A last-minute leak from a private X account with a strong accuracy record is pointing to an Apple Watch SE 3 debut alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, with refreshed iPad Pro models reportedly moving to Apple’s M5 chip later in the year. While none of this is official, the lineup matches months of supply-chain chatter and analyst expectations, lending the claims added credibility.
What the leak says—and why it matters
The account in question flagged three watches—Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3—as imminent, and suggested next-generation iPad Pro hardware anchored by an M5 processor is also in the queue. Each device has been rumored independently; hearing them grouped together tightens the consensus around Apple’s fall hardware roadmap.
Pre-event whispers like this tend to pick up when final marketing materials, channel inventory plans, and carrier documentation are circulating. Historically, passing mentions in regulatory filings and last-minute distributor lists have accurately telegraphed Apple Watch configurations within days of launch. The timing here aligns with that pattern.
Apple Watch SE 3: the value play to watch
The current Apple Watch SE arrived in 2022, bringing core health and safety features—like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS—at a lower price. An SE 3 would logically aim to extend that formula with a faster chip, likely a variant of the S-series silicon used in flagship models, enabling smoother navigation and longer support windows for watchOS updates.
One practical question is which marquee software features trickle down. If Apple equips the SE 3 with newer silicon, on-device Siri for common commands and the Double Tap gesture (both tied to recent chips) become feasible. Apple could also add the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip to improve Precision Finding for iPhone and AirTag users—an increasingly relevant perk for family setup and first-time buyers.
Don’t expect premium materials or advanced sensors like blood oxygen on the SE line; Apple uses SE to hit aggressive price points and drive volume. The current model starts at around $249 in the U.S. and frequently dips to $199 in promotions. Holding near that range would keep Apple competitive as Android-compatible brands crowd the sub-$300 segment.
The strategy has macro support: Counterpoint Research estimates Apple has hovered at roughly one-quarter of global smartwatch shipments while commanding over half of revenue, thanks to higher average selling prices. An SE refresh is how Apple defends share in price-sensitive markets without diluting its premium tiers.
Series 11 and Ultra 3: iteration with intent
Series 11 is expected to carry a next-gen S-series chip, with the usual Apple focus on efficiency and responsiveness. Bloomberg has repeatedly signaled Apple’s work on thinner designs and bigger batteries across the Watch family, and a modest design update this cycle would fit with that narrative. Expect watchOS 11 features like Training Load insights and the new Vitals app to be front and center, with hardware optimizations supporting all-day metrics without sacrificing battery life.
For Ultra 3, expectations are more conservative after last year’s addition of a darker titanium finish and the jump to Apple’s latest silicon. Apple has historically alternated between capability and finish updates on its rugged model; incremental display, GPS, or material tweaks would be a sensible play while the company refines longer-horizon health sensors.
Importantly, keeping three tiers—SE for access, Series for mainstream, Ultra for endurance—lets Apple segment features and price points cleanly. IDC notes the wearables category has returned to growth, and the brands gaining share are the ones with clear ladders from entry to premium. Apple’s Watch lineup is a textbook example.
M5 iPad Pro chatter raises eyebrows
The suggestion that iPad Pro could move to M5 later this year is the wild card. Apple refreshed iPad Pro recently with major design and display changes, so a rapid chip cadence would be aggressive—but not unprecedented if Apple wants alignment with upcoming Mac silicon. The company has increasingly used iPad Pro to debut new chip architecture, then propagated it across the Mac lineup.
If M5 does arrive on iPad first, expect the pitch to center on pro workflows—video encoding, on-device machine learning, and graphics—where Apple can showcase measurable gains. Developers will watch closely for upgraded Neural Engine counts and memory bandwidth, which directly impact creative and AI-heavy apps.
What to watch for next
Keep an eye on retail SKU databases and regional regulatory filings, which often surface model numbers and case sizes ahead of time. Any shift in SE pricing will be especially telling: hold the line and Apple is doubling down on scale; inch upward and it likely signals meaningful silicon or wireless upgrades.
Bottom line: the SE 3 rumors align with Apple’s playbook—bring modern performance to an affordable watch, preserve the Ultra’s halo, and push the Series as the daily driver. If this leak is accurate, Apple’s wearables lineup is about to get sharper segmentation and a stronger value proposition just as the smartwatch market re-accelerates.