The launching of theApple Watch Series 7is just around the corner , so discounts on the Series 6 , SE , and Series 3 will be ramping up . But before you jump at the chance to buy one , rent us avail you resolve which model is secure for your wrist .
Apple Watch History
These Apple Watches are presently to be replaced with newer model . We ’re expecting to seeApple Watch Series 10 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3rd coevals , runningwatchOS 11 , launch in September 2024 at the company’sGlowtime event(seehow to watch the September event ) . If you ’re in the market for a new Apple Watch , see ourApple Watch buying guide , rung - up of thebest Apple Watch deals , and advice on whether you shouldbuy Apple Watch now or waitress . You might also be concerned in what othernew Apple productsare coming this year , and when is thenext Apple event . you may find links to all our Apple Watch reviews below
Design and display
Apple has n’t drift very far from the original 2015 square design , so you ’re not going to discover a vast difference between the three watches , even though the Series 3 is slimly small and a bit boxier than the SE and Series 6 :
The SE and Series 6 are also slightly heavy than the SE by about 3 gm , but your wrist really wo n’t notice the conflict . Apple has the best and most recognizable watch design in the smartwatch industry , so any of the three will expect and find great on your wrist .
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS only)
Where they differ , however , is with the video display . The Series 3 has Apple ’s older display technical school , so it ’s smaller ( 38 mm model : 563 sq mm ; 42 mm model : 740 sq mm ) and has square corners . The SE and Series 6 have larger display ( 40 mm model : 759 sq mm ; 44 mm poser : 977 sq mm ) with rounded corner to match the showing organic structure .
The Apple Watch SE has the same display as the Apple Watch Series 6 .
While the SE and Series 6 have identical display specs , only the Series 6 has an always - on option , which lets you see the sentence even when your wrist is lowered . Apple also says the always - on display is 2.5 - times brighter than last year ’s model , which will for certain help oneself in bright Christ Within .
The Apple Watch SE has the same display as the Apple Watch Series 6.
Our pick : While the sizes and designs are very similar , the show make all the difference with the Series 6 and SE . We ’d go with the Series 6 and the always - on display , but if you do n’t mind raising your wrist to see the time , the SE ’s projection screen is just as good .
Colors and bands
While all three watches are available in silver and space gray atomic number 13 like always , you have substantially more options as you go up the line . The Apple Watch SE adds a amber color , while the Series 6 has new blue and Product(Red ) hues .
Apple Watch Series 6
If you raise to one of the cellular models , you could get silver , graphite ( DLC ) , or gold ( PVD ) unstained steel , or natural titanium or space black atomic number 22 . Additionally , the Series 6 and SE are available in Nike ( silver and space grey-headed aluminum ) and the Series 6 offers a Hermes edition in flatware and space blackened stainless sword .
Around the back , you ’re get down a composite cover with the Series 3 and an upgraded ceramic and sapphire crystal back on the SE and Series 6 .
For more important than the body color , however , is the band . All of the options Apple sells are compatible with both the SE and Series 6 , but since the Series 3 is erstwhile , some unexampled options , such as the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands are n’t compatible with the Series 3 .
The Apple Watch SE has the same display as the Apple Watch Series 6.
Our plectron : The unexampled blue and red body on the Series 6 are very overnice , but we would n’t spring for the extra money just for the color . After all , you ’re not sound to see all that much of the body anyway , but you ’ll want to verify you get a isthmus that suits your style .
Read more about the Apple Watch SE and Series 6
6 surprising reasons to grease one’s palms Apple Watch SE
The new Apple Watch Series 6 is a bigger rise than you think
Apple Watch Series 6 review
Apple Watch SE followup
Apple Watch Series 3 review
watchOS 7 FAQ
Performance and processor
carrying into action is n’t nearly as important on the Apple Watch as it is on the iPhone or iPad , but with so much going on inside your Apple Watch , speed does matter . And with each of these watches you ’re get unlike SiP ( system in packages ) as Apple describes them :
As you might expect , the S6 is about 20 percentage faster than the S5 , which is about doubly as fast as the S3 . That ’s because the S5 and S6 central processing unit have a 64 - flake two-fold - core architecture while the S3 is 32 - mo . to boot , you also get the fresh W3 wireless chip with S5 and S6 , which brings financial backing for Bluetooth 5 .
The Series 6 Apple Watch is the fast but the SE is no slouch .
The Series 6 Apple Watch is the fastest but the SE is no slouch.
The Series 6 watch also brings Apple ’s U1 extremist wideband chip to the Apple Watch for the first time . First introduced in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro , the chip allows for greater spatial consciousness , which harmonise to Apple allow the gadget to understand its exact emplacement relative to other nearby U1‑equipped Apple gimmick . Right now that does n’t mean a whole lot — especially since Apple Watch does n’t do AirDrop yet — but once the long - rumor AppleTags make an appearance that will change .
Our option : If you require it all , the Series 6 is obviously the only choice , but we think the SE will be plenty truehearted for most the great unwashed . The Series 3 will feel too pokey when trying to run anything outside of Apple ’s neckcloth apps .
Connectivity and battery life
Apple Watch SE (2020)
Apple might have launch the cellular LTE pick with the Series 3 Apple Watch , but now it ’s blend in . If you need to use your watch outdoors and get out your telephone set behind , you ’ll need to get either the Apple Watch SE or Series 6 , both of which are available in either GPS or GPS+Cellular variety show . That ’s particularly important if you plan on using Family Setup , which requires a cellular connexion .
If you ’re using cellular a raft , your barrage fire life history will vary a bit , but for the most part , all three watches will get rough 18 60 minutes of battery lifetime . That ’s just enough to ensure you require to institutionalise it once a Clarence Day , which could be slick if you want to track sleep .
Our pick : We’ve never been Brobdingnagian fans of the $ 100 upcharge or the monthly carrier fee for the Apple Watch ’s cellular connectedness , but the new Family Setup feature is challenging , as is the SE ’s cheaper LTE monetary value ( see below ) . Plus carriers are charging less than just a twosome of years ago , so cellular is becoming more challenging . Whether you need it is up to whether you want to leave your phone behind or buy one for your kid , but we ’re unquestionably high on cellular than we once were .
Sensors and features
Here ’s where the watches really position themselves apart . First , rent ’s start up with what all three vigil have :
Notably , the SE and Series 6 have a second - gen nerve detector for gravid accuracy as well as an always - in altimeter for all - day tracking . Additionally , the microphone will give chase decibel in the Noise app and the accelerometer is used to detect tumble , both of which are n’t usable on the Series 3 watch . You also get 32 GB of storage on the SE and Series 6 , versus just 8 GB on the Series 3 .
The on - screen animation while take blood - oxygen readings are very cool .
The on-screen animation while taking blood-oxygen readings are very cool.
If you upgrade to the SE , you ’ll get a reach and external hand brake calling , but to get the latest sensor you ’ll need to spring for the Series 6 . Most notably , it has a SpO2 blood atomic number 8 sensing element that form with a custom algorithm to use igniter to value the atomic number 8 saturation of blood both on - demand and throughout the day . atomic number 8 saturation can help care heart bankruptcy and bronchial asthma , as well as other respiratory issues stemming from the grippe or coronavirus . It ’s also the only watch Apple sells that has the electric nub detector that was introduced with the Series 5 last yr .
All three watches support watchOS 7 as well asthe upcoming watchOS 8 , so you ’ll be able to use any model tounlock your iPhone while wearing a mask in iOS 14.5 .
Our picking : wellness and seaworthiness buffs will decidedly want to bound for the Series 6 and the line - oxygen sensor , but the SE has a healthy raiment of sensors and feature for its price . The rake - oxygen sensor does n’t do all that much right now , but it likely will in the future . So if you want to future - cogent evidence your wrist , the Series 6 is your best investment .
The Apple Watch SE looks just like the Series 6 when the screen is lit.
Price
There ’s a wide col between the cheapest Apple Watch and the most expensive ( that would be the $ 1,400 Hermes Silver Stainless Steel Case with Single Tour Deployment Buckle , but the start prices are n’t nearly as freaky :
grant , the Series 6 costs twice as much as the Series 3 and $ 120 more than the SE , and it only goes up from there . Here are the prices for the cellular models :
Somehow , the cellular Apple Watch SE is an even greater value than the GPS - only model . With a $ 50 premium versus $ 100 on the Series 6 , the cellular Apple Watch SE is only $ 30 more than last class ’s Series 3 , which has far fewer features .
Our pick : This is basically a showcase of what you’re able to afford . If your budget will allow you to pass $ 400 and up on the Series 6 , it ’s well deserving the price of admission . But if you ’re a small stretched , the SE is a very unspoilt option , especially if you ’re pop off for LTE . We ’d stay off from the Series 3 , however , even if you get it on sales event . You ’re right off wait a few months to see what Apple releases for its new card . We ’d be very surprised to see the Series 3 stick around for another year .
Conclusion
Even if you only have $ 200 to drop , we ca n’t advocate anyone grease one’s palms the Series 3 . The processor is old enough where it ’s golden to get two more OS update , and it ’s overleap too many feature of speech . It will get watchOS 8 , but it ’s unbelievable to get much support beyond that .
So it comes down to whether you want the secure characteristic or not . The Series 6 offers a lot over the SE for $ 120 more — ECG , Sp02 , always - on showing — so if you may swing the price or get it on cut-rate sale , you ’ll be very felicitous with your purchase for year to come .
The Apple Watch SE looks just like the Series 6 when the concealment is illuminate .
Otherwise , we ’d recommend the 40 mm Apple Watch SE with LTE for $ 329 in our preferred color , gold ( though if you desire silver or space gray we wo n’t complain ) . Yes , you ’re spending $ 130 more than the Series 3 , but you ’re get so much more for your money : a bigger display , well sensor , degenerate cow dung , and more storehouse . Plus , since cellular connectivity is half the cost of the SE , you may get one for your minor using Family Setup without breaking the banking concern .
true statement be tell apart , even purchaser tend toward the Series 6 might want to study this poser . It ’s $ 160 crummy than the corresponding Series 6 ticker and while you ’re not getting next - gen blood - O and ECG sensing element , the rest of the SE matches up extremely well with the flagship model at a fraction of the price .
Update 3/6 : update throughout with Modern analysis and passport .
