Apple Watch SE 3: What we all know

From its inception, one of many largest 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 more likely to ship? And most significantly, will it keep fairly priced?

Apple Watch SE 3 rumors

The most recent claims, and what we will 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 larger than the SE 2, which is restricted 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 more likely to be a more moderen, quicker processor, presumably an “S10” that can even make its method into the Sequence 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 accessible 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 which may convey the price of the system beneath $249, luring buyers away from rival merchandise just like the Fitbit Versa. Apple has notoriously resisted plastic, nevertheless — the one iPhone to make use of a plastic shell was 2013’s iPhone 5c. The corporate sometimes prefers steel and glass to protect its “premium” picture. In August 2024, Gurman defined that Apple could also be attempting to make the SE more kid-friendly.

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

It in all probability will not undertake an always-on show (AOD). For years now that is been one of many major promoting factors for Sequence and Extremely fashions, and it might require dearer display screen expertise, probably backed by a bigger battery. Even utilizing low refresh charges, AOD panels eat additional energy.

Likewise, do not count on any new well being sensors. These are one other method Apple retains its lineups separate and costs in examine. On high of that, it isn’t allowed to supply blood oxygen (a.okay.a. SpO2) sensing on any US system 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 attainable that Apple will attain a settlement with Masimo within the close to future, or that manufacturing prices can 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 preserve the identical cycle. Apple additionally must maintain the SE present if it needs folks to purchase new merchandise as an alternative of looking down refurbished Watches from shops like Amazon and Finest Purchase. A extra particular launch date is tough, however an announcement ought to come alongside Apple’s typical mid-September iPhone occasion, adopted by supply later that month or in early October.

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

How a lot will the Apple Watch SE 3 price?

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

Ought to I purchase the Apple Watch SE 3?

When you’re after a brand new watch, you must strongly contemplate it when you’re an iPhone proprietor with an older SE or no smartwatch in any respect. Do not forget that Sequence- and Extremely-level options like AOD tech, a steel shell, extra well being sensors, and a big display screen could also be good to have, however are often non-essential.

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

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