Apple Introduces Apple Watch SE 3 With Always-On Display, S10 Chip, and Advanced Health Features

Apple today introduced the next generation of its popular Apple Watch SE, bringing an Always-On display, the new S10 chip, and a host of advanced health features to its most affordable model. The launch, which confirms expectations of a full lineup refresh, was part of Apple's 'Awe Dropping' special event.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is powered by the S10 chip, which enables an Always-On display for the first time in the SE line, along with fast charging that can deliver up to an 80 percent charge in about 45 minutes. Apple says just 15 minutes of charging provides up to eight hours of battery life, and overall runtime remains at 18 hours for all-day use. The S10 also brings support for the double tap and new wrist flick gestures, faster on-device Siri requests, and improved Voice Isolation for clearer calls. For the first time, users can also play music and podcasts directly through the watch's speaker.




The cover glass is more durable, made from a custom Ion-X material that Apple says is four times more resistant to cracks than the previous generation. Cellular models now feature a more power-efficient 5G modem for faster downloads and better battery performance when on the go.

A major focus of the update is on health and wellness. The SE 3 gains wrist temperature sensing, which provides retrospective ovulation estimates for family planning and contributes data to the Vitals app. A new sleep score feature helps users understand their nightly rest by tracking duration, consistency, and time spent in each stage, while sleep apnea notifications can alert users if signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea are detected over a 30-day period. These join existing features like heart health notifications, Cycle Tracking, cardio fitness, and safety tools including Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Check In.



Running on watchOS 26, the SE 3 introduces Apple's new 'Liquid Glass' design language and a redesigned watch face gallery with new Flow and Exactograph faces. The update also includes a new Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence, which delivers personalized, spoken motivation during workouts based on fitness history and real-time metrics. The feature requires a paired iPhone with Apple Intelligence support. The Activity app continues to encourage users to close their rings, track workouts, and monitor training load, cardio fitness, and recovery trends.


Additional watchOS 26 improvements include Smart Stack hints with contextual suggestions, Live Translation in Messages, new Notes, Hold Assist and Call Screening for phone calls, and intelligent prompts for Apple Cash in relevant conversations.



For families, Apple Watch SE 3 now supports Apple Watch For Your Kids, letting parents set up the device for children without an iPhone. Kids can make calls, send messages, share their location via Find My, and access features like Emergency SOS, Activity goals, Memoji, Maps, and the App Store. Each child has their own Apple Account and phone number, giving them independence while keeping parents connected.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is available in 40mm and 44mm aluminum cases in midnight and starlight finishes. Pricing starts at $249, with pre-orders beginning today and in-store availability starting Friday, September 19.

Apple highlighted its ongoing Apple 2030 environmental initiative, noting that SE 3 is made with 40 percent recycled content, including 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery and 100 percent recycled aluminum in the case. The watch is produced with 100 percent renewable electricity and packaged in fully fiber-based materials.

New buyers may receive three months of Apple Music and Apple Fitness+ for free, and AppleCare+ or AppleCare One plans are available for added coverage including accidents, theft, and loss.