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Back in September, Apple unveiled a new base model Series 11, the affordable SE 3, and a luxurious and rugged Ultra 3. While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 received standout features including Hypertension Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, increased battery life, and Sleep Scores, older smartwatches also got a facelift following the new product debut.
Thanks to WatchOS 26, Apple Watches Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later got the same software as the latest lineup.
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So, what does that mean for you? It means that if you are eyeing a new Apple smartwatch this Black Friday, you might not actually have to buy the latest one at the highest price. In fact, Apple Watch Series 10, the one-year-old base model smartwatch is equally, if not better a buy than the SE 3 (or maybe even the Series 11). As early holiday deals begin to roll in, Amazon and other retailers might cut the price of the Series 10 down even further (it's on sale for $280 right now, down $120 from its original price), making an even greater case for buying this smartwatch over its newer siblings.
Let's get into why.
The Series 11 and Series 10 are built with the same exact form factor. Apple told me that in creating the new Series 11, it used the same build as the Series 10. It's just as thin and light, and the case is exactly the same.
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The Series 11 also has the same S10 chip as the Series 10, so you aren't getting any more advanced chip hardware when you opt for the newer device. The only real difference in hardware is the battery life -- the Series 11 gets six more hours than the Series 10, thanks to battery reconfiguration the Apple Watch team performed on the device.
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