The Apple Watch SE 3 is a great choice if you exercise occasionally and are looking for a smartwatch that works well with your iPhone. However, measurements are slightly less precise than on other models.
Lightweight Watch with a small screen
I tested the Apple Watch SE 3 40mm, the smallest and lightest Apple Watch currently available. It fit comfortably, and I wore it at night without any issues. Because I have a large wrist, a large screen does look better on me. The screen also has thick bezels, so I sometimes missed some screen space, for example when I wanted to view my workouts. I also like to create watch faces from my own photos, and those look just a little less impressive than on the Series 11, for instance. A plus is that this is the first SE with an always-on display. So I didn't have to keep activating it by rotating my wrist.
Very easy to use
The Apple Watch SE 3 works excellently with my iPhone. The setup was a breeze, and the most important apps are already on the Watch. I received notifications immediately and could control my music right away via my Watch. I also found the Find My feature very handy. I used this to make my iPhone make a sound whenever I couldn't find it. The SE 3 always responds quickly, and you can now also control it with gestures. For example, I rotate my wrist to close a menu.
Battery life of over 1 day
According to Apple, the battery life is 1 day, but I often even managed a day and a half. That includes half an hour of exercise, something that drains the battery quickly. Thanks to fast charging, I could get through another day after charging for half an hour during breakfast.
Basic health measurements
With the SE 3, I tracked general data about my health. Think of the number of steps taken and calories burned. I find the sleep score less successful than with other watch brands, because the score was always very high, even after a short, restless night. You cannot detect heart rhythm disorders and high blood pressure, like with the Series 11. I didn't miss that myself, but if you want to monitor your health more accurately, the SE 3 cannot.
Sports
I went running and cycling a few times with the SE 3, and it went fine. The GPS and heart rate monitoring are not as accurate as on other sports watches or the more expensive Watches. You notice that difference especially when you exercise really intensively and are working on records and competitions. If you just want to exercise occasionally, the SE 3 is a fine smartwatch.
