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Apple Apple Watch Series 3 vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 ($37) vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) ($51) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 3 | Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $37 | $51 |
| Weight | 32.3g | 36.2g |
| Chip | S3, dual-core | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Display | OLED Retina, raise-to-wake only | Retina OLED, not always-on |
| Case | 42mm Aluminum | — |
| GPS | Standalone GPS | — |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 32.3g (Apple published, 42mm Aluminum GPS) | 36.2g (Apple published, 44mm GPS) |
| Sensors | — | Optical heart rate, no ECG/SpO2 |
| Safety | — | Fall detection, emergency calling |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 3
- Cheapest working Apple Watch by a wide margin
- Still runs core fitness and notification features
- Compact 42mm case body many later Watches abandoned
- Standalone GPS without needing a phone nearby
- No always-on display, screen sleeps between raises
- watchOS support has ended, no further security updates
- Battery is old on any used unit, expect a shorter day
- Chip is genuinely slow navigating menus by modern standards
Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
- Series 5-class performance at a genuine discount over Series 5/6
- Fall detection and emergency calling carried over from flagship models
- Same 44mm case size as the numbered Series watches that generation
- Lighter than most Series models it's priced against
- No always-on display
- No ECG or blood oxygen sensor
- No compass
- watchOS support window is closing like every watch in this group
Apple Apple Watch Series 3 is the better value at $37. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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