Apple has launched three new smartwatches at its “Awe Dropping” launch event, including an update to its “budget” smartwatch lineup, the Apple Watch SE 3. The smartwatch replaces the SE 2 that was launched in 2022, bringing new features such as an Always-On Display, 5G connectivity, sleep apnea notifications and more.
Always-On Display, S10 chip, 5G connectivity
Featuring a tougher Ion-X glass, which Apple says is four times more resistant to cracks than its predecessor, the Apple Watch SE 3 now sports Always-On Display (AOD). Like its predecessor, the SE 3 continues to sport the same 40mm and 44mm case sizes.
Powering the Apple Watch SE 3 is the brand’s latest smartwatch processor, the S10 chip. It also comes with on-device Siri, and now gets 5G cellular capabilities.
Major health feature update for the latest Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch SE 3 gets a series of new health-related features, including temperature sensing, retrospective ovulation estimates, sleep apnea notifications, as well as a new Sleep Score metric. Other features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS are also thrown in.
Faster charging, Liquid Glass WatchOS 26
The Apple Watch SE 3 is reckoned to last up to 18 hours on a single charge. Charging the smartwatch is also now two times faster, with the brand claiming that the battery can be juiced up from 0 to 80% in 45 minutes.
Software-wise, the Apple Watch SE 3 runs on WatchOS 26, featuring the Liquid Glass design, along with new watch faces. This includes the “Flow” watch face that sports Liquid Glass numerals, as well as “Exactograph”, which is essentially a modern reinterpretation of a traditional regulator clock that separates the hours, minutes, and seconds for precise timekeeping.
Also new are the double-tap and wrist flick gestures for you to control functions such as opening the Smart Stack, answering and ending calls, viewing and sending a message, pausing or ending a timer. Oh, you can also play music directly through the Apple Watch SE 3’s built-in speaker.
Apple Watch SE 3 pricing and availability in Malaysia
- Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) – from RM1,049
- Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS + Cellular) – from RM1,299
- Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS) – from RM1,199
- Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS + Cellular) – RM1,449
Offered in Midnight and Starlight case colours, the availability of the Apple Watch SE 3 is yet to be officially announced.
