Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Series 10 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 0 for Apple Watch SE 3 (2 tied) — including peak brightness (2000 nits vs 1000 nits).
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: our verdict
If you just want the core smartwatch experience and you'd rather keep the price down, Apple Watch SE 3 makes a lot of sense. It's not the one to buy for ECG, blood oxygen, or blood pressure alerts, because those aren't here. The lighter build also helps with all-day comfort. Just know that you give up ECG support entirely.
Go for Apple Watch Series 10 if the screen matters to you, you want quicker charging, and you want advanced health features like ECG, blood oxygen, and blood pressure alerts. You pay $150 more and give up being the best buy for most people.
Summarised from our video comparison of these two wearables.
Watch the video comparison
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Battery & Charging
| Spec |
 Apple Watch SE 3
|
 Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Charging time | 75 min | 60 min |
| Charging | USB-C magnetic fast charging; up to 80% in about 45 minutes | USB-C magnetic fast charging; up to 80% in about 30 minutes |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Display
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.78 in | 1.96 in |
| Peak brightness | 1000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED |
| Resolution | 368 x 448 | 416 x 496 |
| Screen protection | Tough Ion-X front glass; 4x more crack resistant than Apple Watch SE 2 | Ion-X front glass (aluminum); sapphire front crystal (titanium) |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Health Sensors
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | No | Yes |
| Heart rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | Yes | Yes |
| Blood pressure alerts | No | Yes |
| Irregular rhythm alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Breathing rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | No | No |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: GPS & Navigation
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-band GPS | No | No |
| Satellite systems | 5 | 5 |
| Offline maps | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Smart Features
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Calls from the wrist | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular (LTE) | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
| Software | watchOS 26 | watchOS |
| Works with | iPhone only | iPhone only |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Siri |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Design & Durability
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 32.9 g | 36.4 g |
| Thickness | 10.7 mm | 9.7 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Military-grade toughness | No | No |
| Case size | 44 mm | 46 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| IP rating | — | IP6X |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 10: Price & Colors
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 10
|
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starlight, Midnight | Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver, Slate, Gold, Natural |
| Release year | 2025 | 2024 |
Where each one wins
Apple Watch SE 3
- Weight: 32.9 g (vs 36.4 g)
Apple Watch Series 10
- Charging time: 60 min (vs 75 min)
- Screen size: 1.96 in (vs 1.78 in)
- Peak brightness: 2000 nits (vs 1000 nits)
- ECG
- Blood oxygen (SpO2)
- Blood pressure alerts
- Thickness: 9.7 mm (vs 10.7 mm)
More Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Series 10 Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Apple Watch Series 10?
Apple Watch Series 10 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 0 for Apple Watch SE 3 (2 tied) — including peak brightness (2000 nits vs 1000 nits).
Which is cheaper, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Apple Watch Series 10?
The Apple Watch SE 3 costs around $279, $150 less than the Apple Watch Series 10 at around $429.
What are the main differences between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 10?
The biggest gaps are in peak brightness (2000 nits on the Apple Watch Series 10 vs 1000 nits); weight (32.9 g on the Apple Watch SE 3 vs 36.4 g); charging time (60 min on the Apple Watch Series 10 vs 75 min).