Apple Watch SE 3 Steals Spotlight From Series 11

The Apple Watch landscape has shifted dramatically this year, and the SE 3 might just be stealing the spotlight from Apple's flagship Series 11. With reviews calling the SE 3 "the star of this year's lineup" and PCMag noting it delivers "two-day battery life, a top-of-the-line processor, an always-on display, and upgraded sensors," we are seeing something rare in Apple land, a budget Apple Watch that does not feel like a compromise. The SE 3 jumps from the S8 chip to the S10, enabling features once kept for premium models, while starting at just $249. A plot twist, finally.

The SE 3 finally gets what it always needed

Let's break it down. The Apple Watch SE has long been the almost there option. Core functionality, sure, but you could feel something missing every time you glanced at your wrist. This year flips that script. Apple has finally heard the prayers of beleaguered SE users and given the people an always-on display. No more awkward wrist gymnastics just to check the time.

The SE 3 now sports an Always-On display powered by the new S10 chip, the same processor driving the Series 11 and Ultra 3. That is not just marketing speak. This chip upgrade enables double tap gestures, wrist flick controls, and on-device Siri that make the SE feel like a full-fledged smartwatch. After testing both models extensively, the performance difference between the SE 3 and Series 11 in daily tasks is virtually nonexistent.

The SE 3 finally has fast-charging and delivers nearly two days of battery life, a direct hit on the two biggest complaints about previous SE models. The hardware upgrades go beyond speed. The watch itself is purportedly four times more resistant to cracks than the SE 2, a welcome improvement for anyone who has learned the hard way about Apple Watch durability. Apple has also added wrist-temperature sensing for better sleep and cycle tracking, gesture controls that actually work reliably, and on-device Siri that does not need your phone for basic queries.

The SE also gets 5G connectivity for faster downloads and better cellular coverage, though no Canadian carriers offer 5G watch plans yet, something to keep in mind if you are north of the border.

What the Series 11 brings to the table

Do not write off the Series 11 yet. Apple’s flagship is not a revolution, but the upgrades land where they matter. The Series 11 offers longer battery life than its predecessor and adds 5G cellular support without a price increase over the Series 10. It comes in 42 or 46mm sizes with cases made of either 100% recycled aluminum or 100% recycled titanium, so you still get premium materials alongside Apple’s environmental push.

On performance and endurance, the Series 11 promises a full 24 hours of power on a charge and can quick-charge to regain 12 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. That kind of top-up is the best cure for battery anxiety when you are heading out the door.

Health is where the Series 11 separates itself. It includes blood oxygen monitoring and ECG capabilities, which the SE 3 lacks entirely. The Series 11 also introduces a new hypertension detection feature that requires wearing the watch consistently for 30 days to alert you if you have or are at risk for high blood pressure. It is not real-time blood pressure monitoring. That would require different hardware entirely. It represents a meaningful step toward preventive health tracking for users with cardiovascular concerns.

Here is the surprise. The main differences between the SE 3 and the Series 11 are a few hours of battery life, a larger screen, and some health features. That gap has never felt smaller.

The value proposition that's hard to ignore

Let’s talk dollars and wrists. The SE 3 is priced from $249 for the 40mm GPS-only model to $329 for the 44mm cellular model, while the standard, mid-tier Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 for the 42mm aluminum GPS model. That is a $150 gap for what many reviewers call marginal improvements.

What do most people actually use their watch for? During my testing, I found that the SE 3 is suitable for tracking workouts and notifications, and for most workouts, the SE 3 is suitable as a great companion. Unless you are training for a marathon, have specific health conditions that require ECG monitoring, or need the most advanced sensors, the SE 3 covers the essentials and then some.

As one reviewer noted, the SE is more of a fitness device and less of a health tracker, and for users who want notifications, fitness tracking, and the core Apple Watch experience, that difference often fades in daily use. The value outlook improves with longevity too, with the same S10 processor as the Series 11, the SE 3 should receive software updates for years.

Unless you are a hardcore athlete or need the latest ECG sensor from Series 11, the SE 3 delivers nearly the entire core experience for a fraction of the cost.

Software features level the playing field

This year’s software may be the great equalizer. Many features of watchOS 11 are being introduced to watches as old as the Series 6, including Liquid Glass and a Sleep Score. That broad compatibility gives older models meaningful upgrades, while the SE 3 benefits from running them on the latest hardware.

Some additions are just plain useful. There is finally a Notes app on Apple Watch. It sounds small, but it is great for quick reminders or a grocery list you forgot to print. More impressive, watches connected to phones with Apple Intelligence can use live translation using their speakers, so your wrist can play interpreter on the fly.

The SE 3 rides these universal gains and then adds a few hardware perks. Wrist flick is a new gesture available on Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, letting you dismiss notifications by twisting your watch away, a natural move once you pick it up. Apple introduced a new feature called Workout buddy for users with a phone supporting Apple Intelligence, and it depends on your iPhone rather than the watch itself.

When both watches run the same apps, get identical notifications, and share most gestures, the pricier extras start to feel like nice to haves, not must haves, for typical users.

The bottom line: who really needs the Series 11?

After extensive testing and analysis, Apple has created a dilemma for itself. The Apple Watch SE 3 is the star of this year's lineup, offering the same processor as the Series 11 and most features that actually matter day to day. With the inclusion of the always-on display, the Apple Watch SE 3 has transformed from a good option into the default recommendation for most iPhone users.

The Series 11 still earns its keep in specific cases. If you need comprehensive health monitoring, particularly ECG readings, blood oxygen tracking, or hypertension detection, it is worth the extra investment. Healthcare professionals or users with cardiovascular concerns will find real value in these sensors. The extra battery life and larger display also help if you push your watch hard or simply prefer more screen.

For fitness tracking, notifications, and the core smartwatch experience most people use every day, the SE 3 is a standout value. This year, Apple made its budget pick genuinely compelling rather than merely adequate. So the question shifts. Not whether the SE 3 is good enough, but whether the Series 11 justifies the extra $150 for your needs. For most users, that is getting harder to argue.