Apple Watch SE (3rd gen)
The cheapest Apple Watch worth buying. Always-on display and wrist temp at $249.
Key specs
- Battery life
- 18 hr
- Battery saver
- 32 hr
- GPS tracking
- 7 hr
- Charging
- 1h 15m
- Weight
- 32.9g
- Case size
- 44mm
- Display
- AMOLED, always-on
- Water resistance
- 5 ATM (50m)
- Phone
- iPhone only
- Sensors
- Optical heart rate, Skin temperature, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Compass, GPS, Altimeter, Ambient light, Microphone
The SE 3 closes most of the distance to the Series line without moving off $249. It gains the always-on display the SE has always lacked, the S10 chip, wrist temperature with retrospective ovulation estimates, sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, and charging that reaches 80% in 45 minutes — the SE 2 took two and a half hours to fill. What is still absent is the electrical heart sensor and the pulse oximeter, so no ECG app and no blood oxygen, and Apple does not offer hypertension notifications on it. Irregular rhythm alerts, fall and crash detection, and Training Load are all here. Battery stays at 18 hours, and the Series 12’s five-second heart rate and Readiness score don’t come down to it.
Strengths
- Always-on display and 2× faster charging at the same $249
- Adds wrist temperature, sleep score, and sleep apnea notifications
- Fall detection, crash detection, and Training Load match the flagships
Tradeoffs
- No ECG app and no blood oxygen sensor
- No hypertension notifications, unlike every Series model since the 9
- 18-hour battery and the dimmest display in the lineup
Full specs
Specs and pricing verified
Loading full specs…
Common questions
- How much does the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) cost?
- The Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) starts at $249, with larger sizes and premium finishes costing more.
- Does the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) require a subscription?
- No. Apple sells an optional premium tier at a monthly fee for deeper analysis, but the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) tracks and syncs without it.
- How long does the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) battery last?
- About 18 hr of typical use per charge. Heavy GPS use, an always-on display, and continuous sensing all pull that number down.
- How much does the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) weigh?
- The 44 mm Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) weighs 32.9 g.
- How big is the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen)?
- The Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) has a 44 mm case in the configuration we list, which weighs 32.9 g.
- Is the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) waterproof?
- The Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) is rated 5 ATM (50m), which covers showering, swimming, and surface water sports. It is not a dive rating.
- Does the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) work with iPhone and Android?
- It pairs with iPhone only — there is no Android app.
- When was the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) released?
- Apple released the Apple Watch SE (3rd gen) in 2025, and it is still in the current lineup.