I tested the Apple Watch SE 3 and was surprised by how little I missed from the Series 11

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

The Apple Watch SE 3 is one of the top budget smartwatches available. The pricier Series 11 offers a few extra features, but it starts at $150 more than the SE 3. This lower-cost Apple Watch is an especially good option for kids, and adults who don't need all the Series 11's bells and whistles shouldn't overlook it either.

After covering smartwatches for over a decade, I tend to gravitate toward flagship models in my personal use. But after spending an extended period with the Apple Watch SE 3, I've come away with a new respect for this entry-level model. It isn't as full-featured as the Series 11, but it isn't a dud.

The Series 11 is a hard smartwatch to beat, but the SE 3 is lightweight, looks good, and has plenty of battery life. It stacks up well against the best Apple Watches and offers notable upgrades over the previous-generation SE 2. Here's why it might make sense for you.

The Apple Watch SE 3 comes in 2 sizes and boasts meaningful upgrades over the SE 2

The Apple Watch SE 3 isn't a complicated device to operate. It works in the same way that Apple's other watches do, with the same core capabilities for calls, texts, and various apps when paired with an iPhone, WiFi connection, or cellular plan (5G model only). But since this is Apple's entry-level smartwatch, it doesn't have all the same specs as the more expensive Series 11, even though the two look quite similar.

When it comes to design, the major difference is the screen. The SE 3 comes in 40 and 44mm sizes, compared to the 42 and 46mm options for the Series 11. The resolution is also lower at 368 by 448 pixels for the 44mm version, versus 416 by 496 pixels for the 46mm Series 11.

The SE 3 uses an OLED display, but LTPO, instead of the newer LTPO3. So, the Series 11 has up to a 40% brighter off-axis viewing. It also means the SE 3's minimum brightness is two nits, instead of one. The SE 3 has a max brightness of 1,000 nits, compared to the Series 11's 2,000 nits.

There are only two color choices for the SE 3: midnight or starlight. You can pick a darker exterior or a lighter one.

The SE 3 isn't completely void of the latest specs, however. It comes with 64GB of storage and uses the S10 chip, specs that both match the Series 11. Similarly, you can opt for a 5G cellular model if you want a data connection without a phone. That said, you do have to pay a monthly fee through a cellular carrier to use that feature.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is also a meaningful upgrade over the older Apple Watch SE 2 that it replaces. Most importantly, the latest model has an always-on display. This makes it much more "watch-like." You can just glance at it to see info, rather than having to raise or tap it to turn the screen on. Additionally, the processing chip is improved, and the watch supports sleep apnea notifications, wrist temperature sensing, and longer battery life in low-power mode.

How does the Apple Watch SE 3 feel to use?

As you go through all the line items of what the Apple Watch SE 3 does or doesn't have, it might first appear like it's missing a lot compared to the Series 11. But depending on your needs, these omissions might not be a big deal.

One of the things I tried to focus on while wearing the SE 3 was how it actually felt to use. For example, I tried to forget what the screen's peak brightness was and just see if I ever had trouble viewing it or reading information. Spoiler, I didn't.

I found the display to be plenty bright. Of course, your location and circumstances will affect how easy it is to read the screen. But when using it inside, there shouldn't be any problems. The same is probably true for most outdoor use, like walking out of a store to check an incoming text message.

While the SE 3's smaller 44mm size was noticeable after coming from a year of wearing the 46mm Series 10 and then four months of wearing the 49mm Ultra 3, it never seemed tiny or too small. After a couple of days, I acclimated to the point that I no longer thought about it. People new to Apple Watch won't care or even know that there's slightly more black around the bezel. The screen still looks really nice.

One item I was not expecting to notice was the SE 3's weight, or lack thereof. It's only a few grams lighter than the equivalent Series 11 model, but I instantly noticed how light it felt. However, I didn't notice the 1mm of additional thickness (it's 10.7mm compared to the Series 11's 9.7mm).

I know the Apple Watch SE 3's smaller sizes might initially seem like a downside, but my young teenage daughter considers it a benefit. She thought the Series 11's 46mm size was too large, but was open to the SE 3's 44mm option.

The Apple Watch SE 3 was comfortable to wear for running and exercise. However, I still have the same issue with the SE 3's design for active use as I do with the Series 11. Its curved glass is just tougher to tap while on the move than the flat screen used on the high-end Ultra 3. And even beyond that drawback, the SE 3 probably isn't the right watch for serious exercise or fitness monitoring, as it lacks some sensors and health features that the Series 11 offers.

The weaknesses of the Apple Watch SE 3

I had no problem using the Apple Watch SE 3 daily. In fact, more often than not, I forgot I was testing a budget model. It just became the Apple Watch I was wearing. I didn't notice the advertised 18 hours of battery life, compared to the 24 hours listed for the Series 11. I always made it through a full day of regular use.

In practice, I didn't even really miss the sensors it lacks, but whether that's an issue for you depends on your specific health needs. Unlike the Series 11, the SE 3 is missing an electrical heart sensor, a water temperature sensor, and a depth gauge. Because it lacks an electrical heart sensor, the SE 3 doesn't support the ECG app and can't detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). It also doesn't support the Blood Oxygen app. And though the SE 3 is water-resistant to 50 meters, it won't read or record depth or show water temperature.

I'm not at a stage where I do an ECG regularly or need hypertension notifications. But these missing items are the biggest considerations when deciding whether to buy an SE 3 or another model.

With those missing features in mind, I lean toward recommending the Apple Watch SE 3 to kids, teens, and early adults. For example, I'm less inclined to pay more for my daughter to get a Series 11 with those extra sensors and apps since that kind of monitoring isn't a big necessity for her.

Personally, I only find myself checking the blood oxygen app, taking an ECG, and musing about the temperature of the pool a couple of times a year. It's not enough for me to absolutely require those features, but, like many people, I spend the extra money because I like to have those additional health sensors and features just in case. If you have any doubts about the SE 3's missing capabilities, the Series 11 is a better fit.

Software and sleep features with watchOS 26

Even though the Apple Watch SE 3 doesn't support hypertension notifications with watchOS 26, as other Apple Watches do, it does get the new sleep score feature. This is a number based on sleep duration, ongoing sleep consistency, and wake-up periods during sleep.

The SE 3 will also do Cycle Tracking (with retrospective ovulation estimates), nightly wrist temperature tracking, and sleep apnea notifications. It makes for a good sleep tracker. I don't care to wear anything on my wrist at night, but out of all the current Apple Watches, the SE 3 is the least disruptive.

Should you buy the Apple Watch SE 3?

In many ways, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the definition of an affordable smartwatch that's "good enough." It does all the basics you'd expect from an Apple Watch, and its faster processor and always-on screen make it a solid upgrade over its predecessor.

But for people who want more in-depth health measurements, the SE 3 isn't the right watch. You'd be better served by getting the more full-featured Apple Watch Series 11.

However, if you're someone who just wants an Apple Watch to get started with, the SE 3 is a perfect choice. It's surprisingly capable for its $249 starting price and is an especially good choice for teens. And frankly, even though I still gravitate toward flagship models, I was impressed by how little I missed the Series 11.