Apple Watch SE 3 Review - Best Value Smartwatch 2025

If you’re looking for a highly cost-effective Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE 3 is definitely worth considering. It’s not Apple’s top-of-the-line flagship, but the latest upgrades make its performance and features nearly match the premium models.

In the past, the SE series often felt like an “entry-level” option, with some compromises. For example, the Apple Watch SE(2022) lacked an always-on display, and its processor was somewhat outdated. But the SE3 changes that completely: it now offers an always-on display, is powered by the new S10 chip, features more comprehensive health monitoring, and supports faster charging. Running, cycling, strength training, and high-intensity interval workouts are all handled smoothly.

What’s even more impressive is that these upgrades don’t come with a steep price. The SE3 remains one of the most affordable Apple Watch options, yet in real-world use, its experience is almost on par with the Series 11 or Ultra 3. In other words, you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy most of the core Apple Watch features. Also read the Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review, Apple Watch SE 3 vs Series 11 and Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Ultra 3 vs. SE 3.

For users who want a well-rounded smartwatch that performs smoothly for daily use while staying budget-friendly, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a smart choice. In this Apple Watch SE 3 Review, I’ll cover multiple key areas including the display, performance, battery life, health monitoring, and value for money to help you decide if it’s worth buying.

Apple Watch SE 3 Review - Specifications

Price and Value - The Most Cost-Effective Apple Watch

The Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable option in Apple’s latest smartwatch lineup, starting at $249 for the 40mm GPS model and $279 for the 44mm GPS model. The cellular version costs approximately $50 more, offering independent 5G connectivity to send messages, make calls, and stream music without needing an iPhone nearby.

Compared to the Series 11 (~$400) and Ultra 3 (~$800), the SE 3 delivers near-flagship performance and significant feature upgrades at a much lower price, making it an excellent value. Whether for daily use or as a gift, it is the best entry-level Apple Watch choice.

Overall Rating: 5 / 5

Affordable, feature-rich, and with cellular support, the SE 3 offers unbeatable value, making it the most worthwhile Apple entry-level smartwatch to buy today.

Design and Durability - Lightweight, Classic, and Eco-Friendly

Lightweight Aluminum Body

The Apple Watch SE 3 continues Apple’s signature rounded-square design, crafted from lightweight aluminum that feels refined yet durable. It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes to suit different wrist types. While it doesn’t use titanium or stainless steel like the higher-end Series 11 or Ultra 3, its overall look remains clean, modern, and comfortable for daily wear.

Refined Details and Color Options

The SE 3 is available in Starlight and Midnight, both of which pair easily with various bands for personalized styling. For more style, you can explore Apple Watch SE 3 Bands. Also do not miss the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 Bands and Apple Watch Series 11 Bands.

Its narrow bezel design offers a higher screen-to-body ratio, creating a more immersive viewing experience. The digital crown and side button feel smooth and responsive, ensuring a pleasant interaction in everyday use.

Water Resistance and Durability

Built to meet the ISO 22810:2010 water-resistance standard, the SE 3 can withstand up to 50 meters of water depth, making it suitable for swimming and daily splashes. Although it lacks the IP6X dust resistance found in premium models, the aluminum case provides solid protection against everyday scratches and minor impacts.

Eco-Conscious Materials

Apple Watch SE 3’s case is made from 100% recycled aluminum, reflecting Apple’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. This balance of lightweight comfort and eco-friendly materials makes it both a stylish and responsible choice.

Overall Experience

In daily use, the Apple Watch SE 3 feels lightweight, stylish, and comfortable to wear - ideal for first-time Apple Watch users or those who prefer a minimalist look. While it misses some premium materials and dust protection, its craftsmanship and environmental focus deliver strong overall value.

Overall Rating: 4.6 / 5

Lightweight, durable, and elegantly designed, the Apple Watch SE 3 combines practicality, comfort, and eco-friendly appeal in one well-balanced package.

Display Upgrade - Always-On Retina for a Complete Experience

Always-On Display Returns

The Apple Watch SE 3 finally introduces the long-awaited Always-On Retina Display, allowing users to check the time and complications even when the wrist is down. The screen intelligently dims when idle but remains visible at a glance. During workouts, it stays active for real-time data viewing- making the experience smoother and more premium.

Brightness and Visibility

Equipped with an LTPO OLED panel, the SE 3 delivers a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. While it falls short of the 2,000 nits on the Series 11 and 3,000 nits on the Ultra 3, visibility remains excellent in most lighting conditions. Even under direct sunlight, only minor wrist adjustments are needed to see the screen clearly.

Improved Durability

Apple upgraded the SE 3 with Ion-X strengthened glass, boasting up to four times better crack and scratch resistance than the SE 2. This makes it much more reliable for daily wear. However, it still lacks the ceramic coating used on premium models, so users in harsher environments may still want to apply a screen protector for extra safety.

Screen Size and Visual Experience

The SE 3 is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes with resolutions of 324×394 and 368×448, respectively. While the bezels are slightly thicker, they’re hardly noticeable on darker watch faces. The screen delivers vivid colors, smooth animations, and an overall experience that feels very close to the Series 11.

Overall Experience

With the addition of the Always-On Display, the SE 3 finally fills the biggest gap in the SE lineup. Checking the time, fitness stats, or notifications feels effortless and intuitive. Though it lacks the extreme brightness and material refinements of higher-end models, it delivers an excellent balance of performance and value.

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5

The Always-On Display elevates the SE 3 experience to a new level- bright, durable, and visually impressive. Aside from minor material compromises, it’s the most complete and worthwhile SE model to date.

Hardware and Performance Upgrades - Smarter, Faster, and Future-Proof

Comprehensive Performance Upgrade

The Apple Watch SE 3 is powered by the S10 chip, the same as in the Series 11 and Ultra 3. Performance has improved by approximately 20% compared to the previous S8 chip, offering smoother system operation and higher energy efficiency. Whether multitasking or using high-frequency apps like health tracking and workout recording, users will notice faster response times and lower latency. The S10 chip also enables better system optimization and future compatibility, keeping the SE series in line with flagship models.

On-Device Siri and Faster Response

With the S10 chip, the SE 3 supports on-device Siri processing, allowing voice commands to be executed without connecting to an iPhone or the internet. Tasks such as starting workouts, setting timers, or querying health data respond faster while keeping user data private and secure.

More Natural Gesture Control

The SE 3 introduces Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures, enabling single-handed operations like returning to the home screen, clearing notifications, or switching apps. These gestures are particularly useful when cooking, exercising, or when both hands are occupied, enhancing convenience and intuitive interaction.

5G Cellular Support

For the first time, the SE 3 supports 5G connectivity, providing faster download speeds and more stable calls in cellular models. While the difference with 4G may be subtle in daily use, 5G offers a better independent experience in scenarios away from the phone or Wi-Fi, such as outdoor running or commuting, and ensures future-proofing.

Doubled Storage Capacity

Internal storage has increased from 32GB to 64GB, allowing for more apps, music, and podcasts, offering greater flexibility for standalone use.

Overall Experience

The S10 chip upgrades make the SE 3 far more than just an entry-level watch—it delivers near-flagship speed and functionality. Gesture controls, on-device Siri, and 5G support make interactions smoother and more seamless, providing a solid foundation for years of use.

Overall Rating: 4.9 / 5

Performance leaps are clear, interactions are smooth and intuitive, and features are future-ready. With only minor compromises in premium materials and additional sensors, this is the most powerful SE model to date.

Battery Life - Reliable All Day with Convenient Fast Charging

Daily Usage Performance

The Apple Watch SE 3 is officially rated for 18 hours of daily battery life, but in real-world use, it can easily reach 20–24 hours, including about an hour of outdoor exercise. For workouts, the official endurance is 7 hours, and in practice, using the Always-On display or adjusting brightness has minimal impact, delivering stable performance.

Tips to Extend Battery Life

• Lower the screen brightness
• Turn off the Always-On display

These adjustments can further optimize battery life, and in Low Power Mode, it can even reach up to 32 hours.

Fast Charging Support

The SE 3 supports fast charging, providing about 8 hours of use after just 15 minutes of charging, and 80% charge in 45 minutes. This is ideal for quick top-ups during a busy day or before outdoor activities.

Overall Experience

The battery easily covers a full day of use. Combined with fast charging, even during high-intensity use or outdoor workouts, the SE 3 remains reliable. For users seeking stable and convenient battery performance, it’s an excellent choice.

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5

Consistent endurance, practical fast charging, and extended Low Power Mode usage make the SE 3’s battery performance outstanding among watches in its price range.

Health and Fitness Monitoring - Basic, Accurate, and Sufficient for Daily Use

Heart Rate and Basic Health Monitoring

The SE 3 features a second-generation optical heart rate sensor, capable of monitoring heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature, with high and low heart rate alerts. It also introduces sleep apnea notifications (after 30 days of data) and a sleep scoring system to help users evaluate rest quality. Note that these features are for reference only, and any abnormal readings should prompt medical consultation.

Differences Compared to Higher-End Models

Compared to the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 lacks ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, high blood pressure alerts, and depth sensors. However, its basic heart rate tracking performs reliably during daily workouts. It supports fall detection, crash detection, and SOS emergency calls, and the cellular model enables international emergency calls.

Sleep Tracking

The SE 3 introduces a sleep scoring system that rates sleep from 0–100 based on duration, consistency of bedtime, and nighttime interruptions. Combined with the Vitals app, it records heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature, giving users a clear view of sleep quality. The system is simple and easy to understand, though deep sleep data is relatively basic.

Workout and Fitness Features

The watch includes multiple workout modes, such as running, cycling, hiking, gym training, yoga, Pilates, and pool/open-water swimming. Training metrics include effort rating, training load, speed, pace, stride, and running power. It can connect to external Bluetooth heart rate straps or smart devices for higher accuracy. Tests show SE 3’s heart rate monitoring is highly accurate, with a correlation coefficient of R=0.988 when compared to the Polar H10 ECG chest strap.

GPS and Daily Use

SE 3 uses single-frequency GPS, which performs reliably for daily runs and activity tracking. While not as precise as the Ultra 3’s multi-frequency GPS in challenging environments, it is sufficient for everyday use.

Overall Experience

The SE 3 provides reliable basic health and fitness tracking. Daily exercise, sleep monitoring, and safety features work well. While it lacks advanced sensors and ECG/SpO2 functionality, it meets the needs of most users for everyday health management and workout tracking.

Overall Rating: 4.7 / 5

Accurate basic monitoring, comprehensive workout features, and clear sleep scoring. The absence of high-end sensors is the only minor drawback, but the overall health experience remains excellent.

System and Interaction - Smooth, Intuitive, and Gesture-Friendly

Operating System and Interface

The Apple Watch SE 3 runs watchOS 26, offering the latest system features such as sleep scoring, health data tracking, and on-device Siri. The new liquid glass-style watch faces provide a modern, visually appealing interface with elastic icons and subtle transparency effects. Workouts, fitness apps, and daily productivity tools are optimized for smoother interactions, supporting custom workouts, Workout Buddy, and auto-play exercise playlists for a seamless user experience.

Gesture Controls and Interaction

With the S10 chip, SE 3 introduces smart gestures that enhance usability:

• Wrist Flick: Clear notifications, mute calls, or return to the home screen without touching the display - ideal for workouts or when your hands are busy.
• Double Tap: Switch Smart Stacks, answer calls, or control music with a simple pinch motion, enabling effortless one-hand control.
• Raise to Speak Siri and long-press the digital crown for offline Siri commands, making it faster to access health data and perform tasks directly on the watch.

Software Experience

The combination of the liquid glass interface and gesture controls maximizes screen space on the smaller SE 3 display, delivering intuitive operation. Apps like workouts, notifications, and notes are redesigned for efficiency. Hands-free gesture control ensures you won’t miss important alerts, creating a smartwatch experience that is both convenient and user-friendly.

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5

The Apple Watch SE 3 offers a visually appealing, smooth, and gesture-driven interaction. Siri responds quickly, offline commands work seamlessly, and hand gestures feel natural. While the smaller screen slightly limits visual experience compared to flagship models, SE 3 provides one of the most intuitive and gesture-friendly Apple Watch experiences to date.

Apple Watch SE 3 Quick Scorecard

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a highly cost-effective smartwatch that delivers near-flagship performance. The S10 chip ensures smooth operation, the Always-On Retina display enhances daily usability, health and fitness tracking covers most everyday needs, the battery is reliable with fast charging support, and gesture controls are intuitive. While it lacks advanced sensors, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and premium materials, its combination of features and price remains highly appealing.

Recommended For:

• First-time Apple Watch buyers seeking a high-quality yet budget-friendly option.
• Users who need daily health tracking, workout monitoring, and notifications.
• People who prefer a lightweight, eco-friendly design with intuitive gesture controls.
• Those who want cellular models for independent calls, messages, and music streaming.

Not Recommended For:

• Users who require advanced health features such as ECG, SpO₂, or multi-frequency GPS.
• Those who prefer premium materials like stainless steel or titanium.
• Users seeking extreme brightness, dust resistance, or rugged outdoor performance.

Final Verdict:

The SE 3 strikes an excellent balance between performance, features, and price. For most users, it delivers almost all the core experiences of a flagship Apple Watch, making it the best entry-level option in Apple’s lineup today.