Apple Watch SE (2nd era, 2022) vs Watch Collection 3: Do you have to improve?

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Apple Watch SE (2022)

Our best choice

Apple’s newest entry-level watch is an absolute star, with wonderful options and top-notch health monitoring at a really affordable value. It’s a good improve for these with a Collection 1, Collection 2 or Collection 3 with loads of noticeable variations.
Professionals

Color-matched physique

Nice options

Upgraded processor and efficiency
Cons

No At all times-On Show

No physique temperature sensor

No SpO2 sensor
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Apple Watch Collection 3

Now not really helpful to purchase

The Apple Watch Collection 3 launched in 2017 and whereas it remained the entry-level mannequin up till 2022, it has now been succeeded by the Watch SE (2022), which is a greater choice to purchase if you happen to’re available in the market for an Apple Watch.
Professionals

Strong design

Good consumer interface

Nice health monitoring
Cons

Now not helps newest software program

Smaller display screen to physique ratio

Would not have newest options

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Apple introduced the second generation of Watch SE throughout its September 2022 occasion, alongside the Apple Watch Collection 8 and Apple Watch Extremely. It is the most recent entry level into Apple’s smartwatches, changing the now discontinued Apple Watch Collection 3.

With the Collection 3 not appropriate with the watchOS 9 software, you is likely to be contemplating an improve. Is the Watch SE (2022) the mannequin for you, or must you contemplate the Watch Collection 8 as an alternative?

Here is how the Watch SE (2022) compares to the Watch Collection 3. We have added references to the Watch Collection 8 too although, so you possibly can see what you’ll achieve by choosing the costlier mannequin. You too can read our which Apple Watch feature for a breakdown of all of the fashions accessible and what they provide.

Value, availability and specs

The Apple Watch SE (2022) begins at $249 within the US and £249 within the UK. It arrived in September 2022 and it’s accessible globally via plenty of retailers. It is the present entry level into the Apple Watch fashions, changing the Collection 3 that was the entry level till this mannequin launched.

The Apple Watch Collection 3 initially arrived in 2017 but it surely remained accessible via a number of retailers, in addition to Apple itself till 2022. It value $329 within the US and £329 within the UK when it first arrived, earlier than dropping right down to $199 within the US and £199 within the UK because it received changed by newer fashions. The Watch SE (2022) is subsequently costlier than the Watch Collection 3 value earlier than it was discontinued, however you get fairly much more for that value bounce, together with a a lot newer system and the most recent software program help.

The Apple Watch Collection 3 is not accessible via Apple, although if you’re trying to purchase it, you may get refurbished fashions. We might extremely suggest contemplating the Watch SE (2022) over the Collection 3 although, or if you cannot stretch that far when it comes to finances, strive the Watch SE (2020) model.

You possibly can see a breakdown of the primary variations in specs between the Watch SE and Watch Collection 3 under.

Apple / Pocket-lint

Apple Watch SE (2022)

Model

Apple

Coronary heart Price Monitor

Optical

Working System

watchOS 9

Case Materials

Aluminium

Sizes

40mm and 44mm

Show

Retina LTPO, as much as 1000nits

CPU

S8 chip, W3 wi-fi chip, U1 chip

Storage

32GB

Battery

As much as 18 hours

Connectivity

GPS and GPS & Mobile

Well being sensors

At all times-on altimeter, compass, accelerometer (as much as 256 g-forces), gyroscope

Dimensions

40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm)

Weight

26.4g (40mm), 32.9g (44mm)

Cell funds

Apple Pay
Apple / Pocket-lint

Apple Watch Collection 3

Model

Apple

Coronary heart Price Monitor

Optical

Working System

watchOS 8

Case Materials

Stainless-steel, Aluminium, Ceramic, Nike, Hermés

Sizes

38mm and 42mm

Show

Retina OLED Show, as much as 1000nits

CPU

S3 chip, W2 wi-fi chip

Storage

8GB

Battery

As much as 18 hours

Connectivity

GPS and GPS & Mobile

Well being sensors

Barometric altimeter, accelerometer (as much as 16 g-forces)

Dimensions

38.6 x 33.3 x 11.4mm (38mm), 42.5 x 36.4 x 11.4mm (42mm)

Weight

26.7g (38mm), 32.3g (42mm)

Cell funds

Apple Pay

Design and construct

The Apple Watch SE (2022) and Collection 3 share a really related design, with each providing an oblong casing with rounded corners. There is a Digital Crown on the appropriate fringe of each, with a separate button under, and the center fee sensor sits on the underside. The Watch SE has haptic suggestions on the Digital Crown although, whereas the Watch Collection 3 would not and the Watch SE (2022) additionally has a colour-matched under-casing too.

The Watch Collection 3 was accessible in 38mm and 42mm case sizes when it first launched, whereas the Watch SE (2022) is available in 40mm and 44mm choices – the additional millimetres translate to a bigger show on the Watch SE (2022) throughout the similar footprint and that is most likely the most important and most noticeable distinction between the 2 fashions being mentioned right here.

The Series 8 is available in 41mm and 45mm choices for reference – and with that comes a bigger show once more. All straps are appropriate throughout the fashions although so in case you have a 38mm Apple Watch Collection 3, your straps will match on a 40mm Watch SE (2022) or a 41mm Watch Collection 8, whereas the 42mm straps will match on the 44mm and 45mm fashions.

The Watch Collection 3 got here in chrome steel, aluminium and a ceramic choice when it first arrived, whereas the Watch SE is just accessible in aluminium. In order for you chrome steel, you may want to take a look at the Watch Collection 8 and if you’d like titanium, it is the Watch Ultra you may want to contemplate. The Watch Collection 3, Watch SE (2022) and Watch Collection 8 all supply water resistance as much as 50-metres although.

Show

Apple Watch SE (2022) review photo 13 — Pocket-lint

Whereas Apple would not give show measurement info for its Apple Watch models, the Watch SE (2022) has a 20 per cent bigger show than the Watch Collection 3 and it’s extremely noticeable within the flesh. The Watch Collection 8 in the meantime, is bigger nonetheless, stretching to the sides of the casing, therefore the necessity for the additional millimetre in comparison with the Watch SE (2022).

The Watch Collection 3 has a Retina OLED show with as much as 1000nits, whereas the Watch SE (2022) has a Retina LTPO show. It too has as much as 1000nits brightness. The most important distinction between the 2 shows is the scale although.

Neither supply the At all times-On know-how you will see on the Watch Collection 8 so when your hand is not raised, the display screen will probably be black. The chrome steel fashions and ceramic mannequin of the Watch Collection 3 are protected by sapphire glass, whereas the aluminium mannequin is protected by Ion-X glass. For the Watch SE (2022), Ion-X protects the show.

Fashions

The Watch Collection 3 has been discontinued by Apple so it is not in the stores direct, as we memtioned. When it first launched, it was accessible in chrome steel, aluminium choice and ceramic casings. There was additionally a Nike mannequin and a Hermés mannequin and it got here in GPS solely and GPS & Mobile fashions.

The Watch SE (2022) is accessible in aluminium solely. There isn’t any chrome steel choice and no particular materials choice both. There’s additionally no particular Nike mannequin or Hermés mannequin. The Watch SE (2022) does are available GPS solely and GPS & Mobile fashions although.

In the meantime, the Watch Collection 8 is available in aluminium and chrome steel choices, in addition to a Hermés mannequin. There’s additionally GPS solely and GPS & Mobile fashions.

{Hardware}

The Apple Watch SE (2022) runs on the S8 chip, which is identical because the Collection 8. It misses out on a few sensors, just like the pores and skin temperature sensor for serving to to detect ovulation in ladies and the SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen monitoring, however on the entire, it is the identical fundamental {hardware}.

There is a W3 chip, together with an always-on altimeter, compass, accelerometer that may detect as much as 256 g-forces and a gyroscope. There’s additionally 32GB storage capability and a U1 chip on board.

The Collection 3 in the meantime, runs on the S3 chip, together with W2 wi-fi chip so there’s fairly an enormous efficiency improve with the Watch SE (2022) or Watch Collection 8. The Watch Collection 3 additionally has simply 8GB capability, and a barometric altimeter. There isn’t any compass and the accelerometer solely detects as much as 16 g-forces.

Software program

The Watch SE (2022) runs on watchOS 9, which implies it delivers a plethora of options, essentially the most ineffective of which is the advanced sleep tracking. The Watch Collection 3 presents sleep monitoring however stay awake levels so it is not as helpful.

The improve in {hardware} within the Watch SE (2022) over the Watch Collection 3 additionally means there are just a few different options on board the newer mannequin. There’s Car Crash detection for instance, in addition to Fall Detection and Worldwide emergency calling.

Each the Watch SE (2022) and Watch Collection 3 supply the Apple Watch App Retailer although, wonderful efficiency relating to delivering smartphone notifications they usually each even have options like Emergency SOS, and excessive and low coronary heart fee notifications.

Neither supply blood oxygen monitoring or physique temperature monitoring. For these options, you want the {hardware} throughout the Collection 8.

Apple Watch SE (2022) vs Watch Collection 3: Do you have to improve?

The Apple Watch SE (2022) presents an enormous bounce up in efficiency over the Watch Collection 3, while additionally providing a bigger show inside a really related footprint, delivering a greater viewing expertise.

There are additionally plenty of further options on board the Watch SE (2022) that make it a really worthy improve from the Collection 3, reminiscent of extra superior sleep monitoring, Automotive Crash Detection (although hopefully you will not want it) and normal enhancements in storage, processing energy and software program compatibility.

Apple / Pocket-lint

Apple Watch SE (2022)

Apple’s entry-level watch is an absolute star, with wonderful options and top-notch health monitoring at a really affordable value.

It is price contemplating the Collection 8 if you’d like the physique temperature statistics, or if you’d like the At all times-On show and the bigger display screen with slimmer bezels, however general, the Watch SE (2022) is a wonderful substitute for the Watch Collection 3 and you will see an enormous distinction in expertise. In the event you’re selecting between the Collection 3 and the Watch SE (2022), we would not suggest shopping for the Collection 3 now, although you could possibly contemplate the Watch SE (2020) in case your finances would not enable for the Watch SE (2022) and you may get your fingers on one.