Apple Watch SE 3, priced at $199.99 (was $249), arrives with the S10 chip that powers the higher priced Series models, bringing double tap and wrist flick gestures along with on device Siri responses that no longer require an iPhone nearby for basic requests. A 40mm aluminum case in Starlight wraps an Always On Retina display that stays visible at a glance, peaking at 1000 nits while dropping as low as 2 nits, and the Ion X glass covering it resists cracks four times better than the glass on the previous SE, while storage doubles to 64GB.
Wearing a watch for a full day of activity gives you a solid 18 hours of normal use, but that number climbs to 32 hours once the Low Power Mode comes in. A 15-minute charge can provide you with 8 hours of battery life, which is plenty to get you through an average day, and a complete top-up will charge you to 80% in 45 minutes. We’re talking about good battery life here.
- GET ESSENTIAL HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker. Temperature sensing* enables insights in the Vitals app* and Cycle...
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a variety of ways—from running and strength training to achieving your 10K steps a day...
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. SE 3 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you...
Second-generation optical heart rate sensing provides an excellent read on your heart rhythms, including highs and lows, and the new temperature sensor feeds in nighttime data while also assisting with ovulation estimation within Cycle Tracking. Sleep Score analyzes duration, phases, consistency, and other factors to provide an accurate picture of how you sleep, and the new sleep apnea warnings use wrist motion to detect potential breathing problems while you sleep.
All of the same Safety Tools are still available, including fall detection, crash detection, SOS, and Check In, which work exactly as they do on more expensive Apple Watches. The 50-meter water resistance means you may go for a swim without any problem. Oh, and you can now play media on the built-in speaker, which is a new feature. Plus, the improved microphone improves voice isolation during calls significantly.
You continue to receive all of the Activity Rings, workout tracking, and Workout Buddy verbal inspiration that come with Watchos. In addition, all of the Series line’s most important features remain, such as daily movement goals and personalized feedback.
Given that you get an always-on display, S10 performance, temperature-based insights, and rapid charging, it’s a fairly good deal for someone who wants the basic Apple Watch experience without breaking the bank. Just keep in mind that you’ll need an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 16 or later to run this device, and you’ll continue to receive the same watchOS upgrades as the flagship watches.
