Our verdict: The Apple Watch SE 3 ranks 7th of the 10 smartwatches we compare, with 8.2 out of 10.
AppleWatch SE 3A
Apple Watch SE 3
8.2/10
The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple's cheaper smartwatch for iPhone owners, with an always-on screen, sleep tracking and crash detection. It suits anyone who wants the core Apple Watch without the ECG.
Always-on display and the same app support as the dearer models
Sleep score, sleep apnoea notifications and wrist temperature sensing
Fall detection, crash detection and Emergency SOS
Rated to 50 metres, so fine for pool swimming
Keep in mind
iPhone only
Around 18 hours of use, so it needs a nightly charge
No ECG app
Charges a little slower and has a dimmer screen than the dearer Apple models
Why the Apple Watch SE 3 scores 8.2
Each bar shows where it places among the 10 smartwatches in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
How happy owners are7th of 10
How many rated it7th of 10
How new it is4th of 10
Why it sits behind the Amazfit Active 3 Premium
The Amazfit Active 3 Premium (8.5) beats the Apple Watch SE 3 (8.2) because it leaves owners a little happier.
About the Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 comes in a 40mm or 44mm aluminium case, with a GPS version and a GPS + Cellular version. Apple says the case is 100% recycled aluminium. The screen is an Always-On Retina display that reaches up to 1,000 nits, covered in Ion-X glass that Apple says is four times more crack resistant than the SE 2's. Expert Reviews notes the back is plastic.
It runs the S10 chip, the same one as the Series 11. Sensors include a heart sensor, wrist temperature sensing, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and GPS. Sleep tracking breaks the night into stages, gives a sleep score and can send sleep apnoea notifications. Safety features cover fall detection, crash detection and Emergency SOS. Cellular use needs a wireless service plan.
Apple rates it for up to 18 hours of normal use, or up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode. Fast charging gives up to 8 hours of use from a 15-minute charge, using the Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable. It needs an iPhone 11 or later.
Against the Series 11, Expert Reviews lists what is missing: ECG, the Blood Oxygen app, hypertension notifications, water temperature and depth gauge, and Precision Finding for iPhone. The screen is smaller and dimmer, and the stated battery life is shorter.
What owners report about the Apple Watch SE 3
Owner feedback for this exact model is thin, so this section is short. The posts we found are a few individual accounts, not a settled pattern.
One owner moving up from an older Apple Watch found everything much quicker, including Siri and third-party complications, and did not worry about battery with the always-on screen left on. The same owner had trouble with third-party chargers stopping part-way, while Apple's own cable worked, and a backup and restore that lost the home screen layout and Apple Pay setup.
In an Apple support thread, an owner on watchOS 26 describes the screen sometimes dropping below the lowest brightness setting until the watch is restarted. Replies point to a possible sensor or hardware fault. Reviewers are also split on battery: Expert Reviews calls it poor and says it needs charging daily.
Who the Apple Watch SE 3 suits
It suits an iPhone owner who wants an Apple Watch with the always-on screen, sleep tracking and safety features, and who does not need an ECG. It is also a sensible first Apple Watch, or an upgrade from an SE 2 or an older model.
Look elsewhere if you use an Android phone, since it works only with iPhone. If you want ECG, blood oxygen or hypertension notifications, the Apple Watch Series 12 is the fuller option. If a nightly charge is a deal-breaker, the Huawei Watch GT 6 46mm and Amazfit Bip 6 last far longer between charges.
Questions about the Apple Watch SE 3
When did the Apple Watch SE 3 come out?
The Apple Watch SE 3 went on sale on Friday 19 September 2025, according to MacRumors' launch-week review. It was Apple's first SE update in three years.
Is the Apple Watch SE 3 waterproof?
It is water resistant to 50 metres, so it is fine for pool swimming and shallow water. Apple says it is not for scuba diving or water sports.
What is the difference between the Apple Watch SE 2 and SE 3?
The SE 3 adds the S10 chip, an always-on display, Double Tap, wrist temperature sensing, sleep apnoea notifications, quicker charging and 5G on cellular models, according to MacRumors.
How does the Apple Watch SE 3 compare with the Series 11?
It uses the same S10 chip and has the same 50 metre rating, but Expert Reviews says it drops ECG, the Blood Oxygen app, hypertension notifications and Precision Finding. It has a smaller, dimmer screen and Apple quotes 18 hours of battery against 24 hours for the Series 11.
Does the Apple Watch SE 3 have ECG?
No. Apple's page marks the ECG app as not supported on the SE 3.
Does the Apple Watch SE 3 have an always-on display?
Yes. It has an Always-On Retina display that reaches up to 1,000 nits.
Other smartwatch picks
The other badge winners in our smartwatches ranking.
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover smartwatches for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 17 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.
