Apple Watch SE 3

T TechRadar Article · Sept 2025

And if you don’t need the ultra-modern slimmed-down looks of the Series 11, the rugged features of the Ultra 3, and can live without ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking, then the Apple Watch SE 3 is likely the model for you.

E Esquire Kimberly Gedeon · reviewer · Dec 2025

But the Watch SE 3 has changed that for me. It's shown how silly that status seeking is. You see, the best way to test Apple’s third-generation SE isn’t in isolation; it’s by seeing how well it stacks up against both its predecessor (the Watch SE 2) and its more expensive sibling (the Watch Series 11). I happen to have both. After putting the SE 3 through its paces, I came away genuinely impressed. This new edition of Apple’s most affordable watch (the first update to the line since 2022) isn't a half-hearted attempt to hit the “budget” market. In real-world use, it holds up far better than its entry-level label might suggest.

I am a casual smartwatch user and the Apple Watch SE3 is probably the one that most people should get

W Wareable Article

Apple Watch SE 3 is an outstanding smartwatch—and continues the line's legacy as the best choice for most first-time smartwatch buyers with an iPhone. By equipping it with the S10 chip, Apple has made the SE 3 incredibly capable and future-proof, adding modern features like Double Tap. While the design is dated and the single-day battery life (up to 18 hours) remains a key compromise, these are ultimately smart trade-offs. It delivers the full, premium Apple Watch experience—including excellent tracking accuracy and unrivaled smart features—for a fraction of the flagship price.

M Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien · 660K subscribers · Oct 2025

And this is bold, but this is probably the best Apple Watch for most people. And with the SE 3, Apple kept the same $249 price tag while making major improvements with honestly very few noticeable differences compared to the $400 Series 11. And even the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is triple the price at $800. Seriously, there used to be a big difference between the SE and the flagship watches, but the differences seem to be less significant this year. They all have the exact same S10 chip inside, the same UI, they're all equally as fast, and the SE even got the same durability upgrade as the Series 11 with stronger glass this year.

B Back Market Miguel G. · reviewer

The Apple Watch SE 3 gives us high-end speed and core Apple Watch features at a much lower price, so it’s the obvious choice for budget-minded buyers. The SE 3 is available in GPS and GPS + Cellular variants, and adds an Always-On OLED display, the faster S10 chip, crash detection, temperature-based sleep insights, and improved battery management, while leaving out the ECG and blood oxygen sensors from higher-end models.

M MacRumors MacRumors · 660K subscribers · Sept 2025

So, to wrap it up, the Apple Watch SE3 isn't just a small spec bump in my opinion. You get the alwayson display, much faster charging, a brand new chip, and smarter health features. This just feels like the biggest leap in the SE line since it's been introduced a few years ago, quite a few years ago and obviously from the SE2 that was in 2022

H HardwareZone Singapore Kenny Yeo · reviewer · Nov 2025

In my hands-on of the Apple Watch SE 3 , I called it the watch that most people should get because it offers most of the features and capabilities of the pricier Series 11 watch for a lot less. Prices start at S$349 , which is nearly half that of the S$599 starting price of the Series 11 watch.

S Simple Alpaca Simple Alpaca · 640K subscribers · Sept 2025

Well, everyone, the Apple Watch SE 3 has officially came out. So, let's go ahead and take a look and see how to exactly use this particular Apple Watch. Now, this is a beautiful watch

T The Verge Victoria Song · reviewer · Sept 2025

When I walked into Apple Park last week, there was one thing that I did not have on my bingo card: the $249 Apple Watch SE 3 stealing the show from the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. But here we are. It’s 2025, and the entry-level Apple Watch is the one I’m most excited by.

S Simple Alpaca Simple Alpaca · 640K subscribers · Oct 2025

But if you just want to buy a watch and you just kind of want to move on, you don't want to have to worry about going through and like haggling for a price and doing all those things, then I think buying something like an Apple Watch SE3 makes a lot more sense. $249, it's a very good watch and I am a very big fan of it when it kind of comes down to it

P PCMag UK Article · Sept 2025

The Series 11 has a better display and more health features like blood oxygen saturation, ECG, and hypertension monitoring, making it our Editors’ Choice winner, but the Apple Watch SE 3 is a worthy alternative if you're looking to save money.

S Simple Alpaca Simple Alpaca · 640K subscribers · Jun 2026

So, if it was up to me, I'm definitely purchasing an Apple Watch SE3. It's pretty much not even close. That one is for sure going to be able to be giving me a much better experience from that particular side

T the Guardian Article · Nov 2025

Apple’s entry level Watch SE has been updated with almost everything from its excellent mid-range Series 11 but costs about 40% less, making it the bargain of iPhone smartwatches.

T TechRadar TechRadar · 463K subscribers · Nov 2025

The Apple Watch SE3 is a funny thing. While it's not the most powerful watch with the longest battery life, it's probably the best value of 2025's crop of Apple watches. Why? It's got the same fantastic chipset as the Ultra 3 and Series 11 and the same 18 hour battery life that Apple watches have had for generations with the benefit of fast charging, all at a really attractive price

M MacRumors Forums MacRumors · reviewer · Sept 2025

If you have an Apple Watch SE 2, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a great upgrade. It's also ideal if you've been waiting to upgrade from an older watch like the Series 4 or the Series 5.

N Nikias Molina Nikias Molina · 428K subscribers · Sept 2025

This Apple Watch SE3 not only has the essential features that anybody needs on an Apple Watch and advanced features that come straight from the Apple Watch Series 11 and the latest Ultra 3 at such a reduced price point. and it honestly makes it very hard for me to recommend a lot of people. The Series 11 when the Apple Watch Series 3 comes at this very aggressive price tag

E Engadget Cherlynn Low · reviewer · Nov 2025

I used the SE 3 for a few weeks to see if it's good enough to replace the Apple Watch Series 11 I regularly wear, and, setting aside some small caveats, the short answer is yes.

N Nikias Molina Nikias Molina · 422K subscribers · Oct 2025

It's got every essential feature that you would expect from an Apple Watch at such an irresistible price tag.

C CNET Vanessa Hand Orellana · reviewer · Dec 2025

Commentary: The Apple Watch SE 3 is a budget-friendly watch, but you'd never guess by how well it keeps up with the pricier models.

G GregsGadgets GregsGadgets · 417K subscribers · Oct 2025

I'm having a hard time recommending the more expensive Apple Watch models.

C Consumer Reports Courtney Lindwall Home · reviewer · Sept 2025

Here are my first impressions, including why I think the Apple Watch SE 3 now makes the most sense for most people to buy.

T The Quantified Scientist The Quantified Scientist · 412K subscribers · Sept 2025

So, it might be the best bang for buck for you when you want to track your exercises. Maybe you're a runner or a cyclist looking for a good deal, and the Apple Watch SE 2025 might be just that deal you're looking for. I just finished a bunch of exercises, including a very hot and tiring run to test the heart rate tracking performance of the Apple Watch SE 2025.

B Business Insider Tyler Hayes · reviewer · Feb 2026

The Apple Watch SE 3 is an excellent smartwatch for budget shoppers who don't need advanced health tracking.

D DesFit DesFit · 286K subscribers · Sept 2025

So, this is the new Apple Watch SE3. And you may be looking at this watch because of the price tag where for $250 to $280. Well, it offers a lot for the money

P Pickr Article · Sept 2025

The Apple Watch SE 3 makes a value case with one of the best priced wearables on the market.

D Dion Schuddeboom Dion Schuddeboom · 194K subscribers · Oct 2025

And in my opinion, this right here is the perfect setup for the SE3.

C Cult of Mac Ed Hardy · reviewer · Sept 2025

Apple Watch SE 3 is an amazing value!

D Dion Schuddeboom Dion Schuddeboom · 194K subscribers · Dec 2025

Now these may look similar on the surface, but believe me, the Apple Watch SE 3 is an absolute gamecher.

D Decabytess Decabytess · 123K subscribers · Oct 2025

1-2000, among these, there are more smart fitness bands in smart watches, but this time such a 3 has come, according to its price, good updates and good features have been added by Apple, that is a very good thing.

D DHRME DHRME · 108K subscribers · Sept 2025

And we'd go as far as saying this is probably the best smartwatch to buy for like 90% of people out there. Let us explain. The SE model, similar to all its predecessors, is Apple's cheapest version in their watch lineup. But you're getting so many things the more expensive Apple watches also have. So don't let the popularity or the shininess of the other watches fool you because if you put them side by side, you won't see that much of a difference.

T TheJuan&Only TheJuan&Only · 98.1K subscribers · Dec 2025

So for me, the Apple Watch SE 3 absolutely gets a recommendation. It’s the smartest entry point into the Apple Watch lineup right now — and for a lot of people, it might be the only Apple Watch they ever need

S ShoAndTech ShoAndTech · 73.7K subscribers · Sept 2025

This is Apple Watch SE3. Honestly, in my opinion, this is the Apple Watch to grab if you are one new to Apple Watch

M Matt LeGrand Matt LeGrand · 52.5K subscribers · Oct 2025

The Apple Watch SE 3 is is really good. Is it missing stuff? Absolutely. But at $249, I'm super impressed with all of the stuff that Apple has included with this device

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 50.8K subscribers · Oct 2025

When it comes to buying an Apple Watch, the SE has often been a compromise, but the new Apple Watch SE 3 is a game-changer that is nearly identical to the flagship Series 11, with only a couple of niche features missing. You can save $150 by choosing the SE 3, which includes the Always-On Display, the same S10 chip, and critical safety features, but you must decide if the compromise on advanced health sensors is worth the savings. Watch this full review and comparison to the Series 11 to find out if the Apple Watch SE 3 is the best choice for you in 2025

O OASTHAR OASTHAR · 45.7K subscribers · Dec 2025

As for my final verdict, the Apple Watch SE3 clearly raises the standard for what an entry-level Apple Watch can deliver. With the always-on display, S10 chip, tougher glass, advanced health sensors, 5G connectivity, and faster charging, it feels like a true step up that bridges the gap between the budget and flagship models. On the other hand, the SE2 is still an excellent option for users who just want the basics at a more affordable price

A AbbyBReviewing AbbyBReviewing · 14.3K subscribers · Sept 2025

And another thing I'm noticing is that this is very lightweight. Like I hardly feel it on my wrist, which is surprising for the size of the Star Watch. I do have a 7 inch wrist. And I've gone ahead and put all the wrist sizes this fit on screen for you guys so you can see if it'll work for you. I do go up to about I think the fourth hole here. So there's still a good amount of room left over.

O Origin Disc Origin Disc · 5.1K subscribers · Dec 2025

And after wearing it for a while, I think that's kind of its biggest strength.

I Insert Name Here Running Insert Name Here Running · 1.2K subscribers · Nov 2025

I don't really have any dislikes.

I Indian Wayfarer Indian Wayfarer · 775 subscribers · Oct 2025

The midnight aluminium case looks absolutely stunning.

P Phonearena Article

Not super-ideal, like the newer models that can do it in 30 minutes, but still a quick enough charge that you can fit into your morning routine.