The Apple Watch SE 3 is cheap, but it doesn’t skimp out on what matters

• So what’s the Apple Watch SE 3 actually missing now?
• Other than the always-on display, not much else is new this year
• What Apple Watch is right for you?

Since its launch a few years ago, the Apple Watch SE has been Apple’s almost-good-enough entry-level smartwatch aimed squarely at the average iPhone user. It features a design similar to the Series line, but larger bezels and a smaller display, along with key health features like a heart rate monitor, resulting in a solid, all-around smartwatch package.

There’s always been one key shortcoming, though — it hasn’t featured an always-on screen. At least not until now.

When the Apple Watch Series 5 launched back in 2019, the addition of an always-on display was a true game-changer. Very quickly, the Apple Watch went from a nice-to-have gadget, to one that I truly missed when I wasn’t wearing it. Whether it’s checking the time, the weather, or glancing at a notification, the fact that the screen was always-on made the Series 5 more reliable and, in turn, easier to use (earlier Apple Watches’ raise-to-wake functionality didn’t work reliably, despite Apple’s claims). Fast-forward to the Apple Watch Series 11 in 2025, and I can’t remember what it was like to use an Apple Watch without an always-on display.

This has always been the Apple Watch SE’s key issue. Missing features like extra health sensors and a slightly sleeker design aren’t dealbreakers for most people, but the lack of an always-on screen was a major shortcoming. Thankfully, with the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple has finally brought its always-on screen to the wearable, in turn, making it the ultimate $250 smartwatch.

So what’s the Apple Watch SE 3 actually missing now?

The Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 are designed for more niche users

First off, the most notable upgrade with the Apple Watch SE 3 is the new always-on display. This means you can see the time, complications, workouts, and whatever you have on the wearable’s watch face, all without waking it up. This might seem like a minor feature addition, but trust me, it’s a game-changer for quickly accessing information at a glance. That said, there’s no always visible second hand, like with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 (however, it does appear when you tap the screen or lift your wrist). I like the added flair the second hand gives the higher-end Apple Watch’s, but it’s far from a must-have feature.

The Apple Watch SE 3’s screen is still the same size as the SE 2’s, though. This means its bezels are a bit bulkier than the Series 11’s. However, since I use dark Watch Faces most of the time, I’ve found I don’t notice much of a difference between the SE 3’s and the Series 11’s display.

To drive this point home, here’s an anecdote; one day, I absentmindedly grabbed my Apple Watch SE 3 from my nightstand thinking it was the Series 11, and didn’t realize it was actually the lower-end smartwatch for several hours — and even then, it wasn’t the display that gave it away. Instead, it was its size and weight, since the Apple Watch SE 3 is a bit thicker and heavier than the Series 11.

It’s worth noting that the Apple Watch SE 3’s display isn’t as bright as the Series 11 (2,000 nits) or Ultra 3’s (3,000 nits) screen, coming in at just 1,000 nits. While an obvious downgrade, I only really found the display difficult to view under really bright direct sunlight.

There are other additions this year, too, including the double-tap and wrist-flick gestures that were previously available only on the Series and Ultra smartwatches. I found a way to comfortably integrate these gestures into my day-to-day life, but they’re a welcome addition to the Apple Watch SE 3’s feature set.

Other additions include Sleep Apnea notifications, alongside the same Sleep Tracking features the SE 2 featured, and the ability to check skin temperature for cycle tracking and ovulation estimates. While the Apple Watch SE 3 isn’t as fitness-focused as the Series 11 or Ultra 3, these are solid new features that add extra value to the Apple Watch SE 3.

On the hardware side, the Apple Watch SE 3 gets a bump up to the S10 chip from the S8, alongside the W3 chip that was featured in the Apple Watch SE 2. This is the same processor featured in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, and it delivers just as smooth performance with Apple’s entry-level wearable. It’s surprising the tech giant didn’t use a lower-end chip in the Apple Watch SE 3, but I’m glad it didn’t. The result is an affordable smartwatch that feels far snappier than I expected.

Regarding storage, the Apple Watch SE 3 now offers 64GB of internal storage, up from the SE 2’s 32GB. Since I add a lot of songs from Spotify for offline listening while running, I’ve found the storage upgrade useful.

Other than the always-on display, not much else is new this year

Battery life doesn’t manage to hit 24 hours, but it’s probably enough for most people

With the upgrades out of the way, there’s a lot that’s still the same this year, including the Apple Watch SE 3’s roughly day-long battery life. The smartwatch doesn’t last quite as long as the Apple Watch Series 11’s roughly 24 hours or the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s multi-day battery, but it manages to eke out a full day in my experience. Since I’ve always plugged my Apple Watch in at the end of the day, this isn’t an issue for me.

Broadly though, the Apple Watch SE 3 is basically the Apple Watch SE 2, only with an always-on display.

However, if you’re looking to stretch the battery into the next morning or for multiple days, this isn’t the smartwatch for you. Lastly, like the rest of the Apple Watch lineup, the cellular version of the Apple Watch SE 3 is 5G-capable. Similar to the S10 chip, I’m a bit surprised Apple brought this feature to its entry-level watch, but it’s a welcome addition (though, since no wireless carrier offers 5G smartwatch plans in Canada yet, I wasn’t able to test it). The Apple Watch SE 3 also doesn’t feature satellite connectivity like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, though given this is the base smartwatch in Apple’s lineup, it makes sense that it doesn’t.

Broadly though, the Apple Watch SE 3 is basically the Apple Watch SE 2, only with an always-on display.

What Apple Watch is right for you?

This is the key question surrounding the Apple Watch SE 3

While the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 offer similar feature sets, and in turn, are aimed at the same type of user, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a very different smartwatch. Whether it makes sense for you, requires unpacking a few key questions. Do you want satellite connectivity, an expansive display, and several extra hours of battery life? Maybe health tracking features like hypertension notifications, ECG, and blood oxygen monitoring are important to you.

Then the more expensive $800 USD ($1,100 CAD) Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 $400 USD ($550 CAD) are more your speed. On the other hand, if you aim to use your Apple Watch as… well, a watch, have a bit of an appetite for health tracking features, and don’t need every device you own to be top-of-the-line, then the $250 USD ($330 CAD) Apple Watch SE 3 is the perfect smartwatch for you.