The Apple Watch could also be marketed as a tool for virile younger twenty-somethings who’re all the time out working or climbing mountains, however that’s not likely the profile of most individuals who put on them. No less than, not on the Macworld workplaces. However, they’re implausible units if you wish to regulate your well being, be certain to not miss notifications in your iPhone and within the case of the aged they can be one thing of a lifesaver. Should you’re considering of whether or not to get one in every of your older members of the family an Apple Watch, then right here’s all you must know.Â
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Do they want an iPhone?
It might sound a fundamental query, however the Apple Watch isn’t that helpful should you give it to somebody with an Android telephone or perhaps a traditional non-smartphone. They solely work with iPhones and that’s very possible the best way it’ll keep. So, an important first query to reply is whether or not the particular person in query has an iPhone or not. In the event that they do, nice, in any other case we’d suggest in search of one of many various smartwatches on our sister-site Tech Advisor’s greatest smartwatch or greatest health tracker roundups.Â
That being mentioned, you may arrange an Apple Watch in your iPhone after which give it to your aged relative or buddy. The iPhone is required for Apple Watch setup and any subsequent software program updates, however past that it doesn’t matter. As soon as the Apple Watch is about up and they’re carrying it, you may then use the well being monitoring options to make sure they’re secure. Right here’s a rundown of all of the issues an Apple Watch can do with out an iPhone. Should you do that, you’ll wish to make sure the Apple Watch isn’t blasting your relative with all of the notifications out of your iPhone.
For extra details about the present vary of Apple Watches learn our information to the Finest Apple Watch. We will additionally show you how to lower your expenses, learn: The perfect Apple Watch offers this month. Additionally learn What’s coming to Apple Watch in 2025.
Why is an Apple Watch good for older folks?
Well being monitoring: Except for the helpful skill of not having to maintain getting your iPhone out of a bag or pocket when messages are available in, an Apple Watch can be very helpful when it comes to monitoring the present well being of an older particular person. Some fashions include an ECG sensor, which might detect a selected form of coronary heart drawback or variances that may counsel situations comparable to atrial fibrillation. Some have SpO2 sensors to measure blood oxygen ranges, once more this will warn if the wearer is moving into difficulties, doubtlessly resulting from respiratory issues.
In 2025 Apple added the power to observe for indicators of hypertension to sure Apple Watches, together with Apple Watch Collection 11, 10 and 9, and the Apple Watch Extremely 2 and three. The hypertension detection function got here to the older watches through a watchOS replace. The watches don’t present particular systolic and diastolic readings like a conventional cuff, however they do monitor for warning indicators and can alert wearers to potential hypertension.
Fall detection: There’s additionally a fall detection function that may sense when somebody takes a tumble and may not be okay–it may well even alert the emergency companies. You’ll be able to enter essential medical data in order that it may be displayed on the Watch if required.
Emergency SOS: And in the event that they do have to name the emergency companies they’ll achieve this from an Apple Watch it’s straightforward to take action (if it has mobile connectivity or a close-by iPhone to route through).
Location monitoring: You may as well arrange the Discover My to point out you somebody’s present location and may be very useful if the particular person in query suffers from reminiscence points and should wander away. Â
Except for these extra critical use instances, there’s additionally the straightforward reality that as listening to begins to decrease, having a notification come up in your wrist can imply you don’t miss essential calls or messages.Â
Which is the very best Apple Look ahead to seniors in 2025?
As with most tech purchases, this is determined by what you need and the price range you will have out there. We’d say that until your member of the family or buddy is the outward-bound kind that’s more likely to go canoeing by way of ravines, the Apple Watch Extremely can be overkill. It’s massive, heavy and prices a small fortune. So, right here’s our choose of the present crop:
1. Apple Watch Collection 11 – Finest for well being options
Value When Reviewed:
$399
Finest Costs At the moment:
$349.99
$349.99
$349.99
$399
$399.99
Why the Apple Watch Collection 11 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch Collection 11 affords the security and well being options that can be most helpful to somebody of advancing years.
The Apple Watch Collection 11 has a bigger show than the Apple Watch SE: there’s a 42mm or 46mm mannequin, so should you don’t thoughts a bulkier watch, you may all the time select the larger display should you assume that may profit you. The glass is hard and scratch resistant, so its sturdy and shouldn’t be too battered if knocked.
It has all the security options you’d need, You’ll additionally profit from well being options together with the power to take an ECG, monitor your coronary heart charge and notify you if that’s irregular and in case you are doubtlessly affected by hypertension. It additionally has the power to examine if the oxygen ranges in your blood are okay, plus it’ll notify you of sleep apnoea and monitor your temperature whilst you sleep. These options are shared with the Apple Watch Extremely fashions (and had been additionally out there on the Apple Watch Collection 10 and 9), however some are missing from the Apple Watch SE.
Just like the Apple Watch SE it’ll sound an alarm should you fall or are in a crash, and it’ll ship an Emergency SOS if required.
The speaker means it’s doable to take calls proper in your wrist. The display is vivid and affords as much as 2,000 nits, which suggests it will likely be simpler to learn if you find yourself exterior in vivid sunshine.
The double faucet gesture, the place you may reply calls and carry out different capabilities simply by tapping your thumb and finger collectively, makes it simpler to make use of the watch with out tapping immediately on the display.
Battery life is 24 hrs, which suggests you may managed to get by way of greater than a day on a single cost. And, with a superb energy adapter, the charging velocity is quicker than ever earlier than, which suggests you’ll solely want to go away it on the charger for 30-45 minutes a day.
Learn our full
Apple Watch Collection 11 (42mm) overview
2. Apple Watch SE (Third-generation) – Low priced choice
Value When Reviewed:
$249
Finest Costs At the moment:
$199.99
$199.99
$199.99
$199.99
$249
Why the Apple Watch SE 3 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch SE 3 affords the security options, together with Fall Detection, can monitor coronary heart charge, and comes with a cheaper price tag, making it an amazing choice for the price range acutely aware.
Whereas the Apple Watch SE 3 may not boast as many sensors as its greater brother, there’s nonetheless loads to like about this cheaper mannequin. You continue to get the center monitoring function, which can warn you when you’ve got an irregular coronary heart charge.
Sadly, there is no such thing as a ECG function to warn towards irregular coronary heart rhythms. Hypertension monitoring can also be absent, so gained’t monitor for warning indicators of excessive or low blood stress.
The watch will observe sleep and provides a Sleep Rating. There’s Fall Detection and Crash Detection. Plus the SE is waterproof as much as 50 meters, similar to the Collection 11.Â
The show is smaller than the Collection 11, which could possibly be a difficulty if the meant recipient has poor eyesight, however the 41mm and 44mm fashions nonetheless have clear and vivid panels that do an amazing job of relaying data (and the bigger 44mm mannequin beats the 42mm display on the Collection 11, in spite of everything).Â
GPS is customary and you’ll add mobile capabilities to extend what the Watch can do with out an iPhone (the Collection 11 has this feature too). The chip is the S10, the identical because the Apple Watch Collection 11 and Extremely 3, so there is no such thing as a worry of this Watch missing energy or not being future-proofed.
For most of the options older customers would require, comparable to fall detection and emergency SOS, the Apple Watch SE 3 is an excellent choice, particularly because it prices quite a bit lower than the Collection 11.
Learn our full
Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm) overview
3. Apple Watch Extremely 3 – The largest Apple Watch
Value When Reviewed:
$799
Finest Costs At the moment:
$779.99
$779.99
$779.99
$799
Why the Apple Watch Extremely 3 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch Extremely isn’t actually designed for the aged, until the aged particular person is an adventurer most at dwelling climbing mountains and scuba-diving. However it does have an enormous level in its favor: it affords the most important display at 49mm, and greater buttons, which could possibly be a profit.
Although it’s the costliest choice, the cumbersome Apple Watch Extremely 3 is just not essentially a nasty thought for the aged, so long as they don’t thoughts carrying a bigger watch.
The display is bigger and simpler to learn, the buttons are extra outstanding, and the extra Motion button might assist get issues completed with out fidgeting with a tiny show. All Apple Watch Extremely fashions embrace mobile {hardware} (mobile service all the time prices further), too.
It’s extra-rugged and sturdy, which can be simply the factor for somebody who’s extra accident-prone. It has all of the capabilities of the Apple Watch Collection 11, much more correct GPS monitoring, and Satellite tv for pc connectivity.
Better of all, it’s received for much longer battery life—you might solely have to cost it each two or three days.
Learn our full
Apple Watch Extremely 3 overview
Questioning should you want mobile? Learn: The professionals and cons of a mobile Apple Watch.
