Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 (3rd Generation) is Apple's most affordable and feature-packed smartwatch to date, delivering premium health, fitness, and connectivity experiences at an incredible value. Launched in September 2025, the SE 3 brings game-changing upgrades like the Always-On Retina display and the powerful S10 SiP chip, the same processor found in the flagship Apple Watch Series 11, making it the ultimate entry point into the Apple Watch ecosystem.

How much is the Apple Watch SE 3 in Kenya?

The price for the SE 3 is KES. 36,000 for the 40mm and KES. 40,000 for the 44mm

For first-time Apple Watch users, those upgrading from an older model (like the original SE or Series 3), or families looking for a feature-rich device with Family Setup support, the Apple Watch SE 3 offers the best balance of premium performance, advanced health features, and affordable price. It is the smart choice for smart living.

Apple Watch SE 3 Technical Specifications 

 Apple Watch SE 3 Design and Build

The Apple Watch SE 3 continues the tradition of offering Apple's iconic, high-quality smartwatch design at an accessible price. While maintaining the beloved, classic Apple Watch aesthetic, the SE 3 introduces crucial durability and display enhancements, making it the ideal choice for everyday wear, fitness tracking, and comprehensive health monitoring.

1. Iconic Design and Sizing
   The Apple Watch SE 3 retains the familiar rectangular design with softly rounded edges, a look that is instantly recognizable and comfortable on the wrist. This design ensures compatibility with the vast ecosystem of previous-generation Apple Watch bands, allowing for limitless personalization.
   • Two Popular Case Sizes: The SE 3 is available in two popular case sizes to suit different wrist preferences: 40mm and 44mm. This range ensures a comfortable and appropriate fit for a wide variety of users.
   • Slim and Lightweight: With a consistent depth of 10.7mm, the SE 3 is lightweight and unobtrusive, making it comfortable to wear all day and night for sleep tracking. The 40mm model weighs approximately 26.3g (GPS) and the 44mm model weighs around 32.9g (GPS), contributing to a "barely there" feel.
2. Premium and Sustainable Build Materials
   True to Apple's commitment to quality and the environment, the SE 3 features a premium yet sustainable construction.
   • 100% Recycled Aluminum Case: The watch case is crafted from a durable aluminum alloy that is 100% recycled, emphasizing Apple's eco-friendly initiatives. This material is lightweight yet rugged, perfect for an active lifestyle.
   • Stunning Finish Options: The case is offered in two beautiful, matte finishes: Midnight (a deep, rich black) and Starlight (a warm, champagne-like silver). These classic colors provide a sophisticated look that pairs well with any style.
   • Tough Ion-X Front Glass: The display is protected by Ion-X front glass, which has been upgraded for the SE 3 to offer 4x greater crack resistance compared to the previous generation. This makes the screen significantly more durable against accidental bumps and drops.
3. Water Resistance and Functionality
   The design is built for durability and real-world use, ensuring the watch can keep up with your daily activities and workouts.
   • 50-Meter Water Resistance: The Apple Watch SE 3 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters. This makes it swim-suitable for activities like pool swimming or open-water metrics, meaning you don't have to take it off for a shower or a swim.
   • Tactile Controls: Navigation is intuitive, thanks to the haptic Digital Crown and a dedicated Side Button. The Digital Crown provides precise, mechanical feedback as you scroll through watchOS 10 (or later), while the side button offers quick access to your dock, Apple Pay, and safety features.

The Apple Watch SE 3's design flawlessly balances affordability, style, and robust construction. It offers the essential Apple Watch experience in a familiar, durable, and highly personalized form factor.

Apple Watch SE 3 Performance

The Apple Watch SE 3 has redefined the budget-friendly smartwatch category by delivering flagship-level performance at an accessible price point. The secret to its incredible speed and efficiency lies in the processor.

1. The S10 Chipset: 
   The Apple Watch SE 3 is powered by the Apple S10 SiP, the exact same high-performance dual-core chip found in the more expensive Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. This means that when it comes to raw processing speed, the SE 3 is on equal footing with Apple's top-tier wearables.
   • Significant Upgrade: The S10 SiP represents a substantial generational leap from the S8 SiP used in the previous Apple Watch SE 2. Users will immediately notice faster app launching, smoother watchOS 26 navigation, and highly responsive interactions across the entire system.
   • On-Device AI and Siri: The S10 chip includes an advanced 4-core Neural Engine that dramatically improves machine learning and efficiency. This enables new features like on-device Siri processing, allowing the assistant to handle certain queries (like health data requests) much faster without needing Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
2. Performance-Enabling Features
   The enhanced speed and efficiency of the S10 chip are crucial for powering the most significant new features on the SE 3:
   • Always-On Display: A major first for the SE line, the Always-On Retina display requires a high-performance, power-efficient chip to maintain constant visibility without immediately draining the battery. The SE 3 handles this seamlessly.
   • New Gesture Controls: The powerful chip enables intuitive gesture controls like Double Tap and Wrist Flick. These features allow for one-handed operation, answering a call, scrolling a Smart Stack, or dismissing a notification, with zero perceptible lag, thanks to the S10's ability to instantly interpret complex sensor data.
   • Advanced Health Tracking: The S10 SiP processes sophisticated data from the upgraded sensors, supporting features like wrist temperature sensing and sleep apnea notifications efficiently.
   • Enhanced Connectivity: The cellular model of the SE 3 supports 5G connectivity, a demanding feature that the S10 chip manages effectively for faster data speeds and improved performance when away from your iPhone.
3. Battery and Charging Performance
   While still rated for an all-day 18-hour battery life (up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode), the SE 3 offers a major performance boost in how quickly you can recharge.

The Apple Watch SE 3 eliminates the performance trade-off that often comes with entry-level smartwatches. By sharing the latest S10 processor with its high-end siblings, it offers a smooth, responsive, and future-proof experience that will feel fast for years to come. For users seeking the core Apple Watch experience notifications, fitness tracking, and safety features, the SE 3's stellar performance makes it arguably the best value in the entire Apple Watch lineup.

Apple Watch SE 3 Display

The Apple Watch SE 3 elevates the entry-level smartwatch experience with a highly capable and feature-rich display, making essential information instantly accessible on your wrist. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast, a connected professional, or a first-time Apple Watch user, the brilliant screen technology ensures a superior viewing experience.

1. Enhanced Visibility with Always-On Retina
   The most significant upgrade to the Apple Watch SE 3 display is the integration of the Always-On Retina display. Utilizing efficient LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology, the screen can intelligently lower its refresh rate to conserve power while keeping the time, complications, and app data visible.
   • At-a-Glance Information: You no longer need to raise your wrist fully to wake the screen. The Always-On functionality allows you to discreetly check the time, notifications, and workout metrics without a noticeable gesture, perfect for meetings or during exercise.
   • Vibrant and Bright: With a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, the LTPO OLED display remains exceptionally clear and legible, even when viewing it outdoors under direct sunlight—a crucial feature for any serious wearable.
2. Built for Durability: 
   Apple understands that a watch must withstand daily wear and tear. The Apple Watch SE 3 is equipped with Tough Ion-X front glass, offering enhanced resilience.
   • Superior Crack Resistance: The display glass is engineered to be up to 4x more resistant to cracks than previous generations, providing peace of mind against accidental bumps and drops.
   • Scratch-Resistant: Ion-X glass is a highly durable solution that helps protect the Retina screen from everyday scratches and scuffs, maintaining the aesthetic and clarity of your device over time.
3. Optimized for WatchOS 26
   The display’s vibrant colors and deep blacks, characteristic of OLED technology, are fully leveraged by the latest watchOS 26 interface.
   • Sharp Visuals: With a consistent 326 pixels per inch (ppi) across both the 40mm and 44mm models, text and graphics are rendered with exceptional clarity and sharpness, improving readability for messages, emails, and fitness data.
   • Intuitive Interaction: The responsive touch screen is perfectly complemented by the new Double Tap and wrist flick gestures, allowing for seamless one-handed interaction with the bright, vibrant display.

For those searching for an affordable Apple Watch that delivers on screen quality, durability, and essential features like Always-On technology, the Apple Watch SE 3 display is a compelling and high-value choice.