A Guide to Choosing the Right Apple Watch

This year, Apple introduced three new Apple Watch models: the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. If you received an Apple gift card over the holidays and are considering which model to buy, this guide can help narrow down your options.

With a starting price of $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is clearly aimed at athletes and users seeking a rugged, premium smartwatch. For most buyers, however, the real choice comes down to the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, which start at $249 and $399, respectively.

Even with its lower price, the Apple Watch SE 3 runs much of the same software as the Series 11. If you want a reliable smartwatch that covers essentials like step tracking and sleep monitoring, the SE 3 offers substantial value at a more affordable price point.

While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 deliver incremental updates over previous versions, the SE 3 represents a significant upgrade from the SE 2. It moves from the S8 chip to the S10 chip. It now includes an always-on display, fast charging support, improved crack resistance, new health features, and a wrist-temperature sensor that enables enhanced sleep tracking and retrospective ovulation insights.

Image Credits: Apple

Although it lacks some of the premium features of the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 remains an excellent option, particularly for first-time buyers and younger users. The difference between budget and standard smartwatches has never been smaller.

That said, if you want access to more advanced health tracking, longer battery life, and a brighter, larger display, the Series 11 may be a better fit. It’s still worth comparing both models closely, as the SE 3 may meet all your needs.

Below, we break down the similarities and differences between the two models to help you decide.

Image Credits: Apple

Similarities Between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• S10 chip: Both models use the same processor, resulting in similar overall performance.
• Always-on Retina display: Each watch face and time is visible even when your wrist is lowered.
• Heart health features: Both offer high- and low-heart-rate notifications, irregular rhythm alerts, and low cardio fitness notifications.
• Wrist flick and double-tap gestures: Users can dismiss notifications with a wrist flick or perform actions as a shortcut by answering all with a double-tap.
• Emergency SOS: Press and hold the side button to call emergency services, share your location, and notify your emergency contacts.
• Fall detection and crash detection: Both watches can automatically alert emergency services and contacts if a hard fall or severe car crash is detected.
• Water resistance: Each model is water-resistant up to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming.
• Sleep tracking: Both include sleep tracking, sleep notifications, and Apple’s Sleep score, which rates sleep quality on a 1-100 scale. Each also supports wrist temperature tracking for wellness insights.
• Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates: Both watches can estimate when ovulation likely occurred in a previous cycle.
• Fast charging: The Series 11 can charge up to 80% in about 30 minutes, while the SE 3 reaches 80% in roughly 45 minutes. A 15-minute charge provides up to eight hours of regular use on both.
• Find iPhone: Both let users trigger a sound on their iPhone, though the Series 11 also includes Precision Finding for more accurate location tracking.

Differences Between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• Battery life: The Series 11 offers up to 24 hours of use (28 hours in low-power mode), while the SE 3 delivers up to 18 hours (32 hours in low-power mode).
• Health features: The Series 11 includes advanced health tools, including hypertension notifications, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, an ECG app, and a Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) app.
• Display brightness: The Series 11 reaches up to 2,000 nits, compared to 1,000 nits on the SE 3. It also features a wide-angle OLED display, while the SE 3 uses a standard OLED panel.
• Size and build: The Series 11 is available in 46mm and 44mm sizes with aluminium or titanium cases and is nearly 10% thinner. The SE 3 is available in 44mm and 40mm sizes and features an aluminium case.
• Colour options: The Series 11 is available in Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Grey aluminium, and in Natural, Gold, and Slate titanium. The SE 3 is available in Midnight Aluminium and Starlight Aluminium.
• Additional features: The Series 11 includes a depth gauge up to six meters, a water temperature sensor, 1-nit minimum brightness (compared to 2 nits on the SE 3), and IP6X-certified dust resistance.