The Apple Watch SE 3 is the third generation of Apple’s entry-level smartwatch line, the more affordable companion to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 in the current lineup. The SE 3 inherits the S10 chip from the higher-end Series 10 and 11 models, bringing on-device Siri, double-tap and wrist flick gestures, and an Always-On Retina display to the SE tier for the first time. Wrist temperature sensing, sleep apnea notifications, sleep score, and retrospective ovulation estimates are also available on the higher-tier watches. The aluminum case is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with both GPS-only and GPS plus Cellular models offered.
A powerful smartwatch with all the features you could want
Always-On display is the change long-time Apple Watch users will notice first. Earlier SE models required a wrist raise or a tap on the screen to read the time. The SE 3 keeps the watch face visible at a dimmed brightness at all times and brightens automatically when you raise your wrist.
Fast charging is also new to the SE line on this generation. The SE 3 charges twice as fast as the SE 2 through the included Magnetic Fast Charger, with 15 minutes on the charger adding about 8 hours of battery life. A full charge from empty to 80% takes around 45 minutes. Battery life on a full charge is rated at 18 hours, or up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode.
Health tracking on the SE 3 is the most complete it has ever been on Apple’s entry-level watch. The wrist temperature sensor produces overnight temperature readings that feed the Vitals app and the cycle tracking system, and sleep apnea notifications run in the background to alert you to potential signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea over time. Heart rate monitoring, irregular rhythm notifications, and high heart rate alerts continue from previous generations.
Crash Detection and Fall Detection both run on the SE 3 using the accelerometer and gyroscope, and automatically trigger an emergency call if you don’t respond to a crash or fall event. The Ion-X glass on the SE 3 is 4x more crack-resistant than the glass on the SE 2, which holds up better to everyday bumps against doorways, desks, and gym equipment.
The case comes in a matte aluminum finish in Starlight, Midnight, and Gold, with band options from Apple and third-party brands available separately. The watch uses 100% recycled aluminum in the case and pairs with any iPhone running iOS 26 or later.
At $219 on Amazon, the SE 3 is $31 below the $250 launch price. The cut brings Apple’s current entry-level smartwatch under the $220 threshold, and the SE 3 carries the same S10 chip, Always-On display, and most of the sensor suite Apple ships on the higher-priced Series 11.