Apple has announced the Apple Watch SE 3, a value-focused model that finally inherits several flagship features without tipping the price scale. The new entry starts at $249 and brings an S10 chip, an always-on display, and an expanded slate of health tools, while keeping the approachable design that made previous SE models best-sellers.
Preorders are live now, with general availability to follow. Apple is positioning the SE 3 as the easiest on-ramp to its wearable ecosystem—an everyday smartwatch that now feels far less “entry-level.”
Price and preorder details
The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at $249 for the GPS model, with cellular variants available for those who want standalone connectivity. Expect two case sizes and a familiar aluminum finish lineup, with full compatibility across Apple’s current band range. Retailers and carriers typically layer in trade-in credit and bundle promos at launch, so deal hunters should watch for activation incentives and accessory rebates.
Box contents include a USB-C cable supporting fast charge. As with recent models, Apple recommends a USB-C power adapter capable of higher output for the quickest top-ups.
Key specs and performance
At the heart of the SE 3 is Apple’s S10 chip, which boosts responsiveness across the interface and enables newer gesture controls like double tap. App launches feel snappier, Siri requests process faster, and animations hold a consistent frame rate even when juggling notifications, music controls, and workouts.
The addition of an always-on display is a pivotal upgrade for the SE line. It means glanceable stats during runs, persistent watch faces, and complication data that stays visible without raising your wrist—features previously reserved for pricier models. Apple also touts a more durable cover glass to improve resistance to everyday bumps and scratches.
Health and safety features
The SE 3 leans into Apple’s health stack with wrist temperature sensing that supports retrospective ovulation estimates in the Cycle Tracking app. For many users, that data provides helpful context around cycle variability and wellness trends. Apple emphasizes that these estimates are informational and not a form of contraception.
New sleep apnea notifications analyze patterns over time and can flag signals associated with potential sleep-disordered breathing. That’s notable given that, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, tens of millions of U.S. adults live with sleep apnea, a large portion undiagnosed. As always, alerts are not medical diagnoses but can prompt a conversation with a clinician.
Core safety tools return, including Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS, plus high and low heart rate notifications and irregular rhythm notifications with the optical heart sensor. For families, the SE 3 remains the most cost-effective path into Family Setup, allowing a child or older relative to stay connected without an iPhone of their own.
Battery and charging
Apple rates battery life at up to 18 hours in typical use, consistent with prior models. Fast charging significantly reduces downtime: a short top-up can supply a full night of sleep tracking, and reaching roughly 80% from low takes well under an hour with a compatible adapter. Low Power Mode remains a practical option for travel days or long hikes when you want to stretch runtime.
In practice, always-on display and cellular use are the biggest variables; runners streaming audio over cellular will see a faster drain than walkers relying on GPS alone. Still, quick charge turnarounds make the “wear all day, top up while showering” routine realistic.
Smart features and ecosystem
With watchOS at the helm, the SE 3 supports gesture navigation like double tap, on-device Siri for faster common requests, and seamless integration with Apple services from Fitness+ to Find My. Audio controls for music and podcasts, Wallet for contactless payments, and turn-by-turn directions round out the daily toolkit.
Crucially, the SE 3 now feels closer to the flagship experience. Counterpoint Research has repeatedly noted Apple’s leadership in smartwatch shipments, and a stronger entry-tier model is likely to keep that flywheel spinning—especially for first-time buyers and families adding a second or third watch.
Who should buy the SE 3?
If you’ve been holding out for an affordable Apple Watch with an always-on display and more comprehensive health signals, the SE 3 is the sweet spot. Fitness enthusiasts who want the most advanced metrics, or adventurers who need extreme battery life and specialty sensors, will still gravitate toward the top-end models. For everyone else, the SE 3 lands as the no-drama default: modern performance, meaningful health upgrades, and a price that undercuts most competitors with comparable polish.
Apple’s own product marketing frames SE as the gateway to the platform, and this generation finally lives up to that idea. It’s the budget-friendly Apple Watch that no longer feels like a compromise.