This yr, Apple has made it more durable to decide on an Apple Watch mannequin. Do you go for the stalwart Apple Watch Collection 11 that continues the design and options of its predecessor, or go massive with the Apple Watch Extremely 3? Or, new this yr is a surprisingly succesful Apple Watch SE that may be simply what you want.
Let’s get into the main points.
Watch this: Apple Watch Extremely 3 Evaluation: Is it Worthy of the Title and the $800 Value Tag?
Pricing the Apple Watch Collection 11, Extremely 3 and SE 3
The 2025 Apple Watch line spans a large value vary, beginning as little as $249 for the Apple Watch SE 3 and going as excessive as $1,299 for a titanium Apple Watch Collection 11 with an Hermès band. Like most style equipment, you possibly can select from completely different case sizes, supplies, mobile connectivity choices and bands to seek out the correct match — and value — on your watch.
The Apple Watch Collection 11 presents the widest value vary, with two case sizes, two physique supplies, non-obligatory mobile connectivity and premium Hermès fashions. The Apple Watch SE 3 is simply obtainable in aluminum and has the sooner, barely smaller case sizes. The Apple Watch Extremely 3 comes solely in titanium, with a single 49mm dimension and mobile included by default.
Learn extra: Discover the very best offers on the Collection 11 and Extremely 3.
Here is how they break down:
| Apple Watch Collection 11 | GPS | GPS plus mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 42mm aluminum | $399 | $499 |
| 46mm aluminum | $429 | $529 |
| 42mm titanium | $699 | |
| 46mm titanium | $749 | |
| Hermès 42mm titanium | $1,249 | |
| Hermès 46mm titanium | $1,299 | |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | ||
| 42mm aluminum | $249 | $299 |
| 46mm aluminum | $279 | $329 |
| Apple Watch Extremely 3 | ||
| 49mm titanium | $799 | |
| Hermès 49mm titanium | $1,399 |
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 bodily designs
The core rounded-rectangle design of the Apple Watch has seen incremental modifications since its first iterations. The Collection 11 shares the slimmer 9.7mm top profile of the Collection 10, with 42mm and 46mm diagonal sizes. Weight is gentle throughout the board, from 29.7 to 43.1 grams relying on dimension and case materials. Aluminum fashions are available in house grey, jet black, rose gold or silver, whereas titanium variations are provided in pure, slate or gold finishes.
Left to proper: All three Apple Watch fashions: Apple Watch Extremely 3, Apple Watch Collection 11 and Apple Watch SE 3.
The Apple Watch SE 3 is barely thicker (10.7mm) and barely smaller, with 40mm and 44mm sizes. Its design most carefully harkens again to earlier Apple Watch fashions. It weighs 26.4 grams or 33 grams, relying on the case dimension. And because the no-frills possibility, the SE 3 is available in both midnight (black) or starlight (silver).
The Extremely 3 is essentially the most vital departure from the unique design, with 14.4mm thickness, 49mm diagonal dimension and a extra strong weight of 61.6 grams. Its titanium physique is available in both pure or black — until you go for the Hermès version, which is simply provided in pure.
CNET lead author Vanessa Hand Orellana described the Extremely 3 in her assessment as being “like the posh Land Rover you see in safari brochures: It is adventure-ready on the skin, with all the fashionable conveniences on the within.” The physique can also be 3D-printed utilizing 100% recycled titanium, however you’d by no means realize it; there are not one of the telltale layering indications discovered on most 3D-printed gadgets.
The Apple Watch Extremely 3.
Every watch has Apple’s Digital Crown and a facet button. The Extremely 3 additionally features a programmable Motion button, which may, for instance, begin a exercise with a single press.
Appears to be like apart, all three Apple Watch fashions are constructed for sturdiness. The SE 3 is water-resistant to 50 meters, so that you need not child it — whether or not you are showering, swimming or simply dwelling by way of a wet Pacific Northwest day.
The Collection 11 can also be rated for water resistance to 50 meters, whereas the Extremely 3 doubles that with a 100-meter ranking. They’re each additionally licensed as IP6X mud resistant, which is best than the SE.
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 shows
The Collection 11 and Extremely 3 each use an LPTO 3 OLED show, which has the benefits of staying at all times on, supplying you with a large viewing angle, so you do not want to take a look at it head-on to see the time. It will probably additionally get very vibrant: 2,000 nits of peak brightness for the Collection 11 and three,000 nits (the identical because the iPhone 17 Professional) for the Extremely 3.
The energy-efficient display can refresh its show at only one nit of brightness as soon as each second when in its passive state, so you possibly can at all times see the second hand or indicator (relying on the watch face).
The Apple Watch Collection 11 (proven right here) and Extremely 3 have screens which might be simpler to see at an angle.
The show is protected by sapphire crystal on the titanium Collection 11 and the Extremely 3. In response to Apple, the aluminum Collection 11 makes use of Ion-X glass, which is twice as scratch-resistant because the Collection 10.
In previous generations, the SE was caught with the lowest-quality display, however not this time. The SE 3 will get an always-on LTPO OLED show that reaches as much as 2,000 nits of brightness and dims to simply 2 nits when inactive. However it does not refresh as typically because the Collection 11 and Extremely 3, so the seconds indicator solely seems when the display is lively. It is nonetheless an enormous “high quality of life” bump from prior SE watches, which do not have an always-on show mode.
The 40mm starlight Apple Watch SE 3 on CNET’s Vanessa Hand Orellana’s 6.5″ wrist.
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 battery life
One shock with the brand new Apple Watch lineup is improved battery life within the Collection 11 and Extremely 3, plus a fast-charge possibility on the SE 3 that makes it straightforward to high up for an evening’s sleep after a full day.
Apple claims as much as 24 hours of use on a battery cost for the Collection 11, up from the Collection 10’s 18 hours. It additionally claims as much as 38 hours in Low Energy mode, a notch above the 36 hours of the Collection 10. That fast-charging possibility can convey the battery degree as much as 80% in half-hour, however placing the watch on its charger for simply quarter-hour can increase it for as much as eight hours.
Hand Orellana writes in her Collection 11 assessment, “The six-hour battery bump on the Collection 11 could not sound like a lot on paper, nevertheless it’s given me some welcome respiration room to determine a greater charging technique.”
The SE 3 nonetheless delivers as much as 18 hours of use, or 32 hours in Low Energy mode. It additionally helps quick charging — as much as 80% in 45 minutes, or about eight hours of use from a fast 15-minute top-up.
The Apple Watch SE 3 fees to 80% in 45 minutes, or can choose up sufficient energy for eight hours of sleep monitoring in simply eight minutes on its charger.
If you’d like essentially the most time between fees, the Extremely 3 stays the Apple Watch to get. It will probably final for as much as 42 hours, per Apple, or as much as 72 hours in Low Energy mode. Quick charging its bigger battery takes it to 80% in about 45 minutes, and quarter-hour on the cable gives you roughly 12 hours of energy.
A few of these positive factors come from Apple factoring in an evening’s sleep, however credit score additionally goes to the extra power-efficient LTPO 3 display within the Collection 11 and Extremely 3.
It is one factor to reference Apple’s claims, however what about battery life in follow? In Hand Orellana’s assessment of every mannequin, she recorded even higher battery life than Apple’s estimates. Take into accout your day by day utilization will have an effect on outcomes, however this is what she discovered:
| Apple Watch | Apple’s estimate | CNET assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Collection 11 | 24 hours | 27-32 hours |
| Extremely 3 | 42 hours | 45-49 hours |
| SE 3 | 18 hours | 20-25 hours |
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 well being options
The Apple Watch SE line has at all times sacrificed some {hardware} and options to stay the least costly possibility, and the SE 3 continues that custom — however to not the identical extent. It lacks {an electrical} coronary heart sensor discovered within the Collection 11 and Extremely 3, so it may well’t take coronary heart readings utilizing the ECG app to search for indicators of atrial fibrillation (Afib).
The sensors on the again of the Apple Watch SE 3.
In response to Apple, the SE 3 makes use of a second-generation optical coronary heart sensor that tracks coronary heart charge throughout train, sleep and potential emergencies — although, like all Apple Watches, it may well’t detect coronary heart assaults or measure blood oxygen. The Collection 11 and Extremely 3 improve to third-generation optical coronary heart sensors.
The SE 3 can also be lacking a water temperature sensor and depth gauge, making the Collection 11 and Extremely 3 higher choices if you happen to spend numerous time in water and wish to observe swim exercises or shallow dives extra reliably.
The Hypertension notification on the Apple Watch Collection 11 on show at Apple’s Cupertino occasion, Sept. 9.
This yr’s standout well being characteristic is the power to investigate information and test for indicators of potential hypertension, or hypertension. “It is not the complete on-the-spot blood strain monitoring Apple followers have lengthy hoped for,” wrote Hand Orellana, “nevertheless it’s a significant step ahead — one which Apple says might assist 1 million folks get recognized with hypertension within the first yr alone.”
Just like the sleep apnea monitoring launched final yr, hypertension notifications usually are not a screening instrument; consider it as a warning system that prompts you to get checked out by your physician. The Collection 11 and Extremely 3 embody this skill (sorry, SE 3), and require 30 days of information assortment earlier than triggering notifications. The Collection 9, Collection 10 and Extremely 2 additionally get hypertension notifications in WatchOS 26.
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 connectivity
Every of the Apple Watch fashions helps mobile communications, permitting you to remain related even when your iPhone is at house. You may order the aluminum Collection 11 fashions and the SE 3 with the mobile possibility; the titanium Collection 11 and the Extremely 3 embody it by default.
What’s distinctive about these watches is their assist for each 5G and LTE networks, providing quicker speeds and broader compatibility. Plus, they use 5G Diminished Capability expertise, which is extra energy environment friendly than the 5G networking in your iPhone.
With a mobile Apple Watch, you do not want an iPhone close by.
In addition they assist Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n, at 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies), Bluetooth 5.3 and L1 GPS location chips. The Extremely 3 consists of twin GPS radios (L1 and L5) for extra exact location monitoring, particularly in difficult environments like dense downtown corridors.
Plus, the Extremely 3 presents satellite tv for pc connectivity straight from the watch. With a direct view of the sky, it may well talk with overhead satellites for sending and receiving texts, sharing your location and accessing emergency companies.
Satellite tv for pc connectivity on the Apple Watch Extremely 3 can ship out emergency messages even if you’re out of cell vary.
Collection 11 vs. Extremely 3, SE 3 processors
One of many largest surprises within the lineup? The Apple Watch Collection 11, Extremely 3 and SE 3 all embody the identical S10 chip. It is value noting that the S10, launched in final yr’s Collection 10, is not a brand new processor technology for 2025. However every watch now consists of 64 gigabytes of storage, a four-core Neural Engine and a 64-bit dual-core processor.
The one vital distinction is that the Apple Watch SE 3 is the one mannequin to not get Apple’s second-generation Extremely Wideband chip, which is used for exact location monitoring. You may nonetheless use Discover My from an iPhone (geared up with UWB) to inform if the SE 3 is with you or if you happen to left it at house. However with the Collection 11 and Extremely 3, Discover My will level you in the correct route as you get nearer to your mislaid watch.
WatchOS 26 on the Collection 11, Extremely 3 and SE 3
Every mannequin is preloaded with WatchOS 26, which has the brand new Liquid Glass interface (although usually, it is fairly delicate). And all fashions add options like the brand new Wrist Flick gesture, nightly sleep scores, Exercise Buddy, the Notes app and dwell translation in Messages. The Collection 11 and Extremely 3, with their upgraded sensors, additionally achieve hypertension notifications.
Apple Watch Collection 11, Extremely 3 and SE 3 specs
| Apple Watch Collection 11 | Apple Watch Extremely 3 | Apple Watch SE (Third Gen) | |
| Design & sizes | Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm | Rectangular, 49mm | Rectangular, 40mm, 44mm |
| Show | 42mm: 446 × 374 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle) 46mm: 496 × 416 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle) | 49mm: 514 × 422 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle, All the time-On) | 44mm: 368 × 448 pixels (All the time-On Retina LTPO OLED) Apple 40mm: 324 × 394 pixels (All the time-On Retina LTPO OLED) |
| Brightness | Between 1 and 2000 nits | Between 1 and 3000 nits | As much as 1000 nits |
| Thickness & weight | 46mm: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum GPS), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Mobile), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm: 9.7mm; 30.3g (aluminum GPS), 29.7g (aluminum GPS+Mobile), 34.6g (titanium) | 49mm: 14.4mm; 61.6g (titanium) | 44mm: 10.7mm; 33.0g (aluminum GPS+Mobile) 40mm: 10.7mm; 26.4g (aluminum GPS+Mobile) |
| Materials & end | Aluminum: Jet black, rose gold or silver end; Titanium: slate, gold or pure end with sapphire crystal show (titanium) | Titanium, pure or black end with sapphire crystal show (titanium) | 100% recycled aluminum, midnight and starlight |
| Sturdiness | 2X extra scratch resistant glass (aluminum), 5ATM Water + IP6X (mud) | Water resistance 100m; mud IP6X, scuba to 40m, examined to MIL-STD 810H | Cowl glass is 4X instances extra proof against cracks than the SE 2; fabricated from Ion-X glass. Water-proof as much as 50 meters |
| Battery life | As much as 24 hours, as much as 38 hours Low Energy (always-on) + Quick cost: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min | As much as 42 hours; as much as 72 hours Low Energy. Quick cost to 80% in 45 min, 100% cost 75 min | All-day, 18-hour battery life. Quick charging with 8 hours of regular use in simply quarter-hour on the charger |
| Sensors | ECG, Third-gen optical coronary heart sensor, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass | ECG, Third-gen optical coronary heart sensor, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass | Wrist temperature, Second-generation optical coronary heart sensor |
| Emergency options | Satellite tv for pc SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Verify in and Backtrack | Satellite tv for pc SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Verify in and Backtrack | Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Verify In |
| AI & teaching | Siri (voice assistant); Exercise Buddy | Siri (voice assistant); Exercise Buddy | On-device Siri, Exercise Buddy |
| Processor | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip |
| RAM/Storage | 64GB (storage) | 64GB (storage) | 64GB (storage) |
| Funds | Apple Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Value (US) | $399-$750 (titanium) | $799 | $249 (beginning) |