That means connecting to other phones on the Watch SE should be smoother and more stable.īoth phones have altimeters, which measure your altitude and elevation. The Series 3, on the other hand, uses the preceding W2 chip and Bluetooth 4.2. For wirelessly connecting to devices, like the iPhone, the Watch SE uses the newer W3 chip and Bluetooth 5.0. Apple said its S5 dual-core processor is twice as fast than the Watch Series 3's S3 chipset. The Watch SE has a built-in compass, but the Watch Series 3 does not. This is useful when you want to leave your handset behind during a workout, but don't want to lose key functions like making calls (including international emergency calls) or connecting to apps. Cellular models are more expensive than the base Wi-Fi only watches, but having LTE allows you to use the device without tethering to a phone or a Wi-Fi network. As the newer device, Apple stocks both versions of the Watch SE. But the company doesn't sell those variants anymore and if you want one, you'll have to get it refurbished and from a third-party seller. When it first launched, Apple sold a model of the Watch Series 3 that had cellular connectivity. The Watch Series SE with its new loop bands. Of Apple's new watches, only the Watch Series 6 has this feature. Originally introduced in the Watch Series 5 last year, it means that the screen is constantly on and you don't need to raise your wrist or tap the screen to look at the time or check for notifications. Note that neither watches have an always-on display. The Watch SE's digital crown provides haptic feedback as well, and it comes in one more gold color option in addition to the standard silver and gray.

Apple's two new watchbands, the Solo and Braided loops, accommodate the larger sizes, so they won't fit the Series 3. But the former has a screen that's sharper and 30% bigger, or by a little less than a tenth of an inch (2mm) in both of its size variants. They each come in two different sizes, are made of aluminum and are water resistant. From afar, the Watch SE and Watch Series 3 look similar.

Apple watch series 3 gps vs se