The Apple Watch could also be marketed as a tool for virile younger twenty-somethings who’re all the time out operating or climbing mountains, however that’s not likely the profile of most individuals who put on them. Not less than, not on the Macworld places of work. However, they’re implausible units if you wish to control your well being, make sure to not miss notifications in your iPhone and within the case of the aged they may also be one thing of a lifesaver. In case you’re pondering of whether or not to get certainly one of your older relations an Apple Watch, then right here’s all it’s good to know.
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Do they want an iPhone?
It may appear a primary query, however the Apple Watch isn’t that helpful for those who give it to somebody with an Android telephone or perhaps a basic non-smartphone. They solely work with iPhones and that’s very possible the way in which it can 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 advocate in search of one of many different smartwatches on our sister-site Tech Advisor’s finest smartwatch or finest health tracker roundups.
That being mentioned, you possibly can 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 ready up and they’re carrying it, you possibly can then use the well being monitoring options to make sure they’re protected. Right here’s a rundown of all of the issues an Apple Watch can do with out an iPhone. In case 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 are able to additionally assist you to lower your expenses, learn: The very best Apple Watch offers this month. Additionally learn What’s coming to Apple Watch in 2025.
Why is an Apple Watch good for older individuals?
Well being monitoring: Other than the helpful potential of not having to maintain getting your iPhone out of a bag or pocket when messages are available in, an Apple Watch may also 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 downside or variances which may recommend circumstances similar to atrial fibrillation. Some have SpO2 sensors to measure blood oxygen ranges, once more this could warn if the wearer is moving into difficulties, probably attributable to respiratory issues.
In 2025 Apple added the flexibility to watch for indicators of hypertension to sure Apple Watches, together with Apple Watch Sequence 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 will probably even alert the emergency providers. You may enter necessary 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 providers they will 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 can too arrange the Discover My to point out you somebody’s present location and might be very useful if the particular person in query suffers from reminiscence points and should get lost.
Other than these extra severe use instances, there’s additionally the easy fact that as listening to begins to decrease, having a notification come up in your wrist can imply you don’t miss necessary calls or messages.
Which is the most effective Apple Look ahead to seniors in 2025?
As with most tech purchases, this is dependent upon what you need and the finances you might have obtainable. We’d say that except your member of the family or buddy is the outward-bound sort that’s more likely to go canoeing by means of ravines, the Apple Watch Extremely might be overkill. It’s giant, heavy and prices a small fortune. So, right here’s our choose of the present crop:
1. Apple Watch Sequence 11 – Finest for well being options
Value When Reviewed:
$399
Finest Costs As we speak:
Why the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch Sequence 11 provides the protection and well being options that might be most helpful to somebody of advancing years.
The Apple Watch Sequence 11 has a bigger show than the Apple Watch SE: there’s a 42mm or 46mm mannequin, so for those who don’t thoughts a bulkier watch, you possibly can all the time select the larger display screen for those who suppose 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 protection options you’d need, You’ll additionally profit from well being options together with the flexibility to take an ECG, monitor your coronary heart charge and notify you if that’s irregular and if you’re probably affected by hypertension. It additionally has the flexibility to test if the oxygen ranges in your blood are okay, plus it can notify you of sleep apnoea and monitor your temperature when you sleep. These options are shared with the Apple Watch Extremely fashions (and had been additionally obtainable on the Apple Watch Sequence 10 and 9), however some are missing from the Apple Watch SE.
Just like the Apple Watch SE it can sound an alarm for those who fall or are in a crash, and it’ll ship an Emergency SOS if required.
The speaker means it’s potential to take calls proper in your wrist. The display screen is vivid and provides as much as 2,000 nits, which suggests it will likely be simpler to learn if you end up exterior in vivid sunshine.
The double faucet gesture, the place you possibly can 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 instantly on the display screen.
Battery life is 24 hrs, which suggests you may managed to get by means of greater than a day on a single cost. And, with an excellent energy adapter, the charging pace 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 Sequence 11 (42mm) evaluate
2. Apple Watch SE (Third-generation) – Low priced choice

Value When Reviewed:
$249
Finest Costs As we speak:
Why the Apple Watch SE 3 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch SE 3 provides the protection options, together with Fall Detection, can monitor coronary heart charge, and comes with a cheaper price tag, making it a terrific choice for the finances acutely aware.
Whereas the Apple Watch SE 3 may not boast as many sensors as its larger brother, there’s nonetheless a lot to like about this cheaper mannequin. You continue to get the guts monitoring function, which can provide you with a warning in case you have an irregular coronary heart charge.
Sadly, there isn’t any ECG function to warn towards irregular coronary heart rhythms. Hypertension monitoring can be absent, so received’t monitor for warning indicators of excessive or low blood stress.
The watch will monitor sleep and provides a Sleep Rating. There may be Fall Detection and Crash Detection. Plus the SE is waterproof as much as 50 meters, identical to the Sequence 11.
The show is smaller than the Sequence 11, which might be a difficulty if the supposed recipient has poor eyesight, however the 41mm and 44mm fashions nonetheless have clear and vivid panels that do a terrific job of relaying data (and the bigger 44mm mannequin beats the 42mm display screen on the Sequence 11, in any case).
GPS is customary and you’ll add mobile capabilities to extend what the Watch can do with out an iPhone (the Sequence 11 has this feature too). The chip is the S10, the identical because the Apple Watch Sequence 11 and Extremely 3, so there isn’t any worry of this Watch missing energy or not being future-proofed.
For most of the options older customers would require, similar 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 Sequence 11.
Learn our full
Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm) evaluate
3. Apple Watch Extremely 3 – The most important Apple Watch

Value When Reviewed:
$799
Finest Costs As we speak:
Why the Apple Watch Extremely 3 is nice for the aged: The Apple Watch Extremely isn’t actually designed for the aged, except the aged particular person is an adventurer most at dwelling climbing mountains and scuba-diving. But it surely does have a giant level in its favor: it provides the most important display screen at 49mm, and larger buttons, which might be a profit.
Although it’s the costliest choice, the cumbersome Apple Watch Extremely 3 shouldn’t be essentially a foul thought for the aged, so long as they don’t thoughts carrying a bigger watch.
The display screen is bigger and simpler to learn, the buttons are extra distinguished, and the extra Motion button could assist get issues achieved with out twiddling with a tiny show. All Apple Watch Extremely fashions embody 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 Sequence 11, much more correct GPS monitoring, and Satellite tv for pc connectivity.
Better of all, it’s received for much longer battery life—chances are you’ll solely have to cost it each two or three days.
Learn our full
Apple Watch Extremely 3 evaluate
Questioning for those who want mobile? Learn: The professionals and cons of a mobile Apple Watch.
