Apple Watch SE 3 set to launch with iPhone 17: Expected price and other key details

Apple is preparing to unveil the Apple Watch SE 3 at its “Awe Dropping” September event alongside the iPhone 17 series and other new hardware. The SE line has not seen a refresh in over two years, and the update is expected to bring modest but meaningful improvements to Apple’s most affordable smartwatch.

The Apple Watch SE 3 could adopt the Series 7 design language, with slimmer bezels and slightly larger screen options. Apple may replace the existing 40mm and 44mm sizes with 41mm and 45mm variants, providing 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch displays. This would give the SE model a more modern appearance in line with the rest of the Watch lineup.

A significant update will come in the form of the new S11 processor, the same chip expected to power the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. While the S11 is based on the S9 and S10 architecture, it represents a considerable leap from the S8 used in the current SE. Users can expect faster performance, improved responsiveness, and access to features such as on-device Siri processing, double tap gesture controls, and potentially more storage capacity.

The SE range traditionally lacks the advanced health sensors found in Apple’s flagship models, such as ECG and blood oxygen monitoring. This is unlikely to change with the SE 3. However, the device already includes the necessary hardware for sleep apnea detection, which Apple could activate via software. An upgrade to the third-generation optical heart sensor, first seen in the Series 7, is also a possibility.
Reports in 2024 suggested Apple was experimenting with a colourful plastic casing for the Watch SE, inspired by the iPhone 5c. However, more recent updates indicate the project may have been abandoned after internal teams were dissatisfied with the look and struggled to achieve cost savings over aluminium. The SE 3 is therefore expected to continue with the aluminium case design.