Apple Watch Series 11 vs. SE 3: A buyer's guide

Apple has released three new smartwatch models, creating a tiered lineup where the purchasing decision for most consumers likely lies between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11. The Apple Watch Ultra 3, priced at $799, is aimed at a niche, high-end market and athletes. For the broader consumer base, the choice comes down to the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3, which starts at $249, and the Apple Watch Series 11, starting at $399.

Despite its lower price, the Apple Watch SE 3 comes with much of the same software as the Series 11. The SE 3 has received a significant upgrade from the SE 2, jumping to the S10 chip (Apple’s processor used in the watches) and introducing an always-on Retina display (Apple’s high-resolution screen technology). Both models share core features, including “high and low heart rate notifications”, “irregular rhythm notifications”, “low cardio fitness notifications”, and safety tools like “Fall detection and crash detection”. They are also water resistant to 50 meters and support fast charging, reaching up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes for the Series 11 and up to 80% charge in about 45 minutes for the SE 3. Both require 15 minutes of charging for up to eight hours of use.

While the SE 3 offers strong value, the Series 11 would be the better option for users wanting advanced health features, better battery life, and a larger display. The key technical differences between the two models include:

• Battery life: The Series 11 can last up to 24 hours (28 hours in low-power mode), while the SE 3 can last up to 18 hours (32 hours in low-power mode).
• Health features: The Series 11 comes with more advanced health tracking features, including “hypertension notifications”, an “ECG app”, and a “Blood Oxygen app”. The SE 3 lacks these but does offer “retrospective ovulation insights”.
• Screen and display: The Series 11 display can reach up to 2000 nits (with a 1 nit minimum), while the SE 3 goes up to 1000 nits (with a 2 nit minimum).
• Size and profile: The Series 11 is available in 46mm and 44mm sizes and is almost 10% thinner than the SE 3, which comes in 44mm and 40mm sizes.
• Other hardware: The Series 11 features a depth gauge to six meters, which is absent on the SE 3.

Why it matters

Understanding the trade-offs between Apple’s budget and premium smartwatch models allows consumers to optimize their spending based on actual health and performance needs rather than just price.