The best Apple Watch for Health Monitoring
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The best Apple Watch for Health Monitoring
What's the most affordable Apple Watch with an ECG, oxygen, and temperature sensor?
The Apple Watch is a powerful whole health monitor. The newest models contain sensors for most of the major vital signs: pulse, an FDA-cleared ECG sensor, oxygen saturation, breathing rate, and temperature.
If you’re looking to buy an Apple Watch for health monitoring, you have four major options as of late 2023.
Apple Watch Series 9 - the latest model
The newest Apple Watch is the Series 9, launched September 2023. It starts at $399 if bought new. This includes all of the health sensors above.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 - the premium option
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, was also launched September 2023, and includes all health features of the Series 9, plus GPS. This is a premium option targeted at serious hikers or athletes.
Apple Watch SE - affordable, but fewer health sensors
Although the Apple Watch SE is more affordable at $249, it’s lighter on health sensors. It includes a heart rate sensor and sleep tracking, but not an FDA-cleared ECG or blood oxygen. If you’re looking for something in this price range, also consider a used Apple Watch Series 6, 7, or 8, which have additional health sensors.
Used Apple Watch Series 6, 7, or 8
If you want all of the health sensors at an affordable price point, a used Apple Watch Series 8 is a good option. It includes all of the health sensors as the Apple Watch Series 9, including the ECG, oxygen, and temperature sensors.
The Apple Watch Series 6 and 7 include ECG and oxygen, but not the temperature sensor.
Buying these models used is a good option is you want more health sensors, but at an affordable price. As of this writing, used Series 8 are selling for about $300, whereas a used Series 6 costs around $180.