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Even though Apple hasn’t launched a new Apple Watch SE model since 2022, the current Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) remains our top pick as the best budget smartwatch available today. Even still, a refresh feels more than overdue.
With an Apple launch event officially confirmed for September 9th, could an Apple Watch SE 3 be just hours away, alongside the new Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3? And, if so, what features will it offer and how much will it cost? Here’s everything we know based on all the Apple Watch SE 3 leaks and rumors so far.
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Apple Watch SE 3 Cheat Sheet: Biggest rumorsRelease date prediction: September 9th, 2025Price prediction: $199 to $249 and upDesign: Same basic design as the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch SE (2022); Apple may switch from a metal case to a plastic one to keep costs and weight down; a thinner bezel and case are possibleDisplay: A larger and more durable display is possibleChip: S11 chipFeatures: SpO2 tracking, ECG tracking, AI-driven health and fitness toolsSoftware: watchOS 26Apple Watch SE 3: price and availability
Despite rumors pointing to a release last year, the Apple Watch SE 3 didn’t materialize. Will we get an updated model this time around during the Sept 9 Apple event? It’s possible, but far from confirmed.
As for price, the current SE model starts $249 for the 40mm size and $279 for the 44mm variant. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that Apple may release the SE at an even lower price, which would be a nice surprise, especially if Apple manages to get it under the $200-mark.
The lower price may come from some design decisions Apple is reportedly making with the new watch — more on that below.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)Apple Watch SE 3: design and display
One big change that Apple might make with the SE 3 is moving from a partially metal body to an all-plastic version. Allegedly, Apple is toying with the idea in an attempt to reduce costs and speed up production. There have also been leaks that this might lead to more colorful options to choose from.
The 2022 models already changed the case to a nylon composite plastic, but the shell remained aluminum. The change would make the device potentially less environmentally friendly, though, and Apple has been pushing to increase the sustainability of its products.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
According to display analyst Ross Young, we might be getting two options with the Apple Watch SE 3: 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch displays. This is similar to the Apple Watch 7, which had 41mm and 45mm screens. It’s also likely the Apple Watch SE 3 will have a thinner design, with slimmed-down bezels.
Apple Watch SE 3: Specs and features
It looks like Apple accidentally leaked the news that the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will all use the same S11 chip. This chip is very similar to that used in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Series 10, but it will feel like a huge improvement over the S8 chip used in the current Apple Watch SE 2.
We have no word on the SE 3’s potential battery, but the 2022 version had a 245 mAh battery that lasted about 18 hours. We expect at a minimum a bigger battery with some software optimization to maybe crack the 24-hour mark.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Apple Watch 7 introduced fast charging to Apple’s watch lineup, but the SE 2022 did not get that feature. We imagine the third-generation SE watch will probably get fast charging.
The Apple Watch SE 3 will more than likely bring features from the Watch 8 and Watch 9, but it’s unclear what ones. The SE watches have focused on essential health tracking, with more advanced tracking slated for the flagship watches.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
We’re not sure what Apple will consider essential between 2022 and now, though we could see ECG tracking finally make its way into the SE, something that has been available in the main series since 2018.
Apple is also finally bringing back blood oxygen monitoring for U.S. customers, after removing the feature from devices due to a lengthy legal battle with rival Masimo. Could the SE 3 also inherit this useful, holistic tool? Our hunch says that it’s less likely than ECG monitoring coming to the device, but not completely improbable.
As for software, it’s the SE 3 will almost certainly launch with watchOS 26, the next iteration of its wearable operating system.
If what we’ve heard so far is right, then the Apple Watch SE 3 could be a big update to the budget-friendly model from 2022. The real question is, will the product actually arrive during the Sept 9 Apple launch event?
It’s been three years since the last version of the SE dropped, so we’re certainly hoping the answer is ‘Yes!’
But what would really make the budget wearable more attractive is the price. With Google slowly killing Fitbit and transitioning the company’s smartwatches to Android-only Pixel Watch models, Apple could fill the void left by the cheaper Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4.
It’s clear that Apple sees these smartwatches as a critical part of its lineup. While we may not know much for certain yet, September 9th could see a big update for fans of the value-focused watch.
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