The Apple Watch SE 3. Nina Raemont/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
After three years, Apple just upgraded the base model Watch SE.
Despite competitive improvements, the SE remains a core wearable.
If you're coming from an older model SE and want more, you may skip the SE 3 for a Series 10 or 11.
Apple launches new iPhones yearly, but doesn't do the same with its watches. The base model Apple Watch SE, in fact, had not been refreshed since the release of the SE 2 in 2022. This year, Apple launched an elevated but affordable option to compete with the lower end of the smartwatch market. The Watch SE 3 is a glorious update.
Also: Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Watch SE 2: I compared the two models, and there's a clear winner
It's still the smallest display, the weakest in brightness, and the cheapest model overall, at $250. But Apple came to win with the upgrades. The Watch SE 3 has 18-hour battery life and an S10 chip (the same as in the more expensive Watch Series 10, 11, and Ultra 3 models).
This advanced chip brings an always-on display, fast-charging, and 5G for the first time. New to the SE watch is sleep apnea detection and sleep scores, a significant update from the basic sleep data provided by the SE 2.
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