A guide to choosing the right Apple Watch

This year, Apple released three new Apple Watch models: Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. If you received an Apple gift card during the holidays and are exploring different models, we can help point you in the right direction.

With a price tag of $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is clearly aimed at the niche, high-end market and athletes. For most consumers, the buying decision is likely between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, starting at $249 and $399, respectively.

Despite its lower price, the Apple Watch SE 3 comes with the same software as the Series 11. If you’re looking for a simple smartwatch with essential features like step counting and sleep tracking, the SE 3 is a great and affordable option.

While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 offer modest improvements from the previous ones, the SE 3 has received a significant upgrade from the SE 2. The Smartwatch jumps from the S8 chip to the S10 and now features an always-on display, supports fast charging, offers better crack resistance, introduces new health features, including a wrist temperature sensor to track sleep further, and in retrospect.

While it’s not as flashy as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it certainly looks good and packs a punch, especially for first-time buyers and younger users. The gap between standard and budget smart watches has never felt smaller.

Of course, if you want access to more advanced health features, better battery life, and a larger display, the Series 11 will be a better choice for your needs. However, you should compare the two models because the SE 3 is probably what you need.

We’ll walk you through the similarities and differences between the two smartwatches to help you make your decision.

Similarities between Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• S10 chips: Both models have the same chip, which means there is no significant difference in performance.
• Retina display is always on: The watch can display the clock face and time, even when the wrist is down.
• Heart health features: Both watches have high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm alerts, and low cardio fitness alerts.
• Scroll and double tap: Both models allow you to perform a “wrist flick” gesture to dismiss notifications and the time, and a “double tap” gesture to trigger actions like answering the phone or playing music.
• Emergency SOS: The watch can quickly call local emergency services, show your location, and notify emergency contacts if you press and hold the side button.
• Fall detection and crash detection: Both watches can automatically alert emergency services and designated emergency contacts when a fall or severe car accident is detected.
• Water resistant up to 50 meters: Both watches can be used for swimming.
• Sleep tracking: Both models have sleep tracking, sleep tracking notifications, and Apple’s new Sleep score, which gives a number on a scale of 1 to 100 for sleep. Both also have temperature sensors, which can provide insight into your well-being by tracking changes in your wrist temperature each night.
• Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimation: The watch can determine when you may have ovulated in the previous cycle.
• Fast Charging Capability: Both watches can be charged quickly (up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes for the Series 11 and up to 80% charge in about 45 minutes for the SE 3; 15 minutes to eight hours of normal use for both models).
• Find iPhone: Both watches let you press a button to play a sound on your iPhone to help you find it. However, the Series 11 has a “precision discovery” feature, meaning it can pinpoint the exact location of your phone.

Difference between Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• Battery life: The Series 11 can last up to 24 hours (28 hours in low-power mode), while the SE can last up to 18 hours (32 hours in low-power mode).
• Health features: Series 11 comes with advanced health tracking features, including hypertension notification (high blood pressure detection), electric heat sensor, ECG app, and Blood Oxygen app.
• Screen and display: The Series 11 can go up to 2000 nits, while the SE 3 goes up to 1000 nits. In addition, the Series 11 has a wide-angle OLED, while the SE 3 has a simple OLED display.
• size: The Series 11 is available in 46mm and 44mm sizes with aluminum or titanium cases, while the SE 3 is available in 44mm and 40mm sizes with aluminum cases. In addition, the Series 11 is almost 10% thinner than the SE 3.
• color: Series 11 is available in aluminum colors: Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, and titanium colors: Natural, Gold, and Slate. The SE 3 is available in Midnight Aluminum and Starlight Aluminum.
• Other minor differences: The Series 11 features a depth measurement of up to six meters, a water temperature sensor, a minimum brightness of 1 nit (vs a minimum brightness of 2 nits on the SE 3), and certified IP6X dust resistance.