Not only would older Watch SE models require a connection to your iPhone to work with Siri, but these requests would also be much slower as the system would have to wait for the phone to respond. I also liked the charging times of previous Apple Watches, and in my tests, the speed of the Watch SE 3 is closer to that of newer models such as the Series 7 and newer models. Charging still takes a lot longer than the Series 11, but it’s not slow enough to be a problem. All you need to do is set up some kind of charging routine that gives the Watch SE 3 at least a few hours to get back to 100%.
When I tested the Watch SE 2, I missed the Always On Display, because I’m the type of fitness enthusiast who quickly glances at my wrist during push-ups and wants to see exactly what my heart rate is. Without an AOD, you have to raise your wrist or wake the screen to see your stats, which is annoying when you’re in the middle of a workout or carrying heavy weights. The Watch SE 3 provided essentially the same experience as the Series 11 when I wore it during resistance and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) training, although the latter’s larger screen made it easier to read my stats.
Speaking of the display, the Watch SE 3 didn’t get any brighter, topping out with the SE 2 at 1000 nits. But the latest SE can tolerate up to 2 nits of darkness, which is very close to the Series 11’s 1 nit. You might wonder why this is worth mentioning, but trust me, your retina will thank you if you accidentally raise your wrist, get a message in the middle of the night, or find yourself in a dark movie theater. Older smartwatches were quite annoying in movie theaters, as their screens were bright enough to burn any eyeballs accustomed to low light.
Another screen-related improvement that isn’t immediately obvious is the SE 3’s Ion-X glass, which Apple says is four times more crack-resistant than the SE 2. I haven’t put this claim to the test, but the tougher material should help protect your smartwatch from future mishaps.
I should also note that the Watch SE 3 uses the same S10 processor as the Series 11, which has a quad-core Neural Engine that should help speed up Siri and Apple Intelligence tasks. Overall, I found the SE 3 to be fast and responsive, and usually as fast as the Series 11. Previous Watch SE models tended to be a little slow, so it’s good to see the SE 3 get this particular hit.
The impact of most of the SE 3’s other improvements depends on how you use the smartwatch. For example, the new 5G support would be useful if you own a cell phone and want to keep your phone close at hand while running errands or walking. The wrist temperature sensor is primarily used to predict cycles. So if you’re not ovulating, it’s probably not useful for you right now. Sleep apnea notifications will not affect people who do not have sleep apnea, although they are a nice feature. While I appreciate the ability to play media tracks through the watch’s built-in speakers, I rarely want to do so.
It might be worth mentioning that the SE 3 comes in one less color variant than the SE 2. You can only choose between Starlight (a warm light gray) or Midnight (black), as the silver version is not available in the latest generation.
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Watch SE 3
My main goal in testing the Watch SE 3 was whether it was good enough to replace the Series 11. Like I said, the short answer is yes, but it depends on how you use these devices. I don’t wear the smartwatch to bed, so my Watch SE 3 still has enough power when I need it in the morning, making me much less bothered by the relatively slow charging speeds. If you use your Apple Watch constantly, something that charges faster may be much more suitable – the Series 10 and Series 11 are better in this regard.
The Series 11’s larger screen and smaller bezels give it a much nicer look, but since the SE 3 also runs watchOS 26, I was able to use the same watch faces on both. Aesthetically, I didn’t find the two to be too far apart visually, and if you’re not as familiar with the latest Apple Watches as I am, you might not find the bezels as appealing as I do. And while the SE 3 uses a flat OLED compared to the 11 Series’ wide-angle OLED, I never had any reading issues regardless of position.
With their electrical pulse sensors, the Series 11 and 10 support new health-focused Apple features, such as high blood pressure alerts and apps to measure EKG and blood oxygen. The SE 3’s optical sensor is older and doesn’t have these features, but you still get irregular rhythm alerts, low cardiovascular activity alerts, and high and low heart rate alerts. It was more than enough for me, and even though I occasionally do an EKG on my Series 11, I wouldn’t miss it (especially if there was a $150 price difference).
I’m also not much of a swimmer or avid diver, so the lack of a depth gauge and water temperature sensor on the SE 3 doesn’t bother me. All three watches I mentioned in this section are water resistant up to 50 meters, which is more than enough for my needs. If you want your watch to guide you in your diving activities, it is probably worth choosing the Series 10 or 11.
The more expensive watches are also IP6x certified for dust resistance, meaning they should offer a bit more peace of mind for those working on beaches or construction sites, for example. I’ve never encountered a smartwatch that stopped working due to dust exposure, certified or not, so the SE 3’s lack of certification doesn’t bother me either.
One thing that discerning tech enthusiasts might point out is the fact that the SE 3 doesn’t have the same ultra-wideband (UWB) chip as the Series 10 and 11. This allows for greater precision where it is, allowing you to locate your iPhone or cell phone within a few meters. But you still get basic Find My support on the Watch SE 3, and I honestly used the watch to call my phone so I could confirm it was with me without having to dig through every pocket of my big bag. But if you use this Find My interface a lot, this is something you should consider when buying your next Apple Watch.
Finally, if you’re a fan of the titanium finish or the multiple color options in Apple’s premium line, only the Series 10 and 11 are available in silver and rose gold for the aluminum casing. The Series 11 is also available in Space Gray for the aluminum and in Slate, Gold and Natural for the titanium finish. Even in this case, the SE 3 is only available in two colors.
Use Apple Watch SE 3 as a Series 11 user
I’m the type of person who wears my smartwatch when I go out and takes it off when I get home. When I’m on the go, I expect my Apple Watch to track my steps and activity, automatically detect and record my longest walks, alert me when someone calls or texts me, and track my workouts. The SE 3 was more than adequate for all of these situations. I did occasionally notice that it was a bit slower than the Series 11 to detect when I had finished my workout and ask me to end the session, but not with a worrying frequency.
The SE 3 was just as good as the Series 11 at serving as an external viewfinder for my iPhone’s camera, and Siri was quick to respond when I started exercising or updated the weather. I also appreciated the double taps and wrist gestures, and frankly I also appreciated the small size of the watch.
But I missed the brighter screen and smaller bezels of the Series 11. I also prefer the Series 11 for its faster charging capabilities and slightly longer battery life. Both managed to last a full day before needing a charge, but the Series 11 generally ran more in the background during that time.
In the end, it wasn’t features like blood oxygen levels or high blood pressure notifications that I wanted back. These were physical components like a brighter screen or a bigger battery and a sturdier case that I wanted to carry with me just in case.
Summary
Is peace of mind worth a $150 premium? In this economy, it’s hard to say. For starters, a $399 Apple Watch will likely last longer than the $249 SE 3, thanks in large part to tougher materials, making it a smarter long-term investment. But for those who are currently on a budget and need to replace old or broken smartwatches, the SE 3 is the way to go.