As a smartwatch reviewer, I’m a giant fan of the entry-level Apple Watch SE line, and the new Apple Watch SE 3 is a huge and welcome upgrade over 2022’s second-generation device. With all sorts of new hardware, fitness tools and health features, all for the same cost as before, there are plenty of reasons to consider the SE 3.
That said, while it’s easily one of the best cheap smartwatch models available in 2025, I can think of at least two reasons to let the latest entry-level Apple Watch pass you by.
Buy: The price
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable full-featured smartwatch of 2025, with a starting cost of $249 for the 40mm model with GPS, or $299 for cellular connectivity.
The larger 44mm SE 3 is $279 for the GPS model or $329 for the cellular-capable edition. Across the board, this is the same pricing as prior Apple Watch SE generations.
Buy: Faster processor
The Apple Watch SE 3 sports the brand’s latest S10 processor — the very same one found in the $399 Apple Watch Series 11 and $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 — which unlocks the latest AI features, including the personalized fitness coach, Workout Buddy, and live message translations (though you’ll need it paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer).
Buy: The always-on display
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the first SE model with an always-on display, again, thanks to the upgraded S10 processor. We're huge fans of this feature, because it allows you to easily read the display at a glance without so much as lifting your wrist.
The always-on display shows a dimmed version of the watch’s lock screen, which can be populated with widgets of your choice, including, of course, the time. However, due to screen refresh rate limitations, the SE 3 doesn't offer the analog clock-style sweeping seconds hand found on the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
Buy: The case size
The 40mm Apple Watch SE 3 is the smallest and lightest smartwatch in Apple’s portfolio. That said, the case is 1mm thicker than the latest Series 11 case, 10.7mm versus 9.7mm. Nevertheless, if you have a small wrist or just prefer a less bulky device (like I do), this is likely the Apple Watch model for you.
Buy: The health and fitness features
The SE 3 offers most of the same health and fitness features found on the higher-end models, except ECG and SpO2 readings and hypertension alerts. In addition to supporting the new Apple Intelligence-powered Workout Buddy feature, the SE 3 also offers automatic exercise detection, custom workout creation, and dedicated tracking modes for a wide range of physical activities.
The addition of an onboard body temperature sensor unlocks women’s health tracking and should improve sleep tracking insights compared to the SE (2022). Speaking of sleep, like the other new models, the SE 3 supports Apple’s new daily sleep score. It’s also FDA-cleared for sleep apnea detection.
Buy: 5G connectivity
Later days, LTE, the new Apple Watch SE 3 packs a 5G antenna, which should mean a faster and more reliable cellular connection compared to past SE models. 5G is also more power efficient than LTE, another plus.
Skip: 18-hour battery
While the new Apple Watch Series 11 saw a battery life upgrade from 18 hours per charge to 24 hours per charge, the SE 3 offers the same 18-hour rating as its predecessor. This is not to say there aren’t battery life improvements, considering the newer model is rated 18 hours with the always-on display versus without it for the older model.
You can stretch battery life on the SE 3 to 32 hours per charge in low-power mode, but you lose the always-on display and some other features. Fortunately, the SE 3 recharges just as fast as the Series 11. Apple says that 15 minutes of charging should provide eight hours of power, or just shy of a 50% recharge.
Skip: Display not as bright as Apple Watch 11
The Apple Watch SE 3 sports the same display as its predecessor, an LTPO OLED panel with 1,000 nits max brightness. Compared to the latest LTPO3 wide-angle OLED technology found in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3’s display feels dated.
1,000 nits is moderately bright, but not quite bright enough for easy viewing in direct sunlight. By comparison, the Series 11 maxes out at 2,000 nits and the Ultra 3 maxes at 3,000 nits. Likewise, the older display technology isn’t as readable at odd angles as the newer wide-angle OLED displays.
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More from Tom's Guide
- Apple Watch 11 vs Ultra 3 vs SE 3 — here's how all the new Apple Watch models compare
- Apple Watch 11 — 5 reasons I'd buy the new Series 11, and 2 reasons I'd skip it
- I’ve run marathons with every Apple Watch Ultra — here's 3 Apple Watch Ultra 3 features I'm most excited for
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