Apple Watch SE 3: What we all know

From its inception, one of many greatest drawbacks of the Apple Watch has been price. Many individuals cannot justify the worth of the most cost effective flagship model, by no means thoughts upgrading to chrome steel or shopping for an Ultra. Since 2020, the SE line has been Apple’s reply to that dilemma, providing a core Watch expertise with comparatively few sacrifices.

A second-generation SE shipped in September 2022, so Apple could also be about due for a brand new one. What options can we count on from the SE 3? When is it prone to ship? And most significantly, will it keep moderately priced?

Apple Watch SE 3 rumors

The most recent claims, and what we are able to count on typically

Only a few rumors have emerged to date. In 2023, Omdia analyst David Hsieh claimed that the SE 3 will mirror the scale choices of the Apple Watch Series 8, which had 41 and 45mm variants. That may make the SE 3 barely greater than the SE 2, which is proscribed to 40 and 44mm choices — however do not consider it as generosity on Apple’s half. The Series 10 is poised to improve to 45 and 49mm, so Apple might be simply repurposing previous tech and shifting the goalposts.

The one different improve is prone to be a more recent, quicker processor, presumably an “S10” that may also make its manner into the Collection 10 and Ultra 3. That ought to enable the SE 3 to course of some Siri instructions on-device, and is also setting the stage for Apple Intelligence, which has but to be introduced for Apple Watches. If Apple Intelligence does come, count on a subset of the options obtainable on iPhones, given the restricted area and energy wearables provide.

In July 2024, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple could also be swapping out an aluminum shell on the SE 3 for plastic. In that case that may carry the price of the machine beneath $249, luring customers away from rival merchandise just like the Fitbit Versa. Apple has notoriously resisted plastic, nonetheless — the one iPhone to make use of a plastic shell was 2013’s iPhone 5c. The corporate usually prefers steel and glass to protect its “premium” picture. In August 2024, Gurman defined that Apple could also be making an attempt to make the SE more kid-friendly.

What ought to we not count on with the Apple Watch SE 3?

It most likely will not undertake an always-on show (AOD). For years now that is been one of many major promoting factors for Collection and Extremely fashions, and it will require costlier display expertise, probably backed by a bigger battery. Even utilizing low refresh charges, AOD panels eat further energy.

Likewise, do not count on any new well being sensors. These are one other manner Apple retains its lineups separate and costs in examine. On prime of that, it isn’t allowed to supply blood oxygen (a.ok.a. SpO2) sensing on any US machine in the meanwhile, owing to a lawsuit by the medical tech firm Masimo.

All of this assumes the established order will proceed, thoughts. It is potential that Apple will attain a settlement with Masimo within the close to future, or that manufacturing prices could have dropped low sufficient to make an always-on show trivial.

When will the Apple Watch SE 3 be launched?

We’re predicting September 2024. The SE 2 launched two years after the unique, and a 2024 launch would keep the identical cycle. Apple additionally must hold the SE present if it desires folks to purchase new merchandise as a substitute of searching down refurbished Watches from shops like Amazon and Greatest Purchase. A extra particular launch date is troublesome, however an announcement ought to come alongside Apple’s ordinary mid-September iPhone occasion, adopted by supply later that month or in early October.

A launch might conceivably occur exterior of that window, however we doubt it. The one Watch to premiere exterior of September or October was the Collection 0, again in April 2015.

How a lot will the Apple Watch SE 3 price?

It should not go any larger than the SE 2’s $249. If the brand new mannequin makes use of a plastic shell, it might promote for $199, however most likely no decrease than that — it will be simply $20 greater than a pair of AirPods.

Ought to I purchase the Apple Watch SE 3?

In case you’re after a brand new watch, it is best to strongly think about it in the event you’re an iPhone proprietor with an older SE or no smartwatch in any respect. Keep in mind that Collection- and Extremely-level options like AOD tech, a steel shell, extra well being sensors, and a big display could also be good to have, however are normally non-essential.

Let’s emphasize “normally,” although. In case you’re an athlete or in any other case critical about health, issues like sturdiness, show tech, and sensors are going to matter an amazing deal. Even for sofa potatoes, one thing like AOD can generally be important — the very last thing a enterprise supervisor desires is to be caught elevating their wrist throughout a protracted assembly. In case you want multi-day battery life, in the meantime, try to be saving up for an Extremely 3 or contemplating one other watch model, equivalent to Garmin.

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