Apple Watch Recommendations - Which one to buy?

I am a big fan of my Apple Watch Series 6 and use it for pretty much what you are wanting it for as well. I use it for my outdoor runs/hikes. I use it for hands free calls. I use it for fitness tracking. It's been great!

Honestly, I still have the Series 2 and it works really well for hands-free calls. No problems with tracking hikes. There's an altimeter in the Series 3, and it's faster & more compact than the Series 2, so that might be of interest. I know that the Series 6 (and SE) has heaps more features but there's also a price jump! Would be interested to see band recommendations- I've only ever had the black sports one.

@zara_michael I have Machete Apple Watch Bands on my wishlist.

Lindsey S Thanks for that! Looks like a great brand.

This really depends on what you want to use your watch for. Each generation has a new technology included in it. Like being able to run an ECG on the gen 6. I think any gen between gen 3 and gen 6 would be totally fine depending on the features you care about (waterproof, ecg, blood oxygen, etc).

I'll just post a cautionary tale about expecting to use the watch for handsfree calls in the garden...it works well when you hold it up to your face and talk but it is not as good as even your cell on speakerphone mode. If your hands are moving, the caller will not hear you properly.

I love my Apple Watch but it's basically useless for calls. Invest in a good pair of earbuds (AirPods Pro!) instead.

Just so I don't sound ultra negative, I love the heart rate monitoring when exercising (it's not as accurate as a chest strap monitor, but it's good enough to make sure you're getting into the right range for a period of time), and the ability to control podcasts or music playing right from my wrist while I'm doing something else.

Thanks Steve, I have airpods pro, I just don't like carrying phone and the option to control podcasts and music will be great.

I love my apple watch! I have the series 6 with the braided band in black. I didn't know if I'd like the band, but it's great. I've also used the band that connects with velcro...the whole band was like velcro, in that it looks like short loops. I liked that as well. Pretty comfortable.

I have the older iwatch love it and you can change bands. I had a more plastic type band it was white and turned green, I replaced with a heavy more material type and like it because it breathes more and less sweat