Time to Choose: Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Ultra 3 and SE 3
The Apple Watch lineup seems somewhat interchangeable, but there are some real differences among the three watches.
The Apple Watch lineup seems somewhat interchangeable, but there are some real differences among the three watches.
Jeff Carlson Senior Writer
Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology for CNET. He is also the author of dozens of how-to books covering a wide spectrum ranging from Apple devices and cameras to photo editing software and PalmPilots. He drinks a lot of coffee in Seattle.
Expertise mobile technology, apple devices, generative ai, photography
8 min read
It's the new year, and you've probably got a bunch of resolutions and goals swirling around your head competing for attention. What you need is a central, constant companion that will help you make sense of it all and keep you on task. No, I'm not talking about AI -- it's time to get an Apple Watch. But which one?
The flagship Apple Watch Series 11, rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3 and economical Apple Watch SE 3 models are a lot closer in features and specs than they've ever been. Let's compare them to see which deserves a place in a gift box -- or on your wrist.
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Watch this: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review: Is it Worthy of the Name and the $800 Price Tag?
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Pricing the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3
The 2025 Apple Watch line spans a wide price range, starting as low as $249 for the Apple Watch SE 3 and going as high as $1,299 for a titanium Apple Watch Series 11 with an Hermès band. Like most fashion accessories, you can choose from different case sizes, materials, cellular connectivity options and bands to find the right fit -- and price -- for your watch.
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers the widest price range, with two case sizes, two body materials, optional cellular connectivity and premium Hermès models. The Apple Watch SE 3 is only available in aluminum and has the earlier, slightly smaller case sizes. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes only in titanium, with a single 49mm size and cellular included by default.
Read more: Find the best deals on the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
Here's how they break down:
Apple Watch Series 11
GPS
GPS plus cellular
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 Ultra 3
49mm titanium
$799
Hermès 49mm titanium
$1,399
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 physical designs
The core rounded-rectangle design of the Apple Watch has seen incremental changes since its first iterations. The Series 11 shares the slimmer 9.7mm height profile of the Series 10, with 42mm and 46mm diagonal sizes. Weight is light across the board, from 29.7 to 43.1 grams depending on size and case material. Aluminum models come in space gray, jet black, rose gold or silver, while titanium versions are offered in natural, slate or gold finishes.
Left to right: All three Apple Watch models: Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
The Apple Watch SE 3 is slightly thicker (10.7mm) and slightly smaller, with 40mm and 44mm sizes. Its design most closely harkens back to earlier Apple Watch models. It weighs 26.4 grams or 33 grams, depending on the case size. And as the no-frills option, the SE 3 comes in either midnight (black) or starlight (silver).
The Ultra 3 is the most significant departure from the original design, with 14.4mm thickness, 49mm diagonal size and a more solid weight of 61.6 grams. Its titanium body comes in either natural or black -- unless you opt for the Hermès edition, which is only offered in natural.
CNET lead writer Vanessa Hand Orellana described the Ultra 3 in her review as being "like the luxury Land Rover you see in safari brochures: It's adventure-ready on the outside, with all the modern conveniences on the inside." The body is also 3D-printed using 100% recycled titanium, but you'd never know it; there are none of the telltale layering indications found on most 3D-printed items.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Each watch has Apple's Digital Crown and a side button. The Ultra 3 also includes a programmable Action button, which can, for example, start a workout with a single press.
Looks aside, all three Apple Watch models are built for durability. The SE 3 is water resistant to 50 meters, so you don't need to baby it -- whether you're showering, swimming or just living through a rainy Pacific Northwest day.
The Series 11 is also rated for water resistance to 50 meters, while the Ultra 3 doubles that with a 100-meter rating. They're both also certified as IP6X dust resistant, which is better than the SE.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 displays
The Series 11 and Ultra 3 both use an LPTO 3 OLED display, which has the advantages of staying always on, giving you a wide viewing angle, so you don't need to look at it head-on to see the time. It can also get very bright: 2,000 nits of peak brightness for the Series 11 and 3,000 nits (the same as the iPhone 17 Pro) for the Ultra 3.
The energy-efficient screen can refresh its display at just one nit of brightness once every second when in its passive state, so you can always see the second hand or indicator (depending on the watch face).
The Apple Watch Series 11 (shown here) and Ultra 3 have screens that are easier to see at an angle.
Cole Kan/CNET/Apple
The display is protected by sapphire crystal on the titanium Series 11 and the Ultra 3. According to Apple, the aluminum Series 11 uses Ion-X glass, which is twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10.
In past generations, the SE was stuck with the lowest-quality screen, but not this time. The SE 3 gets an always-on LTPO OLED display that reaches up to 2,000 nits of brightness and dims to just 2 nits when inactive. But it doesn't refresh as often as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, so the seconds indicator only appears when the screen is active. It's still a big "quality of life" bump from prior SE watches, which don't have an always-on display mode.
The 40mm starlight Apple Watch SE 3 on CNET's Vanessa Hand Orellana's 6.5" wrist. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 battery life
One surprise with the new Apple Watch lineup is improved battery life in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, plus a fast-charge option on the SE 3 that makes it easy to top up for a night's sleep after a full day.
Apple claims up to 24 hours of use on a battery charge for the Series 11, up from the Series 10's 18 hours. It also claims up to 38 hours in Low Power mode, a notch above the 36 hours of the Series 10. That fast-charging option can bring the battery level up to 80% in 30 minutes, but putting the watch on its charger for just 15 minutes can boost it for up to eight hours.
Hand Orellana writes in her Series 11 review, "The six-hour battery bump on the Series 11 may not sound like much on paper, but it's given me some welcome breathing room to figure out a better charging strategy."
The SE 3 still delivers up to 18 hours of use, or 32 hours in Low Power mode. It also supports fast charging -- up to 80% in 45 minutes, or about eight hours of use from a quick 15-minute top-up.
The Apple Watch SE 3 charges to 80% in 45 minutes, or can pick up enough power for eight hours of sleep tracking in just eight minutes on its charger.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
If you want the most time between charges, the Ultra 3 remains the Apple Watch to get. It can last for up to 42 hours, per Apple, or up to 72 hours in Low Power mode. Fast charging its larger battery takes it to 80% in about 45 minutes, and 15 minutes on the cable will give you roughly 12 hours of power.
Some of these gains come from Apple factoring in a night's sleep, but credit also goes to the more power-efficient LTPO 3 screen in the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
It's one thing to reference Apple's claims, but what about battery life in practice? In Hand Orellana's review of each model, she recorded even better battery life than Apple's estimates. Keep in mind your daily usage will affect results, but here's what she found:
Apple Watch
Apple's estimate
CNET review
Series 11
24 hours
27-32 hours
Ultra 3
42 hours
45-49 hours
SE 3
18 hours
20-25 hours
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 health features
The Apple Watch SE line has always sacrificed some hardware and features to remain the least expensive option, and the SE 3 continues that tradition -- but not to the same extent. It lacks an electrical heart sensor found in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, so it can't take heart readings using the ECG app to look for signs of atrial fibrillation (Afib).
The sensors on the back of the Apple Watch SE 3.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
According to Apple, the SE 3 uses a second-generation optical heart sensor that tracks heart rate during exercise, sleep and potential emergencies -- though, like all Apple Watches, it can't detect heart attacks or measure blood oxygen. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 upgrade to third-generation optical heart sensors.
The SE 3 is also missing a water temperature sensor and depth gauge, making the Series 11 and Ultra 3 better options if you spend a lot of time in water and want to track swim workouts or shallow dives more reliably.
The Hypertension notification on the Apple Watch Series 11 on display at Apple's Cupertino event, Sept. 9.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
This year's standout health feature is the ability to analyze data and check for signs of possible hypertension, or high blood pressure. "It's not the full on-the-spot blood pressure monitoring Apple fans have long hoped for," wrote Hand Orellana, "but it's a major step forward -- one that Apple says could help 1 million people get diagnosed with hypertension in the first year alone."
Like the sleep-apnea tracking introduced last year, hypertension notifications are not a screening tool; think of it as a warning system that prompts you to get checked out by your doctor. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 include this ability (sorry, SE 3), and require 30 days of data collection before triggering notifications. The Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2 also get hypertension notifications in WatchOS 26.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 connectivity
Each of the Apple Watch models supports cellular communications, allowing you to stay connected even when your iPhone is at home. You can order the aluminum Series 11 models and the SE 3 with the cellular option; the titanium Series 11 and the Ultra 3 include it by default.
What's unique about these watches is their support for both 5G and LTE networks, offering faster speeds and broader compatibility. Plus, they use 5G Reduced Capacity technology, which is more power efficient than the 5G networking in your iPhone.
With a cellular Apple Watch, you don't need an iPhone nearby.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
They also support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n, at 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies), Bluetooth 5.3 and L1 GPS location chips. The Ultra 3 includes dual GPS radios (L1 and L5) for more precise location tracking, especially in challenging environments like dense downtown corridors.
Plus, the Ultra 3 offers satellite connectivity directly from the watch. With a direct view of the sky, it can communicate with overhead satellites for sending and receiving texts, sharing your location and accessing emergency services.
Satellite connectivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 can send out emergency messages even when you're out of cell range. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 processors
One of the biggest surprises in the lineup? The Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 all include the same S10 chip. It's worth noting that the S10, introduced in last year's Series 10, isn't a new processor generation for 2025. But each watch now includes 64 gigabytes of storage, a four-core Neural Engine and a 64-bit dual-core processor.
The only significant difference is that the Apple Watch SE 3 is the only model not to get Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which is used for precise location tracking. You can still use Find My from an iPhone (equipped with UWB) to tell if the SE 3 is with you or if you left it at home. But with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, Find My will point you in the right direction as you get closer to your mislaid watch.
WatchOS 26 on the Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3
Each model is preloaded with WatchOS 26, which has the new Liquid Glass interface (though in most cases, it's quite subtle). And all models add features like the new Wrist Flick gesture, nightly sleep scores, Workout Buddy, the Notes app and live translation in Messages. The Series 11 and Ultra 3, with their upgraded sensors, also gain hypertension notifications.
Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 specs
Apple Watch Series 11
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen)
Design & sizes
Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm
Rectangular, 49mm
Rectangular, 40mm, 44mm
Display
42mm: 446 × 374 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle) 46mm: 496 × 416 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle)
49mm: 514 × 422 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle, Always-On)
44mm: 368 × 448 pixels (Always-On Retina LTPO OLED) Apple 40mm: 324 × 394 pixels (Always-On Retina LTPO OLED)
Brightness
Between 1 and 2000 nits
Between 1 and 3000 nits
Up to 1000 nits
Thickness & weight
46mm: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum GPS), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm: 9.7mm; 30.3g (aluminum GPS), 29.7g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 34.6g (titanium)
49mm: 14.4mm; 61.6g (titanium)
44mm: 10.7mm; 33.0g (aluminum GPS+Cellular) 40mm: 10.7mm; 26.4g (aluminum GPS+Cellular)
Material & finish
Aluminum: Jet black, rose gold or silver finish; Titanium: slate, gold or natural finish with sapphire crystal display (titanium)
Titanium, natural or black finish with sapphire crystal display (titanium)
100% recycled aluminum, midnight and starlight
Durability
2X more scratch resistant glass (aluminum), 5ATM Water + IP6X (dust)
Water resistance 100m; dust IP6X, scuba to 40m, tested to MIL-STD 810H
Cover glass is 4X times more resistant to cracks than the SE 2; made of Ion-X glass. Water resistant up to 50 meters
Battery life
Up to 24 hours, up to 38 hours Low Power (always-on) + Fast charge: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min
Up to 42 hours; up to 72 hours Low Power. Fast charge to 80% in 45 min, 100% charge 75 min
All-day, 18-hour battery life. Fast charging with 8 hours of normal use in just 15 minutes on the charger
Sensors
ECG, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass
ECG, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass
Wrist temperature, Second-generation optical heart sensor
Emergency features
Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack
Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack
Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Check In
AI & coaching
Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy
Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy
On-device Siri, Workout Buddy
Processor
S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip
S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip
S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip
RAM/Storage
64GB (storage)
64GB (storage)
64GB (storage)
Payments
Apple Pay
Apple Pay
Apple Pay
Price (US)
$399-$750 (titanium)
$799
$249 (starting)