Apple has introduced the latest refresh of its budget-friendly smartwatch line, the Apple Watch SE 3, at its “Awe Dropping” event held on September 9, 2025. The new model adds several premium features like an Always-On display, enhanced health sensors, fast charging, and 5G cellular support, aiming to offer more value at its entry price point. Pre-orders are now open, with availability starting September 19.
What’s New in SE 3
Design & Build
- Available in 40mm and 44mm aluminium cases.
- Two finishes: Midnight and Starlight.
- Display: Always-On Retina OLED LTPO panel, up to 1,000 nits peak brightness.
- Cover glass uses a custom Ion-X glass, claimed to be four times more resistant to cracks than the previous generation.
Performance & Chipset
- Powered by the S10 chip, same as the newer models in Apple’s lineup.
- New gesture controls: double tap and wrist flick, plus on-device Siri.
Health, Fitness & Safety Features
- Health sensors include second-generation optical heart sensor, a temperature sensor (wrist temperature), sleep tracking with a new Sleep Score, retrospective ovulation estimates, and sleep apnea notifications.
- Safety features: Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS.
Connectivity & Other Features
- Cellular model supports 5G connectivity, which improves performance for downloads, streaming, etc., when not connected to WiFi.
- watchOS 26 with the new Liquid Glass UI, plus the “Workout Buddy” feature (powered by Apple Intelligence) that gives spoken motivational feedback during workouts.
Battery Life & Charging
- Normal usage battery life: up to 18 hours.
- In Low Power Mode: up to 32 hours, including sleep tracking.
- Fast charging: Around 80% in ~45 minutes. Fifteen minutes of charging gets you ~8 hours of normal use.
Price & Availability
- Global: Starts at US $249 for the GPS model.
- India:
- GPS 40mm – ₹25,900
- GPS + Cellular 40mm – ₹30,900
- GPS 44mm – ₹28,900
- GPS + Cellular 44mm – ₹33,900
- Pre-orders are live; shipping begins September 19, 2025.
What It Doesn’t Include
- SE 3 does not include some of the more premium sensors found in higher-end models, such as blood oxygen monitoring (SpO₂), ECG, or hypertension detection (for now).
- Battery life under heavy usage (lots of cellular use, apps, etc.) will be lower; results vary by settings and signal strength.
Comparison with Previous SE (SE 2)
| Feature | SE 2 | SE 3 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Always-On Display | No | Yes |
| Chip | Older S-series chip without some new efficiencies | S10 chip (more powerful/efficient) |
| Fast Charging | Not supported in SE 2 | ~80% in 45 minutes |
| Glass durability | Less crack-resistant | New Ion-X glass, ~4× better at resisting cracks |
Significance & What This Means for Users
The SE 3 is a meaningful upgrade for users who have been considering an entry-level Apple Watch but found the previous model lacking in display and newer health features. With additions like Always-On display, sleep health insights, faster charging, and 5G support, SE 3 bridges more closely the gap between Apple’s lower and mid-tier models.
These improvements could be particularly appealing to those who want many of the flagship features without paying flagship prices.
Apple Watch SE 3 delivers substantial upgrades over its predecessor: a more durable build, Always-On display, expanded health metrics, faster charging, and 5G connectivity, all while retaining its role as Apple’s more affordable smartwatch.
Priced at US$249 globally and starting around ₹25,900 in India, it offers strong value ahead of its release on September 19, 2025. For users seeking new health, fitness, and safety tools without the full cost of higher-end Apple Watch models, SE 3 presents a compelling choice.
Tags: Apple Watch SE 3, Always-On display, Watch SE 2025, health sensors, 5G smartwatch, fast charging, watchOS 26, SE vs Series 11, budget Apple Watch
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