Apple’s budget smartwatch SE 3 is set to get faster, bigger and smarter

WEB DESK: It looks like Apple’s budget-friendly smartwatch is finally about to get the love it deserves. Alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 and the beefy Apple Watch Ultra 3, the company is expected to roll out the Apple Watch SE 3 this September.

The last time Apple refreshed the SE was back in 2022, which feels like forever in gadget years.

A slightly bigger, smarter SE

According to display analyst Ross Young, the SE 3 will come in 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch display sizes. That’s a small bump over the current SE 2’s 40mm and 44mm models, but it could be enough to give the watch a sleeker, more modern feel. Apple could also shift the design closer to the Series 7, which introduced thinner bezels and a more streamlined look.

The SE line has always been about trimming back on premium features to keep costs low. Right now, it doesn’t support an always-on display, and there’s no solid leak suggesting that will change this year. Still, a bigger screen alone might be enough to make the SE 3 feel like less of a hand-me-down.

A new brain inside

The biggest upgrade could be under the hood. Thanks to a slip-up from Apple itself, we know the SE 3 will pack the same S11 chip that powers the Series 11 and Ultra 3. This chip isn’t a huge leap over the S9 or S10, but compared to the S8 inside the current SE, it’s a big deal.

Expect faster performance, smoother responsiveness, and possibly some new tricks like on-device Siri processing and support for double tap gestures.

Health features: still the basics

Don’t expect the SE 3 to suddenly match the health tracking arsenal of Apple’s flagship models. It probably won’t get ECG or blood oxygen monitoring.

What it might get, however, is sleep apnea detection, since the hardware already supports it and Apple has been rolling that feature out to its other watches. The heart sensor could also be upgraded to the third-generation version introduced with the Series 7.

The price factor

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman once claimed Apple was testing a colourful plastic casing for the SE 3, giving it an iPhone 5c vibe. But insiders say the design team wasn’t a fan, so the plan may have been scrapped. Aluminium is likely here to stay.

Pricing should remain steady, with the 40mm model starting at $249 (around Rs70,620) and the 44mm version at $279 (about Rs79,126). That said, Pakistani buyers might see higher prices at launch, since there’s no official Apple Store in the country and local distributors often push up early-day costs.

Apple has positioned the SE as a go-to watch for kids and first-time buyers, so a price hike could hurt its appeal. Keeping it affordable will be key to its success.

When to expect it

Apple is tipped to unveil the new Apple Watches at its September iPhone event, which could land on September 9. If the schedule holds, pre-orders should kick off on September 12, with the SE 3 hitting shelves by September 19.

For anyone who has been eyeing the SE but waiting for a fresher design and faster chip, this could finally be the year to jump in.