Apple recently unveiled three new Apple Watch models: the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch SE 3, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. With its price of $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is aimed at a niche, high-end market and athletes. For most consumers, the choice will be between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, which start at $249 and $399, respectively.
Despite its lower price, the Apple Watch SE 3 comes with much of the same software as the Series 11. If you are looking for a straightforward smartwatch with essential features like step counting and sleep tracking, the SE 3 is an excellent and affordable choice.
While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 offer modest improvements over their predecessors, the SE 3 has received a significant upgrade from the SE 2. The smartwatch jumps from the S8 chip to the S10 and now features an always-on display. It also supports fast charging, offers better crack resistance, and introduces new health features. These include a wrist-temperature sensor for advanced sleep tracking and retrospective ovulation insights.
Although it is not as flashy as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 stands out and packs great value, especially for first-time buyers. The gap between the standard and budget smartwatches has never felt smaller.
Of course, if you want access to more advanced health features, better battery life, and a larger display, the Series 11 would be the better option. It is worth comparing both models because the SE 3 might be all you need.
Here are the similarities and differences between the two smart watches to help inform your decision.
Both models share many important features. They both come with the S10 chip, which means there will not be significant differences in performance. Each has an always-on Retina display that shows the time even when your wrist is down. For heart health, both watches provide high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, and low cardio fitness notifications.
Each model supports wrist flick and double tap gestures for dismissing notifications or triggering actions. Both include Emergency SOS, fall detection, and crash detection to alert emergency services and contacts. They are water resistant to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming.
For sleep tracking, both watches provide a sleep score and feature temperature sensing for insights into your well-being. They also offer cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates. Fast charging is available on both, and each has a feature to help you find your iPhone.
There are several key differences to consider. The Series 11 battery lasts up to 24 hours, or 28 hours in low-power mode. The SE 3 battery lasts up to 18 hours, or 32 hours in low-power mode. The Series 11 includes more advanced health features like hypertension notifications, an electrical heart sensor, an ECG app, and a Blood Oxygen app.
The Series 11 display can reach up to 2000 nits of brightness and uses a wide-angle OLED, while the SE 3 goes up to 1000 nits with a simple OLED display. The Series 11 is available in 46mm and 44mm sizes with aluminum or titanium cases. The SE 3 comes in 44mm and 40mm sizes with an aluminum case. The Series 11 is also almost ten percent thinner than the SE 3.
Color options differ as well. The Series 11 comes in Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray for aluminum, and Natural, Gold, and Slate for titanium. The SE 3 comes in Midnight Aluminum and Starlight Aluminum.
Other smaller differences include the Series 11 having a depth gauge to six meters, a water temperature sensor, a lower minimum brightness, and certified dust resistance.