The Apple Watch Se 3 Is The Best Deal Right Now - But I'm Not Upgrading For 2 Big Reasons

The Apple Watch SE 3. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• After 3 years, Apple conscionable upgraded nan guidelines exemplary Watch SE. 
• Despite competitory improvements, nan SE remains a halfway wearable.
• If you're coming from an older exemplary SE and want more, you whitethorn skip nan SE 3 for a Series 10 aliases 11.

Apple launches caller iPhones yearly, but doesn't do nan aforesaid pinch its watches. The guidelines exemplary Apple Watch SE, successful fact, had not been refreshed since nan merchandise of nan SE 2 successful 2022. This year, Apple launched an elevated but affordable action to compete pinch nan little extremity of nan smartwatch market. The Watch SE 3 is simply a glorious update.

Also: Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Watch SE 2: I compared nan 2 models, and there's a clear winner

It's still nan smallest display, nan weakest successful brightness, and nan cheapest exemplary overall, astatine $250. But Apple came to triumph pinch nan upgrades. The Watch SE 3 has 18-hour artillery life and an S10 spot (the aforesaid arsenic successful nan much costly Watch Series 10, 11, and Ultra 3 models). 

This precocious spot brings an always-on display, fast-charging, and 5G for nan first time. New to nan SE watch is slumber apnea discovery and slumber scores, a important update from nan basal slumber information provided by nan SE 2.

The SE 3 moreover adds somesthesia sensing for users to way their menstrual cycle. Of course, it still keeps users looped into nan Apple ecosystem, receiving texts, emails, and more. It's a beautifully executed refresh that was overmuch needed, and nary astonishment that wearables editor Nina Raemont recommends nan model nan most. 

But I won't beryllium upgrading. Here's why. 

The Watch SE 2 still meets my needs 

The Apple Watch SE 2 pinch nan Nomad Sport Band successful constricted version Glow. 

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

I dove into this earlier this month pinch nan merchandise of nan Watch SE 3. It's stunning, and admittedly a bully bargain -- for a circumstantial user. Raemont noted successful her review that nan Apple Watch SE 3 is nan smartwatch for first-time buyers and fund shoppers. 

I'm wholly pinch her connected that. I initially bought my Watch SE 2 successful arsenic an preamble to Apple's features, and it's been an fantabulous finance for me, particularly since I bought it connected waste for $179. It's served each intent I wanted, and it still does. 

Although nan galore upgraded features successful nan Watch SE 3 are very bully (and arsenic tempting), my needs are astatine nan guidelines of my information process. I bought a Watch SE 2 to easiness myself into smart wearable territory, make a manner shift, and go comfortable pinch halfway features without spending excessively overmuch money. Almost 2 years later, I still get that from my Watch SE 2. 

Also: Should you upgrade to Apple Watch Series 11? Here's really it compares to older models

If anything, I've had clip to understand what different features I whitethorn want successful a early smart wearable, and I admit that I'd for illustration a spot much than what Apple's halfway lineup is offering -- moreover successful nan SE 3. 

So yes -- somesthesia sensing, slumber scores, and an always-on show are nicer than I person now. But I americium still getting what I request from my Watch SE 2 while deciding connected my adjacent champion wearable. I've been pondering smart rings, for illustration nan Oura aliases Ultrahuman rings, and person moreover considered upgrading to a Series 10 aliases Series 11. But astatine nan moment, I'll beryllium sticking pinch my SE 2. At its core, it still does everything I want my smartwatch to do. 

I want much features 

The Apple Watch Series 11. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

As mentioned above, I americium looking for much features successful my adjacent wearable, and if I'm going to upgrade, I want to make judge it has everything I want. My SE 2 was purchased pinch nan intent to dabble -- a proceedings tally connected if a smartwatch could fresh into my lifestyle. Nearly 2 years later, I americium entering nan adjacent shape successful my journey. 

The Watch Series 11 looks for illustration a promising upgrade for me. It's a spot bigger, but still offers somewhat elevated features complete nan SE 3, for illustration longer artillery life, humor oxygen tracking, hypertension notifications, and nan ECG app. I deliberation nan Ultra 3 would beryllium excessively precocious for my needs, but I wouldn't norm it out. I'm besides a large instrumentality of nan sleek, jewelry-like creation of smart rings, which connection galore of nan aforesaid wellness and fittingness features arsenic nan Apple Watch (sans the matter syncing), but without nan other bulk. 

Also: The champion smart rings of 2025

Ultimately, I haven't decided what my adjacent smart wearable will beryllium yet, but I'd for illustration to upgrade successful features from what I person successful nan SE 2. That said, if you're a first-time wearable personification looking to acquisition for a child, teen, aliases aged individual, I can't urge nan SE 3 (or moreover nan SE 2) enough. It's a awesome halfway smartwatch, and Apple has future-proofed nan SE 3 for nan coming years. 

What I'll miss retired connected by not upgrading

Renee Ramos/Apple/ZDNET

Yes, I americium going to miss retired connected immoderate features by not upgrading to nan Watch SE 3. I won't get slumber apnea detection, slumber score, somesthesia sensing, nan always-on display, aliases accelerated charging. And I'm surely not getting immoderate of nan much precocious Apple Watch features packed into nan Series 11 aliases Watch Ultra 3, for illustration ECG updates, humor oxygen monitoring, hypertension detection, and emergency SOS via satellite. 

Also: I compared each Apple Watch successful 2025 - here's why I urge this exemplary nan most

I do, however, prevention myself $250 astatine nan infinitesimal and support getting to bask nan halfway features successful my Watch SE 2. I besides summation much clip to investigation nan champion smart wearable upgrade for my manner (maybe it's a ring... possibly not), and I whitethorn prevention myself immoderate rate successful nan process. 

Plus, by choosing to hold -- moreover if by only six months aliases truthful -- it's apt I'll beryllium capable to snag a newer Apple watch exemplary for $50-70 less, based connected my humanities knowledge arsenic ZDNET's shopping editor.