Apple Watch SE 3: In abstract
- Apple’s new, extra inexpensive smartwatch
- Pre-orders stay now forward of launch on 19 September
- Similar £219/$249 beginning worth as its predecessor
- Upgrades embody new chipset, always-on show and higher battery life
Apple has launched its new vary of smartwatches for 2025, and there’s loads to speak about.
Nevertheless, with the high-end Apple Watch Extremely 3 and common Apple Watch Collection 11 now official, it’s straightforward to miss the most cost effective mannequin within the lineup.
However achieve this at your peril. The Apple Watch SE 3 introduces a number of helpful upgrades, but maintains an impressively inexpensive price ticket. Right here’s every little thing you must know in regards to the latest version to Apple’s SE smartwatch lineup.
Apple Watch SE 3: Key Upgrades
In abstract
- New Apple S10 chip
- 24-hour battery life in line with Apple
- At all times-on show
- A number of new well being metrics
- watchOS 26 out of the field
New S10 chipset
In contrast to earlier fashions, the brand new SE will get the very same chipset as its extra premium siblings – the Collection 11 and Extremely 3.
The Apple S10 chip seems to be set to be a major improve in comparison with the S8 discovered within the 2022 Apple Watch SE.
However flagship-level efficiency isn’t the one factor that the brand new chipset permits…
New well being metrics
Because of the S10 chip and a brand new temperature sensor, the Watch SE 3 is able to a number of well being metrics that have been beforehand unique to the extra premium fashions.
Amongst them are suspected sleep apnea detection, on-device Siri, ovulation estimates and gestures together with double-tap and wrist flick.
Nevertheless, it nonetheless misses out on the devoted ECG sensor, blood oxygen monitoring and hypertension notifications which can be all obtainable on the Collection 11 and Extremely 3.

Apple
Higher battery life and sooner charging
Apple by no means formally discloses battery life for its units, so we don’t know for certain how massive the SE 3’s cell is. Nevertheless, the corporate is now claiming 24 hours of battery life on a single cost, up from 18 hours on the earlier mannequin.
It additionally says that the Watch SE 3 expenses “as much as 2x sooner than the earlier technology”. 45 minutes plugged in will supposedly get you to 80%, whereas a fast 15-minute top-up will allow sufficient cost for eight hours of utilization.

Apple
Different {hardware} enhancements
The opposite massive change price mentioning is the always-on show, bringing the SE 3 consistent with Apple’s extra premium smartwatches.
The watch additionally now helps 5G and means that you can use the built-in speaker for media playback, each of which have been absent on the SE 2.
watchOS 26
The Watch SE 3 runs watchOS 26 out of the field. Apple’s new working system for its smartwatches consists of its new ‘Liquid Glass’ design, plus new options together with further widget customisation, a featured photographs shuffle and a devoted model of the corporate’s Notes app.
When is the Apple Watch SE 3 launch date?
In abstract
- Introduced on 9 September
- Releases on 19 September
- Pre-orders stay now
The Watch SE 3 launched at Apple’s massive “Awe-Dropping” occasion on 9 September 2025, which was headlined by the iPhone 17 vary.
Pre-orders for the watch are stay now, forward of it being launched on 19 September.
Right here’s when the earlier Watch SE fashions made their debuts. As you possibly can see, a 3rd technology was overdue.

Apple
How a lot does the Apple Watch SE 3 price?
In abstract
- Begins at £219/$249 for 40mm case – similar as predecessor
- 44mm from £249/$279
- Mobile fashions from £289/$299 (40mm) or £319/$329 (44mm)
Regardless of the upgrades on the Watch SE 3, Apple has saved pricing similar to its predecessor from three years in the past. Right here’s how a lot you possibly can count on to pay at launch:
- GPS, 40 mm – £219/$249
- GPS + Mobile, 40mm – £249/$279
- GPS, 44mm – £289/$299
- GPS + Mobile, 44mm – £319/$329
And right here’s how they examine to earlier generations:
Apple Watch SE (2nd gen)
- GPS, 40 mm – £219/$249
- GPS + Mobile, 40mm – £289/$279
- GPS, 44mm – £289/$299
- GPS + Mobile, 44mm – £319/$329
Apple Watch SE (1st gen)
- GPS, 40mm – £269/$279
- GPS + Mobile, 40mm – £319/$329
- GPS, 44mm – £299/$309
- GPS + Mobile, 44mm – £349/$359
For context, the Apple Watch Collection 11 begins at £369/$399, whereas the Watch Extremely 3 will set you again at the least £749/$799.
See extra alternate options in our full information to the most effective smartwatches you should purchase. Nevertheless, word that this doesn’t but embody the Pixel Watch 4, because it isn’t launched till 9 October.

