Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11
Apple Watch Series 11 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 0 for Apple Watch SE 3 (2 tied) — including battery life (24 hours vs 18 hours).
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11: our verdict
Go with Apple Watch SE 3 if you want the core smartwatch experience at the lowest price, especially if a lighter build matters to you. Pass on it if your priorities are the best health tracking or a bigger, brighter screen. The trade-off is charging it more often.
Apple Watch Series 11 makes sense for buyers who want the strongest health tracking, a bigger and brighter display, faster charging, longer battery life, and a thinner build. Leave it alone if you mainly want the essentials or care most about price. You’re paying $150 more and giving up the lighter build.
Summarised from our video comparison of these two wearables.
Watch the video comparison
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11: Battery & Charging
| Spec |
 Apple Watch SE 3
|
 Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 18 hours | 24 hours |
| GPS battery life | 7 hours | 8 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, 15 minute charge for 8 hours of use |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11: Display
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 with 2x better scratch resistance than Series 10 (aluminum); sapphire front crystal (titanium) |
Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11: Health Sensors
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 11: GPS & Navigation
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 11: Smart Features
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 11: Design & Durability
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 32.9 g | 37.8 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 11: Price & Colors
| Spec |
Apple Watch SE 3
|
Apple Watch Series 11
|
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starlight, Midnight | Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black, Gold, Natural, Slate |
| Release year | 2025 | 2025 |
Where each one wins
Apple Watch SE 3
- Weight: 32.9 g (vs 37.8 g)
Apple Watch Series 11
- Battery life: 24 hours (vs 18 hours)
- GPS battery life: 8 hours (vs 7 hours)
- 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 11 Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Apple Watch Series 11?
Apple Watch Series 11 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 0 for Apple Watch SE 3 (2 tied) — including battery life (24 hours vs 18 hours).
Which is cheaper, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Apple Watch Series 11?
The Apple Watch SE 3 costs around $279, $150 less than the Apple Watch Series 11 at around $429.
What are the main differences between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11?
The biggest gaps are in battery life (24 hours on the Apple Watch Series 11 vs 18 hours); peak brightness (2000 nits on the Apple Watch Series 11 vs 1000 nits); weight (32.9 g on the Apple Watch SE 3 vs 37.8 g).