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Which Apple Watch health features are worth setting up?
Apple’s health feature guide covers sleep, heart health notifications, medication logging, State of Mind, cycle tracking, and Vitals. These tools help you record information or receive notifications; they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.
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- Heart health notifications: Turn on high or low heart rate notifications and irregular rhythm notifications in the Heart section of the Health app on iPhone.
- Medication logging: Add medications in the Health app on iPhone, then use Apple Watch to log when you take them.
- State of Mind: Record a momentary emotion or your overall mood for the day.
- Cycle tracking: Log menstrual-cycle information. Predictions can use logged information and heart rate data; on supported watches worn to sleep, wrist temperature can also contribute. Retrospective ovulation estimates are not available in every country or region.
Availability varies by feature, watch model, and region. Consult Apple’s guide for the specific feature and device you use.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How do you set up sleep tracking?
Apple Support says, “With the Sleep app on Apple Watch, you can create sleep schedules to help you meet your sleep goals.” Create a schedule and enable tracking using the Sleep app on Apple Watch or the Health app on iPhone.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
- Open the Sleep app on Apple Watch, or open Health on iPhone and go to Sleep.
- Set a sleep schedule and goal. You can also configure Sleep Focus, wind-down time, and an alarm.
- Enable sleep tracking and wear the watch to bed.
Apple says the watch estimates time in REM, Core, and Deep sleep, as well as when you might have woken. Sleep trends cover the previous 14 days. These are estimates, not clinical measurements.
What does Vitals show?
The Vitals app presents overnight heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration; it can also show training load. For sleep-collected metrics, Apple describes a typical range. A notification may appear when multiple metrics fall outside your typical ranges, with context such as medication, elevation changes, or illness.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
There is a specific Blood Oxygen limitation: Apple says the feature is unavailable in the Vitals app on certain Apple Watch models purchased in the United States on or after January 18, 2024. The affected models have part numbers ending in LW/A or LS/A. This does not establish that Blood Oxygen is unavailable on every Apple Watch or in every region; check your device and location.
What can Double Tap do, and when does it work?
On supported models, tap your index finger and thumb together twice to invoke the currently available action. Depending on the screen or app, it can answer a call, reply to a message, move through Smart Stack, or scroll in supported apps. Other supported actions listed by Apple include playing or pausing media, ending a call, stopping a timer, snoozing an alarm, using Camera Remote, recording a voice memo, pausing or resuming a stopwatch, and switching flashlight modes.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Double Tap is not available in every state. Apple lists conditions including Low Power Mode, Sleep Focus, an inactive display, a locked watch, Family Setup, and certain accessibility gesture features being on. Some apps and screens also do not support it. For device-specific guidance and troubleshooting, see Apple’s Double Tap support page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does AssistiveTouch differ from Double Tap?
AssistiveTouch provides gesture-based navigation and actions, including menus, an onscreen pointer, and Siri shortcuts. It is an accessibility feature that can also be useful for hands-free interaction. Apple’s default gestures include tap to move forward, double tap to move back, clench to select, and double clench to open the Action Menu.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
- On Apple Watch, open Settings > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch.
- Turn on AssistiveTouch, then enable Hand Gestures to use gesture controls.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to learn the gestures and configure actions.
Apple notes that the universal Double Tap gesture is unavailable while AssistiveTouch is enabled. For gesture details, see Apple’s AssistiveTouch guide.
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Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
How should you check whether a feature is available?
- Check Apple’s instructions for your particular feature and watch model; compatibility is not universal.
- For region-dependent capabilities, verify availability where you live. Cycle-tracking estimates and Blood Oxygen availability have specific geographic limits.
- If a gesture does not work, check the watch’s current state and whether another accessibility gesture feature is enabled.
- For health measurements or alerts, use them as information to discuss with a qualified health professional, not as a diagnosis.
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