the purest form of Liquid Glass on the Series 11 – or any Apple Watch. Think bubble-glass numerals with a lava-lamp-like liquid flowing behind them. True to Apple Watch form, you can customize these by color and typeface.

It’s a really fun addition, and joins more than a dozen built-in faces. watchOS 26 also brings the Notes app to your wrist, which I’ve found handy for jotting down quick thoughts or referencing notes created on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Call screening also comes to your wrist, especially helpful with a cellular plan, letting you see if it’s spam before answering.

The Series 11 also supports gestures like Double Tap, which lets you control navigation with a pinch between your forefinger and thumb – invaluable, in my opinion. The new Wrist Flick gesture, which lets you flick the watch backward to go back a step, is even handier for one-handed use.

Thanks to the sensor array and new software, the Series 11 covers all the expected health features: heart-rate tracking and alerts, ECG, wrist temperature, respiratory rate, cycle tracking, and hearing health.

A major new addition this year is Hypertension Notifications. Also available on the Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3), this feature can alert you to possible hypertension – high blood pressure – over a rolling day. In the US, it’s FDA-approved as of September 15, 2025, and will be available in over 150 countries.

Hypertension Notifications use the optical heart-rate sensor to analyze pulse signals and morphology through Apple’s algorithm, validated by internal and external studies. If it detects signs of possible hypertension, you’ll get a notification – but of course you should still see a doctor to get checked out.

Sleep Score is another welcome new feature. The Apple Watch has long tracked sleep, but has never presented the data in a digestible way. Now, you’ll wake to a score from 0 to 100, rated from Very Low to Excellent. A color-coded ring breaks down bedtime, duration, and interruptions. It’s much more actionable, in line with devices like the Galaxy Watch, Whoop, and Oura Ring.

Best of all, Apple retroactively assigns a Sleep Score to your past tracked nights, making it easier to spot trends. Like Hypertension Notifications, it’s also available on other models that support watchOS 26.

Blood oxygen tracking also returns in the US, after its August 2025 reinstatement. The Series 11 (and other supported models) can once again take blood oxygen readings, with results viewable in the Health app.

Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 features redesigned speakers, with dozens of precision holes forming two grilles on the left side. They sound similar to the Series 10 – passable for a song or voice memo.

The real standout is the onboard microphones, which still pick up your voice clearly even in noisy environments – at a noisy Yankee Stadium, my brother on the other end of a call could hear me without issue.

Features score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Performance

Finally, a larger battery inside an Apple Watch
The Series 11 can last for up to 24 hours and supports fast-charging
It's the same S10 chip as the previous generation, but feels responsive

No, the processor here isn’t new, but the bigger battery is. Both the 42mm and 46mm models now pack larger batteries – about 9% bigger on the 42mm, 11% on the 46mm. Apple claims this extends the runtime from 18 hours to 24 hours with regular use, and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.

So how does it perform? On Sunday night, I picked it up from the charger at 54%, wore it through sleep tracking, woke up with 42% left, and it didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm following a full day of use. That’s about 17 hours from half a charge.

It’s much closer to 24 hours overall, depending on usage, and stretches further than any previous Apple Watch Series (or SE). With the Series 11, I can often push to a day and a half, or use fast charging to top up quickly.

Beyond the bigger battery, the LTPO display helps conserve energy by dynamically adjusting brightness and refresh rate. During workouts, metrics update quickly, while in always-on mode, updates slow down to save power.

The S10 chip is still plenty powerful, with its dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. Apps – both first-party (Notes, Photos, Maps, Mail) and third-party (Flighty, Tesla, Parcel, Carrot Weather) – all opened quickly and ran smoothly.

Battery efficiency on the LTE model also benefits from the new 5G antenna, which ensures fast performance as carriers phase out 4G. Messaging, app data, and calls all felt as quick as when paired to an iPhone. You can spot the antenna band on the underside.

The biggest difference generation over generation is endurance. With the Series 10, you needed to recharge before bed or in the morning if using sleep tracking. The Series 11 stretches that to a day and a half, which makes a real difference in daily use.

It still runs watchOS 26 swiftly and keeps up with competitors, while continuing to expand health and activity tracking. And with the return of blood oxygen monitoring in the US, it feels even more complete.

Performance is excellent – not night and day better than the Series 10, but the addition of a larger battery is a game changer.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Should I Buy?

Value	Comparable to previous models.	4/5
Design	A sumptuous new screen and a new 5G antenna.	4/5
Features	watchOS 26 is stuffed with goodies.	4/5
Performance	Very good, with a battery that lasts longer than ever.	4.5/5

Buy it if…

You have an older Apple Watch

If you've been waiting to upgrade until Apple rolled out longer battery life, for blood oxygen tracking to return in the US, or until your watch slowed down, now's a great time get a new oneView Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You have an Apple Watch Series 10

Considering most of the new features are also coming to the Series 10 – Sleep Score, watchOS 26, and Hypertension Notifications – you're likely good to skip this yearView Deal

You don't need all the health features

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a lot cheaper and offers almost all of the same features aside from ECG, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea, in a slightly bulkier build with an always-on display.View Deal

Apple Watch Series 11: How I Tested

I've been reviewing Apple Watches, as well as smartwatches and fitness trackers as a whole, for many years, and I bought the very first Apple Watch back in 2014. Eleven years down the road, after unboxing the Apple Watch Series 11, I began setting it up and then wore it for a week to test it, and put it through its paces for this review.

I aimed to test every facet of the Series 11, including the new features such as the promised up to 24 hours of battery life, new functionality as part of watchOS 26, and the new Sleep Score feature. I also compared it against the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

To test workouts, I completed several outdoor walks and runs as well as yoga and stretching, comparing metrics against those from other Apple Watches and the Oura Ring. Considering the wide-angle virtues of the display, I also tested the Series 11 in various viewing conditions.

Through my review period I aimed to use the Apple Watch Series 11 in the same way an average user would.

First reviewed September 2025.

Apple Watch Series 11 review: Finally, a mainline Apple Watch that can go the distance

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series | Comments: Off

Apple Watch Series 11: One-minute review

The Series 11 isn’t a radical redesign, but between the refined durability, new health features, and the much-needed battery gains, it feels like the most capable and balanced Apple Watch yet.

Apple Watch Series 11: Specs

Apple Watch Series 11: Specifications

Component	Apple Watch Series 11
Price	From $399 / £369 / AU$679
Dimensions	42mm x 36mm x 9.7mm (42mm), 46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm (46mm)
Weight	30.3g (42mm); 37.8g (46mm)
Case/Bezel	Aluminum with a metal back or Titanium (100% recycled)
Display	Always-on Retina LTPO3 display Wide-angle OLED at 374 by 446 (42mm) 416 by 496 (46mm). Ion-X scratch-resistant
GPS	L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life	24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, second-generation ultra-wideband chip, and 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance	WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch Series 11: Price and availability

$399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 40mm
$429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 44mm
Cellular costs extra

The Apple Watch Series 11 is up for order now in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond, with an official launch date of September 19, 2025.

Value score: 4/5

Apple Watch Series 11: Design

Ultra-thin build with improved durability
All your existing bands and chargers will work here
watchOS 26 refreshes the design

Design score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Features

The new Glow watch face is engaging and shows off Liquid Glass well
watchOS 26 is filled with new features, including an useful new gesture
Sleep Score is a long-awaited arrival that's executed perfectly

Features score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Performance

Finally, a larger battery inside an Apple Watch
The Series 11 can last for up to 24 hours and supports fast-charging
It's the same S10 chip as the previous generation, but feels responsive

Performance is excellent – not night and day better than the Series 10, but the addition of a larger battery is a game changer.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Should I Buy?

Value	Comparable to previous models.	4/5
Design	A sumptuous new screen and a new 5G antenna.	4/5
Features	watchOS 26 is stuffed with goodies.	4/5
Performance	Very good, with a battery that lasts longer than ever.	4.5/5

Buy it if…

You have an older Apple Watch

If you've been waiting to upgrade until Apple rolled out longer battery life, for blood oxygen tracking to return in the US, or until your watch slowed down, now's a great time get a new oneView Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You have an Apple Watch Series 10

Considering most of the new features are also coming to the Series 10 – Sleep Score, watchOS 26, and Hypertension Notifications – you're likely good to skip this yearView Deal

You don't need all the health features

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a lot cheaper and offers almost all of the same features aside from ECG, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea, in a slightly bulkier build with an always-on display.View Deal

Apple Watch Series 11: How I Tested

Through my review period I aimed to use the Apple Watch Series 11 in the same way an average user would.

First reviewed September 2025.

I wore the Apple Watch SE 3 for a week and it’s the best Apple Watch for most people

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, SE | Comments: Off

Apple Watch SE 3: One-Minute Review

What if I told you Apple has managed to trickle down nearly all the major features you’d expect from an Apple Watch into an entry-level model that doesn’t break the bank and still feels right at home in the lineup?

That’s exactly what I found after testing the brand-new Apple Watch SE 3 for nearly a week.

The SE 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel – it’s very much a classic Apple Watch. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and two colors. It still has the Digital Crown, uses the same charger, and sits on the wrist just like before. But it finally fixes one of the biggest complaints with the SE line by adding an Always-On display.

No, the display doesn’t slope at the edges like the newer Series models, but that’s not really a drawback here. The SE 3 still looks and feels like a classic Apple Watch, with an aluminum build, tougher Ion-X glass, and solid sizing that make it both durable and practical – especially for parents buying one for kids. The bezels are a bit thicker, and brightness tops out at 1,000 nits, which can make it harder to see in direct sunlight, but for everyday use, the screen gets the job done.

Performance is where the SE 3 really shines. With the same S10 chip that powers the Series 11 and Ultra 3, watchOS 26 feels just as smooth here as it does on those higher-end models. Apps open instantly, navigation is quick, and gestures like Double Tap and the new Wrist Flick add a nice layer of convenience. Sure, you don’t get every health feature – there’s no ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking – but the essentials are here: heart rate tracking with alerts, the new Sleep Score with retroactive trends, activity tracking, and temperature sensing for cycle tracking.

Compared to the SE 2, this is a big step forward. It’s faster across the board, handles daily tasks with ease, and finally supports fast charging. Battery life is still rated at 18 hours, but with Low Power Mode you can stretch it closer to 32 if needed. In my testing, it comfortably lasted a full day, even with sleep tracking. The new 5G antenna adds efficiency if you opt for the LTE model, though speeds feel about the same as before.

At $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version, there’s never been a better Apple Watch from a pure value perspective. And if you don’t need the ultra-modern slimmed-down looks of the Series 11, the rugged features of the Ultra 3, and can live without ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking, then the Apple Watch SE 3 is likely the model for you.

Apple Watch SE 3: Specs

Apple Watch SE 3: Specifications
Component	Apple Watch SE 3
Price	From $249 / £219 / AU$399
Dimensions	40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm)
Weight	26g (40mm) or 32.9g (44mm)
Case/Bezel	Aluminum
Display	Always-On Retina LTPO display with OLED, Ion-X scratch-resistant.
GPS	L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life	18 hours of battery life or 36 hours in Low Power mode
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance	WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch SE 3: Price and Availability

$249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm
$279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm
Cellular 5G connectivity costs extra

As the entry-level model, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable Apple Watch in the lineup. It starts at $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but jumps to $279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm.

If you want cellular connectivity, the 40mm Apple Watch SE costs $299 / £289 / AU$489, or $329 / £319 / AU$539 for the 44mm. Note that activating service will be an additional monthly cost with your carrier.

Regardless of size or connectivity, you’ll be able to pick between Starlight or Midnight. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available for pre-order now and launches on September 19, 2025.

Value score: 5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Design

Apple Watch SE 3 Review — (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

The Apple Watch SE now has an always-on display
It can run more complex watch faces
It doesn't use the Series 10 / 11 body, but an older model

The Apple Watch SE 3 doesn’t stray from Apple’s proven formula and looks much like an Apple Watch Series 9 or older. It features an aluminum shell with a nylon composite back – so yes, you can put the rumor of an all-plastic build to rest once again – and comes in two sizes: 40mm or 44mm.

The bezels around the LTPO OLED display are thicker than those on the Series 10 or 11, which curve down at the edges. But considering the price, that feels like a fair compromise – especially since it’s an Always-On display. Even when it’s not in use, it dims the brightness and slows the refresh rate so you can still see the time and any complications you’ve set.

The display also protected with the latest Ion-X glass, bringing the screen's durability on par with the Series 11 and making it four times more durable than the SE 2. Considering many parents choose the SE for kids, that extra toughness is a major win.

This removes one of the biggest reasons for skipping the SE in favor of a pricier model: you no longer have to give up the Always-On display. Once you’ve used it, you really can’t go back. In a meeting or a class, you can simply glance down – or check a notification – without raising your wrist.

While it feels smaller compared to the 46mm Series 10 or 49mm Ultra 3, it still provides plenty of room for navigation. You can scroll through Photos, swipe through Maps, check an extended forecast, and even view Notes (a new perk of watchOS 26). The Flow watch face, with its bubble Liquid Glass typeface set against a lava lamp-like background, runs smoothly. The display is harder to view in direct sunlight and fairly reflective, and it tops out at 1,000 nits of brightness.

Like any other Apple Watch, the SE 3 has the Digital Crown – a key interface control – and the main button on the right-hand side. It also features a two-speaker grille, like the Series 11, and you can play music, listen to podcasts, or take calls on speakerphone. It’s not on par with AirPods Pro 3, but it’s surprisingly loud.

The band system hasn’t changed, but is a little complex. The SE 3 40mm will work with bands designed for older Apple Watches up to 41mm in size. The 44mm SE 3 will work with bands for itself, older 45mm Apple Watches, and any Apple Watch Series 10 or 11.

Those larger bands can also be used with other large watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 – but it doesn't work the other way around, as Ultra 3 bands can't be used for the SE 3. Phew!

Charging is unchanged, too: the SE 3 uses the rear sensor stack with the included USB-C magnetic disc charger.

If you’re upgrading from the SE 2, the case sizes are identical: 44mm by 38mm by 10.7mm, or 40mm by 34mm by 10.7mm. Color options are now just two – Starlight or Midnight – and I do wish Apple offered more variety. Of course, you can add personality through first- or third-party bands.

It might not be the most modern-looking Apple Watch, but the SE 3 still holds its own against other smartwatches. And at the same MSRP as the previous generation, with more features included, it’s likely the best value in the entire lineup.

Design score: 4 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Features

Gestures come in really handy on the SE 3
It offers most, but not all, of the health features that the Apple Watch is known for
The new Sleep Score is a major standout

I’ve been testing the Apple Watch SE 3 alongside the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, and while that might seem like an easy way to spot differences, all three are powered by the same Apple-made S10 chip. Specifically, it’s a 64-bit dual-core processor with a GPU and a 4-core Neural Engine, and it ensures watchOS 26 runs smoothly.

This means the most affordable SE 3 is nearly as capable as the most expensive Ultra 3 or the mid-range Series 11. After a quick setup, I was greeted with Apple’s iconic “hello” in Liquid Glass and could take a tour of watchOS 26. That’s especially helpful since the SE 3 may be someone’s first Apple Watch.

Navigation is simple: your home screen is your chosen watch face, which you can long-press to edit or swap. Click the main button on the right to pull up Control Center for quick settings, or press the Digital Crown to view all your apps. Everything runs quickly here.

Two gesture controls stand out. Double Tap lets you pinch your forefinger and thumb to perform actions like answering a call, opening an app, or controlling music. Wrist Flick, new with watchOS 26, lets you flick your wrist back to return to the interface. After using it daily, I’ve wondered why it wasn’t available before.

The S10 chip also enables several health features, although compared to the Series 11 or Ultra 3, you’re missing Hypertension Notifications, Blood Oxygen tracking, ECG, and Sleep Apnea Notifications on the SE 3.

The SE 3 does offer Sleep Tracking with the new Sleep Score, which gives you a rating – Very Low, Low, OK, High, or Excellent – and a score from 0 to 100. If you’ve tracked sleep before, it retroactively assigns scores to show trends. It uses the same second-generation heart rate sensor stack as the SE 2, providing monitoring with alerts for low, high, and irregular rhythms. You also get full activity tracking and temperature sensing from a wrist sensor, which upgrades cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates.

Overall, the SE 3 delivers the core health and activity tracking you’d expect from a smartwatch. In side-by-side use with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it produced similar results for workouts, sleep, and heart rate.

Beyond the new media playback function, it also gets the voice isolation feature for calls that debuted with the Series 10. This means you can comfortably take calls in noisy environments, like at a ballpark or a botanical garden, without worrying the person on the other end won’t hear you. It does an excellent job of focusing on your voice and blocking background noise.

Features score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Performance

It offers the same performance as the Series 11 or Ultra 3
watchOS 26 runs very well here with fluid and responsive interactions
You get basic fast charging

The Apple Watch SE 3 performs in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3. Swapping and customizing watch faces happens smoothly, applications open quickly, and navigation around watchOS 26 feels fluid with the Liquid Glass updates.

It’s also noticeably faster than the SE 2. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster with the GPU and has 60% more transistors in the CPU. It’s a lot of jargon, but in practice, it runs laps around the SE 2 in day-to-day use—opening apps, scrolling through photos, starting workouts, and running third-party apps.

This responsiveness makes sense considering the SE 2 was released three years ago and powered by the S8 chip. The S10 ensures watchOS 26 runs well across the board, from activity and workout tracking to health monitoring.

It also helps extend battery life, which on my SE 2 has been showing its age. Apple rates the SE 3 for up to 18 hours, the same as the SE 2, but with a newer lithium-ion battery and Low Power Mode support. If enabled, you’ll lose some functionality, including the Always-On display, but it can stretch runtime to 32 hours.

In TechRadar’s testing with the SE 2, it often exceeded the 18-hour window. With the SE 3, depending on use, it can similarly last a full day with moderate use, including sleep tracking. As with the Series 10, you’ll likely need to recharge once in the morning or evening.

The new 5G antenna on the LTE-enabled model may improve efficiency. It adds 5G alongside 4G LTE, and in my tests, it performed well for messages, calls, and emails when not connected to my iPhone, though speeds were about the same as previous Apple Watches.

Finally, fast charging has arrived on the Apple Watch SE, and it’s a welcome addition. According to Apple, with the included charger and a 20-watt power brick, you can go from 0% to 80% in about 45 minutes. In practice, it was closer to an hour when charging from completely dead, but it hit 30% in about 15 minutes, which is enough for a quick top-up before bed or in the morning.

All in all, the Apple Watch SE 3’s performance doesn’t leave you wanting more. Its speed and responsiveness are in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, just in a smaller build with thicker bezels.

Performance score: 5 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Should I Buy?

Value	Simply outstanding.	5 / 5
Design	An older model Apple Watch with a screen durability upgrade.	4 / 5
Features	watchOS 26 shines here.	4.5 / 5
Performance	On par with a more expensive watch.	5 / 5

Buy it if…

You're getting your first Apple Watch

There's never been a better entry point into Apple's wearable ecosystem, as you'll get everything you expect and then some more here.View Deal

You don't need every possible feature

The Apple Watch SE 3 effectively trickles down all the major features you'd expect from an Apple Watch, but does miss a few of the more advanced ones. As long as you're cool with missing those, this is the Apple Watch for you.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You need advanced health features

The Series 11 or Ultra 3 offer more robust features, including Hypertension Notifications, ECG, and Sleep Apnea DetectionView Deal

You want a more impressive screen

The Series 11 screen not only gets brighter, but it slopes down the edges for better off-axis viewingView Deal

Apple Watch SE 3: How I Tested

I've been testing and reviewing smartwatches for many years and was an early adopter of the original Apple Watch, buying one on launch day in 2015. Since then, I've reviewed many smartwatches, including multiple Apple Watches and the previous SE models. My testing of the Apple Watch SE 3 began after unboxing it and setting it up with my iPhone.

I used it for nearly a week, testing all aspects of the device, including the new software features introduced in the watchOS 26 update and the upgraded hardware—most notably the S10 chip. I aimed to run down the battery under both moderate and heavy usage.

I compared it against the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. For workout and activity tracking, I tested it not only against other Apple Watches but also against an Oura Ring, a Galaxy Watch 7, and a Pixel Watch 3.

First reviewed September 2025.

I wore the Apple Watch SE 3 for a week and it’s the best Apple Watch for most people

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, SE | Comments: Off

Apple Watch SE 3: One-Minute Review

That’s exactly what I found after testing the brand-new Apple Watch SE 3 for nearly a week.

Apple Watch SE 3: Specs

Apple Watch SE 3: Specifications
Component	Apple Watch SE 3
Price	From $249 / £219 / AU$399
Dimensions	40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm)
Weight	26g (40mm) or 32.9g (44mm)
Case/Bezel	Aluminum
Display	Always-On Retina LTPO display with OLED, Ion-X scratch-resistant.
GPS	L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life	18 hours of battery life or 36 hours in Low Power mode
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance	WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch SE 3: Price and Availability

$249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm
$279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm
Cellular 5G connectivity costs extra

Regardless of size or connectivity, you’ll be able to pick between Starlight or Midnight. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available for pre-order now and launches on September 19, 2025.

Value score: 5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Design

The Apple Watch SE now has an always-on display
It can run more complex watch faces
It doesn't use the Series 10 / 11 body, but an older model

Those larger bands can also be used with other large watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 – but it doesn't work the other way around, as Ultra 3 bands can't be used for the SE 3. Phew!

Charging is unchanged, too: the SE 3 uses the rear sensor stack with the included USB-C magnetic disc charger.

Design score: 4 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Features

Gestures come in really handy on the SE 3
It offers most, but not all, of the health features that the Apple Watch is known for
The new Sleep Score is a major standout

Features score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Performance

It offers the same performance as the Series 11 or Ultra 3
watchOS 26 runs very well here with fluid and responsive interactions
You get basic fast charging

Performance score: 5 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Should I Buy?

Value	Simply outstanding.	5 / 5
Design	An older model Apple Watch with a screen durability upgrade.	4 / 5
Features	watchOS 26 shines here.	4.5 / 5
Performance	On par with a more expensive watch.	5 / 5

Buy it if…

You're getting your first Apple Watch

There's never been a better entry point into Apple's wearable ecosystem, as you'll get everything you expect and then some more here.View Deal

You don't need every possible feature

Don’t buy it if…

You need advanced health features

The Series 11 or Ultra 3 offer more robust features, including Hypertension Notifications, ECG, and Sleep Apnea DetectionView Deal

You want a more impressive screen

The Series 11 screen not only gets brighter, but it slopes down the edges for better off-axis viewingView Deal

Apple Watch SE 3: How I Tested

First reviewed September 2025.

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