Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE3 evaluate: Which do you have to purchase?

Most years, Apple introduces both one or two new smartwatches. But this 12 months, there are three, one thing that final occurred in 2022. The first is the Series 11, the mainstay of the vary, following on from 2024’s Series 10, which has had annual updates since 2015. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the ruggedised, chunkier mannequin. There was no new Ultra final 12 months, merely an up to date color possibility. And the Apple Watch SE3 is the third funds watch, following the second-gen mannequin from three years in the past.

What’s fascinating is that every one three have the very newest processor inside, known as the S10, which implies that a number of the newest options for the pricier fashions, similar to sleep rating, are additionally within the reasonably priced SE 3. And all three can detect sleep apnoea indicators and notify you in the event that they spot something untoward. The SE3 is prone to be within the vary for 2 or three years, so placing the most recent processor in it provides it higher longevity.

There are design modifications throughout each mannequin: the Ultra 3 has a much bigger display screen than the Ultra 2, Series 11 has a more durable cowl glass (additionally on SE3) and a brand new color, whereas SE3 has a crowd-pleasing characteristic that no different SE has had: an always-on show.

Every new Apple Watch is accessible in two variations, one with GPS connectivity, the opposite with each GPS and mobile, so you may monitor your runs on all of them, however name a pal for a elevate residence on the mobile mannequin – although you’ll have to arrange a contract along with your cellphone supplier for this. All mobile fashions now have 5G connectivity for the primary time, even the SE3.

The Series 11 and SE3 have two case measurement choices: 42mm and 46mm for Series 11, 40mm and 44mm for SE3. Ultra 3 is available in one measurement: 49mm. I’ve been placing the watches by means of their paces since they had been introduced final week, and for most individuals, the Series 11 is one of the best out of the three, however the Ultra 3 does present some good options for adventurers and excessive sports activities lovers.

How I examined

I’ve examined each single a part of the brand new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE3 within the week or in order that I’ve been utilizing them. From set-up and design to options and battery life, right here’s precisely what I’ve checked out whereas testing:

• Set-up: I famous whether or not it was difficult to attach the Watches to my iPhone, and whether or not it was straightforward to improve from a earlier mannequin. For occasion, did all my earlier apps switch?
• Display: I appeared on the brightness of the show and the convenience of viewing, and made a observe of how the Watches’ show’s in contrast.
• Features: I examined the setup of the brand new hypertension characteristic coming to Series 11 and Ultra 3 and the sleep rating on all the brand new fashions.
• Battery: Apple has made claims about elevated battery life – did these stand as much as testing? To check this, I checked out how a lot juice was within the tank on the finish of the day.

Why you may belief IndyBest evaluations

David Phelan is The Independent’s expertise critic and has labored for the title since 1997. Having interviewed main gamers within the trade, David additionally has a long time of expertise bringing our readers insightful, trustworthy evaluations of finest and newest tech. Above all, he’s an professional in Apple merchandise. Not solely has he examined each iPhone for the reason that smartphone first launched, however he’s additionally examined each Apple Watch and AirPods proper as much as the most recent releases.

Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE3 evaluate: Features

The new sleep rating is a intelligent option to see how nicely you’re sleeping, and is on all three new Watches (it’s also out there on fashions relationship again to Series 9 and the primary and second Ultra fashions).

It implies that within the morning the Watch will present a easy, vibrant circle made up of three sections: period, time you went to mattress and interruptions. It works with different apps like Vitals that will help you assess your waking well being out of your slumbering hours. All fashions have sleep monitoring.

They additionally all now have an always-on show, although the shows on the Ultra 3 and Series 11 use a more recent expertise. All have fall detection, which may spot when you’ve taken a tough fall, and crash detection, which is aware of when you’ve been in a automotive crash, for example. In each instances, you may name a pal or emergency providers (by way of your iPhone or immediately on mobile fashions).

Series 11 and SE 3 each have aluminium case choices, they usually now include an improved entrance crystal that’s more durable and extra crack-resistant than earlier than.

New or newish gestures can be found on all fashions: the model new wrist flick dismisses undesirable notifications, whereas double-tapping your index finger to your thumb can reply a name, for example. And all are able to quick charging – useful if you wish to use your Watch to trace your sleep after which for the day forward.

Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 evaluate: Hypertension

One of the largest improvements, additionally discovered on Series 11, is hypertension notifications, which works in an analogous option to the unexpectedly excessive or low coronary heart price measurements discovered on all three new Watches and a few earlier fashions.

After learning knowledge over a 30-day interval, the characteristic can notify you if it sees any signal of hypertension. It doesn’t at any level offer you a blood stress studying, however makes use of readings from the optical coronary heart price sensor and notifies you if it spots what it thinks is a hypertension sample. It may even be out there on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2. The characteristic has simply gained clearance from the FDA and is anticipated to be out there within the coming days or perhaps weeks, so I haven’t been in a position to check it. It’s an intriguing new characteristic, although.