Overview
- Apple’s 2025 lineup splits across three price tiers — SE 3 at $249, Series 11 at $399, and Ultra 3 at $799 — targeting budget, mainstream, and rugged use cases.
- The SE 3’s jump to the S10 chip plus an always‑on display, faster charging, wrist‑temperature sensing, and core safety features delivers the essential Apple Watch experience for most first‑time buyers.
- Series 11 shares the S10 platform but adds ECG, blood‑oxygen monitoring, and hypertension notifications, along with a brighter display and longer stated battery life of about 24 hours versus 18 hours on SE 3.
- Ultra 3 is framed for outdoor and endurance needs with the longest stated battery life and higher durability, and a new three‑month user perspective highlights that many perks feel optional for casual wearers despite the premium price.
- Consumer guides emphasize comfort and size, realistic daily charging for SE 3 and Series 11, GPS over Cellular for most newcomers, and the high value of safety tools like Emergency SOS, fall detection, and crash detection across the lineup.