Apple launched not one, not two, but three new watches at its Awe Dropping event – Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3. But if you were hoping for jaw-dropping innovation… well, you might want to lower those expectations. It’s less revolutionary tech and more mild personality change.
Across the board, it’s the usual suspects: better battery, improved durability, minor health tweaks, and a few visual tweaks. It’s like they have tried… but not too hard. Classic Apple, right?
Series 11 Or Series 10S?
The Apple Watch Series 11 is less of a leap and more of a careful shuffle forward. It runs on the same S10 chip as its predecessor, marking the first time Apple hasn’t introduced a new chip in its Watch lineup. So ironically, the biggest headline here… is the lack of one.
As for what’s actually new: you get a stronger display that’s now 2x more scratch-resistant, improved durability, 5G connectivity, and a slightly beefier battery. And by slightly, we mean finally 24 hours on a single charge—a six-hour boost over the Series 10, which Apple will probably market like they’ve reinvented electricity.
Health-wise, you now get hypertension monitoring and a new Sleep Score feature—assuming you’re okay with sleeping like a robot with a watch strapped on your wrist.
Additionally, there’s the new Workout Buddy feature, offering personalized, real-time audio motivation and post-workout insights to help you train smarter. Think of it as an overly optimistic personal trainer—living on your wrist and whispering in your ear. Personally, I respond better to the overly critical voices in my head, but hey, to each their own.
Ultra 3 Or Just A Spending Spree?
Slightly different in size and material from its predecessor, the Ultra 3 brings mostly the same upgrades as the Series 11—Sleep Score tracking, hypertension notifications, fitness tracker, a tougher display, and 5G connectivity. So far, so familiar.
What does stand out, though, is the massive 42-hour battery life during regular use, stretching up to 72 hours in low power mode. Plus, it now includes a built-in satellite feature for emergency SOS communication. If it detects a hard fall or vehicular accident, it’ll automatically alert emergency services and your chosen contacts.
Now if only it could detect a hard fall in your bank account, too.
SE 3, May Be Third Time Lucky
They say third time’s the charm—and with the Apple Watch SE 3, that might finally be true. While the first two models didn’t exactly make waves, SE 3 brings a noticeable upgrade streak that actually hits the mark.
Health features are a big focus this time, with additions like Sleep Score tracking, retrospective ovulation estimates, sleep apnea notifications, and wrist temperature sensing. Pair that with a solid set of fitness tools, and you’ve got plenty of motivation strapped to your wrist.
Durability gets a boost too with the cover glass now 4x more resistant to cracks. And yes, the SE 3 finally has an Always-On display, saving users from the tiring trouble of tapping on the watch to check the time or notifications. Whew, what a relief!
It also supports 5G cellular connectivity, and despite the new display, claims an 18-hour battery life. Charging is now twice as fast as before, so it’s not just lasting longer, it’s bouncing back quicker too.
All in all, the SE 3 is shaping up to be a solid entry point into the Apple ecosystem. It offers most of the essentials found in the other two pricier models—minus the price tag.
To sum it up: yes, some things have changed, but nothing dramatically stands out except maybe Apple’s ongoing mission to turn that old saying, “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away” into reality with all the health & fitness features that they have been integrating.
