Apple Watch SE 3 Coming Soon: What to Expect

[MacRumors]

We don't have too much longer to wait until Apple's "Awe Dropping" September event, which will see the unveiling of new iPhones and new Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch SE.

The Apple Watch SE is overdue for an update, and there could be some useful changes coming to Apple's most affordable watch.

Design

Apple could update the Apple Watch SE with 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch display sizes. It's possible Apple is planning to transition to the Apple Watch Series 7 design for the Apple Watch SE, which would see it made available in 41mm and 45mm sizes.

The current Apple Watch SE comes in the older 40mm and 44mm size options.

With the Series 7, Apple also changed the design of the Apple Watch, introducing a slimmer casing and smaller bezels.

S11 Chip

The next-generation Apple Watch SE should get the same S11 chip as the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra.

The S11 is essentially the same as the S9 and the S10, but it will be a major improvement over the S8 chip that's in the current Apple Watch SE. Performance should be quicker and the SE 3 should be more responsive.

With the S11, the Apple Watch SE 3 could get features like on-device Siri processing, support for double tap gestures, and more storage.

Possible Health Features

The Apple Watch SE has fewer health features than Apple's flagship Apple Watch models. It doesn't have the ECG app, and there's no blood oxygen monitoring, for example. If there are new health features in the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, it's unlikely the functionality will make it to the Apple Watch SE 3.

The Apple Watch SE supports core features like heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, and respiratory rate tracking. It already has the hardware needed for sleep apnea detection, so Apple could add that as a option.

Apple could also upgrade the optical heart sensor to the third-generation version that was initially introduced in the Apple Watch Series 7. The current Apple Watch SE is still using the second-generation sensor.

Plastic Casing Rumors

Back in mid-2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on a new Apple Watch SE with a colorful plastic casing. The device would have been reminiscent of the iPhone 5c, an iPhone that used a colorful plastic material instead of aluminum.

As of this year, Gurman says that Apple might have scrapped the plan for a plastic Apple Watch. The design team supposedly didn't like the look of the device, and the materials team was struggling to make it cheaper than the current aluminum casing.

The Apple Watch SE may continue to use the same old aluminum case as a result.

Price

We've heard no rumors of a price increase for the Apple Watch SE, and Apple probably wants to keep the device affordable.

The current 40mm version is priced starting at $249, and the 44mm model is priced starting at $279. The Apple Watch SE Series 3 could have the same price points.

Apple has been marketing the Apple Watch SE to parents who get the device for their children, and raising the price would impact Apple's efforts to market the device to kids.

Launch Timing

Apple will debut the Apple Watch SE 3 at its September 9 iPhone event. Pre-orders for the watch could follow on September 12, and a launch could come on September 19.

Article Link: Apple Watch SE 3 Coming Soon: What to Expect

 

[MacUserFella]

Any chance of it being called Apple Watch Series 11e?

 

[ignatius345]

Apple could update the Apple Watch SE with 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch display sizes. It's possible Apple is planning to transition to the Apple Watch Series 7 design for the Apple Watch SE, which would see it made available in 41mm and 45mm sizes.

Can we just unify these units to mm? Very confusing to bounce back and forth between inches and mm here.

 

[Rachid Vàzquez]

Any chance of it being called Apple Watch Series 11e?

That makes sense — hopefully they don’t remove MagSafe

 

[jz0309]

I think it'll be introduced in early 2026.
I don't think Apple has ever announced 3 watch models at the Sep event

 

[Schizoid]

Surely the Apple Watch 26e Pro Max Ultra?

 

[slippery-pete]

I am just here for the complaints.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

As someone who uses an SE for my kids (who are too young for a phone, but I'd still like some phone/text contact when necessary), this is a long overdue update. Compared to my Series10 and my wife's 9, the SE2 has frustratingly poor battery life, especially when on LTE.

 

[Jamo12]

The only thing I want from this is an always on display. I could care less about all of the other features. I’m still using a small cellular watch 5 with 70% battery capacity and don’t want to spend $500+ to update to a new one without that…

 

[bluecoast]

The only thing I want from this is an always on display. I could care less about all of the other features. I’m still using a small cellular watch 5 with 70% battery capacity and don’t want to spend $500+ to update to a new one without that…

Apple surely can't launch a new version of this without an AOD in 2025 when so many android wear watches have this functionality.

Looks at 16e

OK, they can.

 

[ab2c4]

I have an SE2 watch and it really is a good watch. I see no reasons to get the higher model in the future as I don't want the health features.

 

[Happy_John]

I’m going to have to buy an Apple Watch before the end of the year (not for me, for a family member)

It’s currently a toss up between a series 10 (I don’t think there’s going to be much difference between a 10 and 11, and I’ll be able to get a 10 at a decent price), or a SE3.

I think the choice comes down to fast charging. If the SE3 has it, decision made. But I don’t think it will, as nothing has been mentioned about it.

Wait and see. The specs of the SE3 and specs of AirPods Pro 3 are the only thing I’m interested in next Tuesday, unless there’s some unexpected surprises.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

The only thing I want from this is an always on display. I could care less about all of the other features. I’m still using a small cellular watch 5 with 70% battery capacity and don’t want to spend $500+ to update to a new one without that…

AOD does lower the battery life quite a bit, and it makes a difference on these smaller devices, especially when running them as kids devices and being on LTE for a huge part of the day.

Have it disabled on my watch, and did on my previous. Didn't bother me, but I know a lot of people prefer it.

 

[Happy_John]

AOD does lower the battery life quite a bit, and it makes a difference on these smaller devices.

Have it disabled on my watch, and did on my previous. Didn't bother me, but I know a lot of people prefer it.

Same here - I disabled it in my AW10, and changed the clock face to a black background, almost doubled the battery life.

AOD is a nice idea but I’ll take more time between charges over AOD every time.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I’m going to have to buy an Apple Watch before the end of the (not fir me, for a family member)

It’s currently a toss up between a series 10 (I don’t think there’s going to be much difference between a 10 and 11, and I’ll be able to get a 10 on a decent price), or a SE3.

O think the choices cones down to fast charging. If the SE3 has it, decision made. But I don’t think it will, as nothing has been mentioned about it.

Wait and see. The specs of the SE3 and specs of AirPods Pro 3 are the only thing I’m interested in next Tuesday, unless there’s some unexpected surprises.

Prolly no fast charge for SE 3. Apple doesn’t want to cannabilize the Series 11 and Ultra 3 sales.

 

[Happy_John]

Prolly no fast charge for SE 3. Apple doesn’t want to cannabilize the Series 11 and Ultra 3 sales.

Yep, that’s what I expect - the plan is get a 10 at a discounted price once the 11 is released.

But no decision until next Tuesday. . Rumours are … rumours (no matter how believable) . A spec sheet is a spec sheet.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Yep, that’s what I expect - the plan is get a 10 at a discounted price once the 11 is released.

But no decision until next Tuesday. . Rumours are … rumours (no matter how believable) . A spec sheet is a spec sheet.

I would get the newer SE 3. With the newer S11 efficient chip, the battery life on the SE 3 will be very long. Current SE 2 Battery life last 18 hours. The new S11 chip on the SE 3 could make it go more then 24 hours before needing to charge. Tuesday is the Big Day and we will finally find out. Fingers crossed 🤞

 

[svish]

Newer chip with some new colours. Think there will be an increase in screen size, matching Series 9. Think it will have the same starting price.

 

[Sami13496]

I’m not going to buy any Apple products that don’t have “26” in their name, because otherwise people might think I have an old model. If I spend big money on a new model, I want to be able to brag that I have the latest one. Right now, if I had an iPhone 16 and an Apple Watch Series 10, everyone would think I had an iPhone from 2016 and a watch from 2010. Apple created this problem themselves by naming the operating system “26” and claiming that it always indicates the year it’s primarily intended to be used in. So now they must rename their hardware models as well!

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

One thing few people are talking about is the name. If Apple chose "16e" for its budget iPhone instead of "SE 4", it might also follow a similar pattern with its watch, naming it "11e" instead of "SE 3". Would that mean there would be an update every year after that, as we now expect with the budget iPhone? We'll see.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

I’m not going to buy any Apple products that don’t have “26” in their name, because otherwise people might think I have an old model. If I spend big money on a new model, I want to be able to brag that I have the latest one. Right now, if I had an iPhone 16 and an Apple Watch Series 10, everyone would think I had an iPhone from 2016 and a watch from 2010. Apple created this problem themselves by naming the operating system “26” and claiming that it always indicates the year it’s primarily intended to be used in. So now they must rename their hardware models as well!

Is this a joke? Who cares what other people think? 26 or not, they can hardly tell the model number just by looking at your device.

 

[patthedog]

The Apple Watch SE ... already has the hardware needed for sleep apnea detection, so Apple could add that as a option.

If that's correct then it's awfully mean-spirited of Apple not to enable apnea detection in the current model. It can be a life-threatening condition. I know, capitalism.

 

[Prince Akeem]

The only thing I want from this is an always on display. I could care less about all of the other features. I’m still using a small cellular watch 5 with 70% battery capacity and don’t want to spend $500+ to update to a new one without that…

Apple will probably never release a Watch SE with always-on display. For the normal Apple Watch, this is the major selling point, if not the most important. For me, it makes the device really 'feel' like a real watch. A quick glance at your wrist tells you the time from any angle, instead of raising your wrist all time. Coming from a series 0 to series 7 the AOD made a huge change (the most important one, apart from the expected speed bump). I'm all for power-saving things (never use AOD on my iPhone, don't like it there), but on the watch, I always have it on.

If Apple released an AOD Watch SE, there's not much of a selling point left for the normal/mid range Apple watch. I mean, what most people just need is 'watch' functionality and basic heart rate and gps (enough for most workouts). Most of the other sensors are in the end just a gimmick (for most people anyway). So when the SE has what is has now, PLUS an always on display, there's no good reason to upsell from an SE. For people only using the device now and then mostly for workouts, an SE is perfectly fine already, no good reason to spend much more.

 

[Gherkin]

The only thing I want from this is an always on display. I could care less about all of the other features. I’m still using a small cellular watch 5 with 70% battery capacity and don’t want to spend $500+ to update to a new one without that…

yea, I’m in the same boat. I’ve been wanting to leave my phone behind when I go to the store, to the park with my kids, run to the post office, etc. So I’ve been looking at getting a cellular Apple Watch.

I’ve been thinking the SE3 with cellular is the way to go, but the current SE w/ cellular is $299. I can get a mint condition Series 9 with cellular right now on Swappa for $270. So unless Apple can basically match a Series 9 with features for the SE3 then I might as well go with the 9.

 

[Wanted797]

Can we just unify these units to mm? Very confusing to bounce back and forth between inches and mm here.

It is standard practice in the tech industry to refer to screen sizes by inches. I live in Australia which is fully metric and all TVs, monitors, phones and tablets the display is in inches.

The Apple Watch is marketed in two sizes that are always referred to in millimetres.

It’s not that odd for the writer to say the change of screen size in inches to allow people to better visualise the size, while ending the paragraph to say the Apple advertised sizing.