Apple’s entry-level smartwatch is no longer the compromise it once was. With the new Apple Watch SE 3, Apple has packed in an Always-On display, the same powerful S10 chip found in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, and even 5G connectivity, all while keeping the starting price at $249. Early reviews agree that this year, the SE is no longer just the “budget” option but possibly the smartest buy in Apple’s lineup.
Design and display
Jacob Krol of TechRadar called the SE 3 “the best Apple Watch for most people if you can live without the latest design and advanced health features.” He praised the classic look and durability, noting, “It still looks and feels like a classic Apple Watch, with an aluminum build, tougher Ion-X glass, and solid sizing that make it both durable and practical — especially for parents buying one for kids.”
Vanessa Hand Orellana of CNET agreed, adding that the biggest change is the Always-On display. “The addition of an always-on display feels like a turning point. To me, that was always the biggest drawback of the SE. Not only is it helpful for workouts, but you can also disable it to extend battery life when necessary.”
Performance and features
Reviewers universally highlighted performance as a standout. Powered by the same S10 processor as Apple’s high-end models, the SE 3 runs watchOS 26 without compromise. Kate Kozuch of Tom’s Guide wrote, “With the Apple Watch SE 3, most of the trade-offs I needed to disclaim with the SE 2 are gone. It feels less like a compromise than ever with an always-on display, 5G connectivity, on-device Siri powered by the S10 chip, plus a skin temperature sensor and all the software upgrades in watchOS 26.”
Andrew Gebhart of PCMag was also impressed by how much Apple fit into the price: “The Apple Watch SE 3 delivers two-day battery life, a top-of-the-line processor, an always-on display, and upgraded sensors and software for the same price as its predecessor. It’s a strong, budget-friendly alternative to the Series 11.”
Health and fitness
The SE 3 doesn’t have every advanced sensor, but it adds important new features. As Kozuch noted, it now supports sleep apnea detection, a daily Sleep Score, and skin temperature tracking. That makes it much more competitive with higher-end models, even if it skips ECG and blood oxygen.
Krol emphasized that the essentials are all here: “Sure, you don’t get every health feature — there’s no ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking — but the essentials are here: heart rate tracking with alerts, the new Sleep Score with retroactive trends, activity tracking, and temperature sensing for cycle tracking.”
Battery life and charging
Battery life is officially rated at 18 hours, but real-world testing showed better endurance. Gebhart reported, “In testing, the SE 3 lasted nearly two full days on a single charge, which is well beyond Apple’s 18-hour estimate… Surprisingly, it did better than the Series 11, lasting 46 hours with typical use.”
Fast charging also impressed reviewers. Orellana noted, “The SE 3 now supports the ultra-fast charging that debuted on the Series 10, so you can top it up quickly and get up to 8 hours of juice in just 15 minutes on the charger.”
How it compares: SE 3 vs Series 11 vs Ultra 3
Compared with the $399 Series 11, the Apple Watch SE 3 offers nearly the same performance thanks to the identical S10 chip but skips premium features like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and the brighter LTPO3 display. The $799 Ultra 3 is in a different league with a larger screen, rugged titanium build, and extreme durability for outdoor use. Still, reviewers agreed that the SE 3 holds its own. As Gebhart put it in PCMag, “Thanks to watchOS 26, it offers similar exercise and sleep metrics as the $399 Series 11, and it uses the same power-efficient chip, delivering comparable performance — and even longer battery life — for $150 less.”
For most buyers, the trade-offs are worth it. The SE 3 offers the essentials at nearly half the price of the Series 11 and a fraction of the Ultra 3. That makes it, as Kozuch noted, “the most exciting pick among the best Apple Watch options this year.”
Verdict
At $249, reviewers agree the Apple Watch SE 3 is one of Apple’s strongest value plays in years. It may lack some high-end health sensors and the sleek design of the Series 11, but the performance, new display, and feature set make it the watch most people should buy.
