Apple’s affordable Watch SE has received almost all the enhancements of the superb mid-range Series 11, yet it is priced around 40% less, making it an excellent value smartwatch for iPhone users.
The new Watch SE 3 begins at £219 (€269/$249/AU$399), positioning it as one of the most affordable fully-featured smartwatches compatible with iPhones, significantly cheaper than the £369 Series 11 and the premium Apple Watch Ultra 3 at £749.
The SE series has seen periodic updates, and while it has offered good value, it has missed key features that enhance Apple’s other watches. The most significant improvement in the Watch SE 3 is the always-on display, aligning it with the Series line and allowing you to view the time and notifications at a glance, eliminating the need to raise your wrist to activate the screen.
The Flow watch face is displayed when the screen is on (left) and the time remains visible when idle and in always-on mode (right). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The SE 3 follows the older Apple Watch design seen in the 2020 Series 6, featuring a smaller display and thicker bezels, with options for 40mm or 44mm case sizes compared to the latest series watches. While it doesn’t shine as bright as the pricier models in direct sunlight, it remains sharp and appealing.
Equipped with the same S10 chip as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 provides a similar responsive experience. It also includes excellent touch-free gestures like double-tap and wrist flick to effortlessly dismiss notifications, timers, and alarms.
Furthermore, the watch supports all the standard Apple Watch functionalities found in watchOS 26, such as contactless payments via Apple Pay, detailed notifications, music playback controls, third-party apps, and various watch face options.
The SE 3 runs all the same applications and services as its pricier counterpart. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The SE 3’s battery life falls slightly short of that of the Series 11, lasting approximately a day and a half under typical usage, which includes one night of sleep tracking. Many users may need to recharge it every other day, especially if they monitor workouts. The SE 3 allows for up to 7 hours of GPS and heart rate tracking during running, which is sufficient for a marathon. Charging fully with the magnetic charger takes about 1 hour, reaching 70% in 30 minutes.
Specifications
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Case size: 40mm or 44mm
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Case thickness: 10.7mm
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Weight: Approximately 26g or 33g
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Processor: S10
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Storage: 64GB
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Operating system: watchOS 26
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Water resistance: 50 meters (5ATM)
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Sensors: HR (2nd generation), skin temperature, NFC, GNSS, compass, altimeter
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Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 4, NFC, optional 5G
Health and Workout Tracking
The SE 3 retains the crown and side buttons of the Series 11, but omits the metal contacts needed for ECG. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
A significant drawback of the SE 3 is the absence of the electrical sensor on the watch’s back, which enables ECG monitoring on the Series and Ultra models. It also lacks blood oxygen monitoring and blood pressure alerts, but it does feature an accurate optical heart rate sensor with most related capabilities, such as high and low heart rate notifications.
The SE 3 includes a skin temperature sensor. Its Vital app provides sleep tracking, along with retrospective ovulation estimates for cycle tracking applications. This smartwatch excels in tracking popular workouts using GPS, including walking, running, and cycling, among others.
Additionally, the watch supports offline music playback via Bluetooth headphones from subscription services like Spotify and offers offline access to Apple Maps in case you lose your phone.
Sustainability
The recycled aluminum body is available in Starlight (shown) or Midnight (black). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
According to Apple, the battery can last more than 1,000 full charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity and is replaceable at a cost of £95. Repair costs range from £195 to £229, depending on the model.
The watch contains over 40% recycled materials, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, steel, tin, titanium, and tungsten. Apple also provides device trade-ins and free recycling options, while its report details the environmental impact of its products.
Price
The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at £219 (€269/$249/AU$399) for the 40mm variant and £249 (€299/$279/AU$449) for the 44mm variant.
For reference, the Apple Watch Series 11 is priced at £369, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 retails for £749.
Verdict
The Apple Watch SE 3 stands out as the best value in Apple’s smartwatch lineup this year, delivering nearly all of the remarkable features found in the Series 11 at a much lower price point.
With its new always-on display, S10 chip, and watchOS 26, the SE 3 is equally user-friendly for daily tasks. The main feature missing is the EKG capability, but this may not be a concern for those who don’t require it. The 40mm version’s battery life of 1.5 days is decent, while the larger 44mm model should provide slightly longer use.
Limited color selections can be easily improved with brighter bands, but the older design featuring a smaller display, larger bezels, and thicker body is acceptable considering the pricing.
Pros: Excellent value Apple Watch, always-on display, Apple Pay, double-tap and wrist flick gestures, solid health and fitness tracking, long-lasting software support, environmentally friendly materials, and 50 meters of water resistance.
Cons: Lacks EKG, no blood oxygen monitoring, no blood pressure alerts, older design, compatible only with iPhone, no third-party watch faces, and display can be dim in bright sunlight.
The new Exactograph face in watchOS 26 appears stunning on the 40mm Apple Watch SE 3. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Source: www.theguardian.com
