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Apple has left its entry-level Apple Watch SE model alone since 2022. Despite that, the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) remains our top pick as the best budget smartwatch available today.
It finally has some competition with the refreshed Apple Watch SE (3rd generation). The much-welcomed update brings a number of upgrades and design changes.
Apple is pitching all of its new Watches this year as more helpful for your health and for a more active life.
“With even more health features, an Always-On display, and fast charging, we’re excited to see the ways Apple Watch SE 3 supports more people around the world to live a healthier and more active life," Apple's VP of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing, Stan Ng said in a press release.
Read on to find out the biggest Apple Watch SE 3 upgrades over the Apple Watch SE 2, plus pricing and availability.
Apple Watch SE 3 Price and release date
The new Apple Watch SE 3 is available for preorder now and expected to start shipping by on September 19. It's priced at $249, the same cost as the Apple Watch SE 2.
The watch is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes in midnight or starlight cases.
Apple Watch SE 3: Key upgrades
Apple Watch SE 3 upgrade #1: Aluminum cases and display
There were rumors that the SE 3 would feature an all-plastic body, but the third-generation watch is sticking with an all-aluminum case. The 2022 version changed the case to a nylon composite plastic, but the shell was still aluminum.
Apple claims the cover class is "4x more resistant to cracks" than the Watch SE 2.
It now has an Always-On display that you can use to see the new Liquid Glass aesthetic as part of watchOS 26. There are two new watch faces as well. The display should be quickly viewable without needing to raise your arm or tap the display, if you want it on.
Apple Watch SE 3 upgrade #2: Better chip and fast charging
The latest Apple Watch comes with an S10 chipset, very similar to the one used in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Series 10. It's a big improvement over the S8 chip in the SE 2.
The Watch SE 3 comes with fast charging, introduced in the Apple Watch 7 but skipped on the second generation. The battery doesn't appear to have changed with Apple promising 18 hours of battery life, the same as the SE 2.
According to Apple, the SE 3 can add eight hours of battery life in 15 minutes of charging, and up to 80% in about 45 minutes.
Apple Watch SE 3 update #3: Better health features
Apple Watch SE 3 adds some new health features, mostly surrounding sleep tracking.
The big one is Sleep Score, which is very similar to Samsung's Energy Score introduced last year. Sleep score tracks your overnights with insights into duration, stages and other data.
Using that information, the tool creates a score to give you a general idea of how you're sleeping. From there, it can offer breakdowns and suggestions on improving your sleep.
Apple says the scoring and guidance are informed by information from American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, and World Sleep Society
Additionally, the Watch SE 3 is getting sleep apnea notifications which will alert you if you show "consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea" over a 30-day period. "The algorithm" analyzes accelerometer data to detect interruptions in your respiratory patterns.
Non-sleep data includes the addition of wrist temperature sensing. This will be used for overall health in the Vitals app. One specific health benefit Apple mentions is "retrospective ovulation estimates" via the wrist temperature sensing.
Using the temperature data, it estimates the "likely day of ovulation after it has occurred" and can be used to improve period predictions.
These new features are in addition to heart health notifications, Cycle Tracking, and cardio fitness, plus safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Check In, which the SE 2 can access.
Apple Watch SE 3 upgrade #4: New gestures and better Siri
With the new S10 chip, Apple has added a faster on-device Siri and gesture controls. Siri can log and access your tracking data or be used to start workouts and set timers.
The S10 chip enables new double tap and wrist flick gestures for more one-handed controls. Double tap lets you tap your thumb and pointer finger together to "select the primary action" in apps. For example, you can use it to answer or end calls, snooze an alarm or view a message.
The wrist flick gesture lets you turn your write over and back to dismiss notifications or calls if you aren't ready to see them.
Apple Watch SE 3 upgrade #5: AI features
In addition to offering Apple's new AI-powered fitness coach, Workout Buddy, other new Apple Intelligence-backed features built into the latest Apple Watch SE 3 include live message translations, the Notes app, and smart stack hints.
Live translation is available in the Messages app where it will automatically translate texts into your preferred language. Apple also says the Messages app will suggest relevant actions based on contextual clues in texts, like sending money using Apple Cash if someone asks you to contribute to say a group gift.
Smart Stack is supposed to provide "useful" suggestions based on contextual, sensor and routine data.
If your iPhone is close, the Watch SE 3 is getting hold assist and call screening to help you when you're waiting on hold during a call and screening incoming calls from unknown numbers.
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