Apple Watch SE 3 review

If your main reasons for a smartwatch are seeing notifications, paying with your wrist and tracking sleep, the SE 3 does those jobs for $249. Apple gives it an Always-On display, so the time, notifications and Live Activities stay visible without a flick of the wrist. Sleep score and sleep apnea notifications are included, along with alerts for high or low heart rate and irregular rhythm. Apple Pay, Crash Detection and Fall Detection are the same as on the pricier models, and a 5G cellular option lets you call and stream without the phone. What you give up is the advanced heart suite: there is no ECG app, no Blood Oxygen app and no hypertension notifications. Battery is the other compromise. Apple rates it at up to 18 hours, the shortest on this list, though Low Power Mode stretches that to 32 hours and a 15-minute charge adds 8 hours. For a first smartwatch, or a gift for a teen or parent with an iPhone, it is the sensible choice.

Who it is for

iPhone owners who mainly want notifications, Apple Pay and sleep tracking at a lower price.

Price

From $249 at Apple's US store when checked.

Apple Watch SE 3 From $249
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Always-On Retina display up to 1000 nits for notifications and Live Activities
• Sleep score and sleep apnea notifications
• High and low heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications
• Apple Pay and optional 5G cellular
• Crash Detection and Fall Detection

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $150 less than the Series 12 while keeping Apple Pay and core health alerts
• Strength: Up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode
• Strength: 15 minutes of fast charging gives up to 8 hours of use
• Weakness: No ECG app, Blood Oxygen app or hypertension notifications
• Weakness: Up to 18 hours of normal use is the shortest battery on the list
• Weakness: iPhone only

Key facts

• Price: From $249
• Phone needed: iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27
• Battery: Up to 18 hours, 32 hours in Low Power Mode
• Payments: Apple Pay
• Sizes: 40mm or 44mm aluminum

Where it ranks

Apple Watch SE 3 is No. 3 in our Best Smartwatches verdict.