Apple Watch Se Series 3

SCORE

PRICE 38mm, £166 (£199 inc VAT) from apple.com

With the launch of the £269 Apple Watch SE ( see issue 315, p68), we thought time was up for the Series 3, but Apple has chosen to keep its cheapest smartwatch on sale. There’s no cellular option, with your two options being the 38mm model for £199 or the 42mm edition for £229.

The obvious question is – other than cellular - what do you lose by opting for the Series 3? In terms of looks, only the distinctive red edging around the Digital Crown, with the rounded edges of the AMOLED screen an ever-present for all Apple Watches. Put both watches side by side, though, and you notice how much larger the SE’s screen is, thanks to its slimmer bezels. Note that only the Series 6 ( see issue 315, p66) offers an always-on display.

There are other differences inside, with the Series 3 using an older S3 processor, and that means apps launch more slowly than on the SE. However, the Series 3 still feels slick in general use, so we’re less concerned about how it handles watchOS 7 today and more whether it will be updated when watchOS 8 arrives. Also note the relative lack of storage space for podcasts, music and the like, with 8GB in the Series 3 versus 32GB for its rival.

While the SE’s other advantages don’t feel as deal-breaking – a better altimeter, Family Setup, a louder speaker, haptic feedback on the Digital Crown, Bluetooth 5 instead of Bluetooth 4.2, fall detection – it should be clear that it looms large over the Series 3.

So that’s what you could have won. What you get is one of the slickest smartwatches around, with a level of integration with your phone that only Wear OS watches can match. It makes it simple to accept or decline incoming calls, you can send instant responses to messages, and the NFC chip means you can make mobile payments without taking your phone from your pocket.

It also has a clear focus on health and fitness. The always-on optical heart sensor keeps track of your heart rate, and with GPS built in you can go for a run or cycle without bringing your phone along for the ride. There’s also good news for swimmers with water resistance up to 50m.

The Series 3 is a solid smartwatch, but you’ll never regret spending an extra £70 on the SE. One final note: for pairing, it needs an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or above. Android users need not apply.