Apple Watch SE 3

 The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s renewed “mid-tier” or more affordable option, refreshed to bring in features that had previously been reserved for higher models. It was introduced as part of Apple’s 2025 lineup, and became available the same day as the rest of the new devices. In Australia it starts at about A$399 for the GPS version with aluminium case (though cellular versions and special finishes push the price higher).

One of the most notable changes in the SE 3 is the addition of an Always-On display — a feature that makes glancing at your watch more natural, even when your wrist is down. The front glass has also been upgraded: Apple says the new Ion-X material used is roughly four times more crack resistant than the glass used in SE 2, which helps reduce the risk of damage from everyday bumps or slips.

In terms of size and build, the SE 3 maintains a familiar form. It’s offered in two case sizes (40 mm and 44 mm) in 10.7 mm thickness, which is slightly thicker than some of the premium models. The aluminium case is recycled and available in finishes such as Midnight and Starlight. The back uses a composite material similar to prior SE models.

Inside, it runs on the S10 chip — the same generation that powers Apple’s newer watches. That provides faster performance and better power efficiency, making newer features more viable in a less expensive model. The SE 3 ships with robust connectivity: it continues to support GPS, and there is a GPS + Cellular variant so you can leave your iPhone behind while still making calls, sending messages or accessing data (when network conditions permit).

Health and sensors are improved over previous SE models. You’ll find a wrist temperature sensor (useful for richer insights in the Vitals app and retrospective ovulation estimates), plus the usual heart rate monitoring, motion sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer), and GPS support for tracking workouts. A new Sleep Score feature is introduced, giving you a nightly breakdown of your sleep quality based on duration, restfulness and other metrics. The SE 3 can also notify you of irregular breathing patterns or signs of possible sleep apnoea over time. Alerts for unusually high or low heart rate, or irregular rhythm, remain part of the safety features.

Water resistance is rated to 50 metres, so it’s suitable for swimming and shallow water activities (though not for scuba diving or high-velocity water sports).

Battery life is solid: Apple quotes about 18 hours of typical use with the Always-On display active. In a Low Power Mode, which disables or limits some features, you can stretch that further (up to about 32 hours under certain usage assumptions). For fast charging, SE 3 supports a newer charging architecture: 15 minutes of charge can give you approximately 8 hours of use. Getting to about 80 per cent charge takes around 45 minutes (using the included Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C cable with a power adapter).

^{On the usability front, gestures are improved. Double tap and wrist flick controls let you interact more conveniently when your other hand is busy (for example, dismissing a notification or answering a call). Siri runs more smoothly on the device, and many functions can work without needing WiFi or cellular. The watch supports haptics, notifications, app integration, music playback (through connected devices or via the watch speaker when supported), and standard features like Apple Pay and Wallet.}

^{In everyday usage, the SE 3 is comfortable on the wrist, functional throughout the day, and gives a taste of many higher-end features without the premium price. You’ll benefit from the always-on view, better durability of the display, and more insightful health tracking — as long as you’re okay with the modest battery life and modest compromises compared to the flagship Apple Watch models (for instance, it lacks some advanced sensors the Ultra or Series models may offer).}

^{Overall, Apple Watch SE 3 is a refined, balanced entry in Apple’s smartwatch line. It bridges the gap between basic models and full flagship devices by bringing forward many useful advances in design, health sensing and display technologies — making it a very capable option for people who want strong value without giving up essential features. If you like, I can compare SE 3 side by side with Series 11 and Ultra 3 to highlight which suits your use case best.}

^{This description was generated with the help of AI and last updated October 2025.}