The Best Apple Watches to Buy for Christmas 2024
The best Apple Watch for kids in 2024
Apple Watch SE
With the launch of Apple Watch For Your Kids (formerly known as Family Setup) in 2018, Apple directly addressed one of the fastest-growing demographics of smartwatch wearers: children and teens. The SE is a stripped-back version of the Apple Watch Series 9, offering nearly all the functionality in a slightly smaller package. A cellular SE can use an eSIM plan and get online just like a regular Apple Watch, for $100 less. Refurbished and second-hand SE models can be found online for even less on platforms like Backmarket and eBay.
We've previously explored every Apple Watch model in detail in the Best Apple Watch for Your Kids article. The verdict? Due to its reasonable price point, range of customisable options and suite of safety features, the cellular Apple Watch SE is the best Apple Watch model for kids this Christmas.
Price: $399 for a new cellular model
Where to Buy: Apple (new), Back Market (second-hand)
What is Apple Watch For Your Kids?
Many children receive their first mobile phone during the holiday season. While this is usually a thrilling moment for kids, parents and guardians can be understandably dubious about handing a child a smartphone, with well-founded concerns around screentime, finances and online safety.
Apple Watch For Your Kids is an attempt by Apple to bridge this gap: this software (formerly known as Family Setup) allows Apple Watches to download an eSIM and function as independent mobile devices with the ability to call, send messages and even use apps, all without the need for a nearby iPhone. A parent or guardian can set up multiple Apple Watches in this mode, and keep tabs through their phone.
The best Apple Watch for fitness fans
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 9 was targeted squarely at the sports and outdoor market. Adverts centred on the Watch’s health-monitoring capabilities, exercise-friendly straps and increased water resistance. The Apple Watch Series 10 continues where its predecessor left off with a faster processor, larger screen and the thinnest-ever casing on an Apple Watch.
These small but significant tweaks maintain the Apple Watch's status as one of the best fitness watches on the market. A cellular Apple Watch Series 10, coupled with a smartwatch plan, allows runners, swimmers, hikers and more the freedom to leave their phones at home and head outdoors while staying in touch.
Price: Cellular models start at $499
Where to Buy: Apple
The best Apple Watch for the person who has it all
Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 2
With a beefed-up titanium shell, built-in siren and longer battery life, the Ultra 2 is Apple’s highest-spec smartwatch yet. The Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 2 no longer requires potential buyers to choose between durability and elegance, combining the outdoor-ready functionality of the Ultra line with a choice of watch bands and faces from the Parisian fashion house Hermès. As the highest-performing and best-looking model in the Apple Watch lineup, the Hermès Ultra 2 is the current diamond standard of smartwatch technology and design - at least until Apple releases its replacement in a couple of years. The price naturally reflects this, with models starting at $1499.
Price: Starts at $1499
Where to Buy: Apple
Tech Gift Guide 2024: The Best Apple Watch Accessories of 2024
Much of the appeal of Apple Watches lies in their modular customisation options: the casing, the strap and the watch face itself can be endlessly replaced and personalised. The wide range of supported devices and accessories means that an Apple Watch accessory is a bankable gift idea in 2024. Here are just a few of the best Apple Watch accessories on the market today:
The best Apple Watch accessory for the absent-minded
Belkin Boostcharge Pro Powerbank
Apple Watch For Your Kids has boosted the popularity of smartwatches among children and teens, helping families stay in touch without the need for multiple mobile phones. Nevertheless, kids are kids, and sometimes they may forget to charge their Apple Watch (adults are guilty of this too). The Belkin Boostcharge Pro Powerbank is an unobtrusive, fast and durable portable charger that can be tucked into a rucksack or jacket pocket and relied on to save the day when needed.
Price: $59.99
Where to Buy: Apple
The best Apple Watch accessory for fashionistas
von Holzhausen Watch Strap portfolio
Nearly ten years after its debut, the Apple Watch remains a bold fashion statement. The fact that Apple have changed so little of the Watch’s outward appearance in the last decade is a testament to its timeless design. Kids and adults alike can add a touch of personal expression to their Apple Watch by choosing from an array of interchangeable Watch bands. The Series 9 and Series 10 models have the widest range of available bands, though SE and Ultra owners also have plenty to choose from.
Keep any watch band collection in one place with a von Holzhausen Watch Strap portfolio. The vegan leather case holds up to six straps and makes it easy to switch them out on the go – changing from a sweat-wicking Sport Loop in the gym to a steel bracelet in the evening, for example.
Price: $99.95
Where to Buy: von Holzhausen
The best Apple Watch accessory for cyclists
Garmin Cadence Sensor 2
With the release of the Watch OS10 in 2023, Apple further positioned their Watch as a major player in the fitness market. The new software expanded the Watch's sports functions, including a new and improved Cycling mode in the Apple Fitness app. Any Apple Watch running WatchOS 10 or later can connect to bicycle-mounted Bluetooth devices bikes to display in-depth analysis during a ride.
The Garmin Cadence Sensor 2 is a minimalist gadget that sits inside the bike's crank arm and instantly relays pedal stroke data to a connected Apple Watch or cycling computer. The Sensor 2 attaches to virtually any crankset, and is easy to install, remove and transfer between bikes or indoor trainers. The reasonable price point, Apple Watch compatibility and mounting versatility make it our pick of the bunch of Apple cycling accessories.
Price: $39.99
Where to Buy: Garmin
The best Apple Watch accessory for bargain hunters
Apple AirPods 3
It’s no secret that Apple-made accessories aren’t the cheapest. The Californians' reputation for build quality and clean aesthetics is reflected in their pricing.
Christmas 2024 however, is perfectly timed for shoppers looking to pick up genuine Apple products at a discount – In September, Apple announced the launch of their next-gen earbuds, the AirPods 4, and discontinued sales of the still-excellent AirPods 3. While the AirPods 3 are no longer available to buy directly from Apple, third-party retailers are looking to shift their stock. When timed right, a pair of 3rd-gen AirPods can be bought at a significant discount during Black Friday or Cyber Monday 2024.
And if only the latest model will do, the AirPods 4 can be bought directly from the Apple website, including a free personalised engraving on the case.
Price: $169.99, though expected to drop during the November sales period
Where to Buy: Online at Best Buy or in person at your local electronics shop
Tech Gift Guide 2024: The Best Apple Watch Services and Apps of 2024
Some of the most exciting additions to the Apple Watch are under the glass: a cellular Apple Watch is compatible with a range of innovative apps, services and subscriptions that explore the full potential of the Watch.
The Best Apple Watch Gift for Athletes
An Apple Fitness+ subscription
The pre-installed free Apple Fitness app is already one of the best fitness services available. The paid premium version Apple Fitness+ offers a new level of training and analysis for everyone from fair-weather joggers to professional athletes, including structured coaching plans for twelve different sports.
Price: $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year
The Best Apple Watch gift for hikers and campers
Komoot Premium
‘Strava for Hikers’, Komoot is a crowd-sourced outdoor app that provides interactive maps to thousands of trails, hikes and gravel cycle paths across the world. The Apple Watch version offers step-by-step navigation, providing reliable, easy-to-follow directions without the need to keep checking a phone or GPS device.
Price: $4.99 per month
Tech Gift Guide 2024: Apple Watch Gifts Under $50
OtterBox watch case
An Apple Watch is an investment – add some peace of mind with a tough but unobtrusive silicone Watch cases from OtterBox. Especially for kids, hikers or anyone prone to bumping their Watch, a case is a small investment that could potentially save a lot of money down the road.
Price: Starting at $24.95
Nike Sport Loop
If a new Apple Watch is too much, a new strap is a great way to breathe new life into an old one. Most Apple Watch models from Series 3 onwards can accept interchangeable watch bands (see the Apple website for exact specs). The Nike Sport Loop is a standout, marrying Nike’s high-tech aesthetic with mostly recycled materials to create a watch band that’s good for the wallet, the planet and the wardrobe.
Price: $49.99
BetterRoaming Watch Plan
Whether it's using Apple Watch For Your Kids mode to setup a watch for a family member, or simply to enjoy the freedom leaving your phone at home and using a data-enabled Apple Watch instead, BetterRoaming Apple Watch plans are a simple and cost-effective way to enjoy the Apple Watch’s cellular capabilities. As one of a handful of trusted Apple Watch partners, the prepaid plans are easy to use, secure and available in seven different countries including the US, UK and Australia.
Price: Dependent on region - browse all Apple Watch eSIM plans here
JBL GO 3 ECO Bluetooth Speaker
The Apple Watch Series 10 features a built-in music speaker for the first time in the product’s history (previous versions only used a speaker for calls, notifications and voice messages). While impressive for its size, it's still incapable of high volumes or audio quality. A simple, portable Bluetooth speaker like the pocket-sized JBL GO 3 ECO delivers a surprisingly beefy sound and hours of high-quality audio playback on a single charge. Coupled with an Apple Watch plan, a portable speaker allows limitless high-quality streaming of music, podcasts and more on the go.
Price: $49.95
