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 value of the most cost effective flagship model, by no means thoughts upgrading to stainless-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 anticipate 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 are able to anticipate on the whole

Only a few rumors have emerged to this point. In 2023, Omdia analyst David Hsieh claimed that the SE 3 will mirror the dimensions choices of the Apple Watch Series 8, which had 41 and 45mm variants. That might 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 The Series 10 is poised to improve to 45 and 49mm, so Apple might be simply repurposing outdated tech and shifting the goalposts.

The one different improve is more likely to be a more moderen, sooner processor, presumably an “S10” that will even make its manner into the Sequence 10 and Ultra 3. That ought to permit the SE 3 to course of some Siri instructions on-device, and may be setting the stage for Apple Intelligence, which has but to be introduced for Apple Watches. If Apple Intelligence does come, anticipate a subset of the options accessible on iPhones, given the restricted area and energy wearables supply.

In July 2024, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple could also be swapping out an aluminum shell on the SE 3 for plastic. If that’s the case that may convey the price of the gadget underneath $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 metallic 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 anticipate 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 Sequence and Extremely fashions, and it could require dearer display screen know-how, probably backed by a bigger battery. Even utilizing low refresh charges, AOD panels devour additional energy.

Likewise, do not anticipate any new well being sensors. These are one other manner Apple retains its lineups separate and costs in examine. On high of that, it is not allowed to supply blood oxygen (a.ok.a. SpO2) sensing on any US gadget 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 needs 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 standard mid-September iPhone occasion, adopted by supply later that month or in early October.

A launch may conceivably occur exterior of that window, however we doubt it. The one Watch to premiere exterior 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 most likely no decrease than that — it could be simply $20 greater than a pair of AirPods.

Ought to I purchase the Apple Watch SE 3?

If you happen to’re after a brand new watch, it’s best to strongly contemplate it in case 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 metallic shell, extra well being sensors, and a big display screen could also be good to have, however are normally non-essential.

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

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