Hajra Naz
Apple returned the favor and updated its smartwatch offerings as well this year with a trio of refreshed models in the Apple Watch Series 11, the third-gen Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. And whether you got an Apple Gift Card as a gift this holiday season or you’re simply considering an upgrade, it can be difficult to know which Apple Watch will actually make sense for your life.
At the top end of the lineup is Apple Watch Ultra 3, which starts at US$799. It’s obviously targeted to a very specific set of users: endurance athletes, outdoor adventurers, or folks who want extra durability, extended battery life, and advanced GPS features. But for the vast majority of people, the only real decision is between the Apple Watch SE 3, which starts at $249, and the Apple Watch Series 11, which starts at $399.
While the Series 11 is Apple’s flagship everyday smartwatch, the SE 3 has quietly become much more capable than previous budget models. In fact, for many users, the difference between Apple’s “budget” and “standard” watches has never felt smaller.
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Apple Watch SE 3: Affordable, Capable, and Better Than Ever
Though it costs much less, the Apple Watch SE 3 runs a lot of the same software as the Series 11 and offers a very similar day-to-day experience. If what you care about most is step tracking, sleep tracking, notifications, workouts, and safety features, the SE 3 gets to all of that without making it feel like anything has been stripped away.
This year’s SE model is a huge step up from the SE 2. Apple moved it up from the S8 chip to the S10, leading to higher performance and efficiency. It now has an always-on display, a feature reserved for higher-end models. You also get fast charging support and better crack resistance.
The SE 3 edition also comes with new health and wellness features, such as wrist temperature tracking. This helps provide you with a better understanding of your sleep and allows for retrospective ovulation estimation, making it significantly more useful for long-term health tracking than previous SE models.
It doesn’t have the fancy materials or additional sensors of either the Series 11 or Ultra 3, but at an asking price much lower than those models, the SE 3 delivers excellent value—especially for new Apple Watch users, children, and anyone seeking a dependable smartwatch experience who doesn’t want to pay extra for features they might not use.
Apple Watch Series 11: More Health Features and a More Premium Feel
That said, the Apple Watch Series 11 still has clear advantages. If you want deeper health insights, a brighter and more refined display, longer battery life, and extra sensors, the Series 11 is the better choice.
The improvements over last year’s Series 10 may be incremental, but they do add up. The Series 11 offers a more premium design, additional health tracking tools, and features that appeal to users who want the most complete Apple Watch experience without stepping up to the Ultra.
Before making a decision, it’s worth looking closely at where the two models overlap—and where they differ.
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Similarities Between Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3
S10 chip
Both watches run on Apple’s S10 chip, which means performance is nearly identical. Apps launch quickly, animations are smooth, and there’s no noticeable speed advantage for the Series 11 in everyday use.
Always-on Retina display
Both models now support always-on display, allowing you to see the time and watch face even when your wrist is down.
Heart health notifications
Each watch includes high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, and low cardio fitness warnings.
Gesture controls
Both watches support wrist flick gestures to dismiss notifications and timers, as well as double-tap gestures to answer calls, play music, or interact with apps without touching the screen.
Emergency and safety features
Emergency SOS is available on both, allowing you to contact local emergency services, share your location, and alert emergency contacts. Fall detection and crash detection are also included, automatically triggering help if a serious incident is detected.
Water resistance
Both models are water-resistant up to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming and water-based workouts.
Sleep tracking and wellness insights
Each watch tracks sleep stages, provides sleep notifications, and includes Apple’s Sleep Score, which rates sleep quality on a 1–100 scale. Wrist temperature tracking is available on both, offering insights into overall well-being.
Cycle tracking
Both support cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates.
Fast charging
Fast charging is supported on both models. The Series 11 can reach up to 80% in about 30 minutes, while the SE 3 reaches 80% in around 45 minutes. A 15-minute charge provides up to eight hours of normal use on both watches.
Find iPhone
Both allow you to ping your iPhone to help locate it. The Series 11 adds precision finding, which shows the exact direction and distance to your phone.
Differences Between Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3
Battery life
The Series 11 lasts up to 24 hours, or 28 hours in low-power mode. The SE 3 lasts up to 18 hours but can stretch to 32 hours in low-power mode.
Advanced health features
This is where the Series 11 pulls ahead. It includes hypertension notifications, an electrical heart sensor, ECG functionality, and the Blood Oxygen app—features not available on the SE 3.
Display brightness and technology
The Series 11 reaches up to 2000 nits of brightness, making it easier to see outdoors. The SE 3 tops out at 1000 nits. The Series 11 also uses a wide-angle OLED display, while the SE 3 uses a standard OLED panel.
Size and materials
The Series 11 comes in 44 mm and 46 mm sizes, with aluminum or titanium case options. It’s also nearly 10% thinner than the SE 3. The SE 3 is available in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes and comes only in aluminum.
Color options
The Series 11 offers aluminum finishes in Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, along with titanium finishes in Natural, Gold, and Slate. The SE 3 is available in Midnight Aluminum and Starlight Aluminum.
Additional sensors and durability features
The Series 11 includes a depth gauge up to six meters, a water temperature sensor, certified IP6X dust resistance, and a lower minimum brightness level of 1 nit compared to the SE 3’s 2 nits.
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Which Apple Watch Should You Choose?
If you want the best balance of price and performance, the Apple Watch SE 3 is more capable than ever and will satisfy most users’ needs. If you care deeply about advanced health tracking, display quality, and premium materials, the Apple Watch Series 11 is worth the extra cost.
Either way, Apple’s 2025 lineup makes it clear: there’s no bad choice—just the right one for how you live, move, and track your day.
