Apple Watch SE 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Apple Watch SE 3

The big SE 3 story: an always-on display, a first for the SE line. The LTPO OLED panel peaks at 1,000 nits — bright enough for everyday use, but half the Series 11's 2,000 nits and a third of the Ultra 3's 3,000.

• Always-on display arrives on the SE for the first time — Origin Disc: 'that alone is a huge upgrade for the SE line.'
• LTPO OLED panel peaks at 1,000 nits — fine for everyday use but dimmer than rivals.
• 1,000 nits is half the Series 11's 2,000 and a third of the Ultra 3's 3,000 — the SE 3's display is its clearest hardware compromise.
• Always-on is a personal-preference feature — some owners prefer to leave it off for extra battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Super AMOLED with Sapphire Crystal, ~2,000 nits peak brightness. Larger usable display thanks to the thinner bezels. Always-on display supported.

• Larger usable display — the thinner bezels grew the screen while keeping the case compact.
• Super AMOLED with ~2,000 nits peak brightness — bright and readable outdoors.
• Sapphire Crystal protection — premium scratch-resistant glass.
• Always-on display supported — though Wired noted an earlier Galaxy Watch's display 'stubbornly resisting' wake gestures; the Watch 6's raise-to-wake is improved.
• Vibrant, sharp panel — Digital Trends calls Samsung's Galaxy Watch displays 'gorgeous.'

Apple Watch SE 3

Heart rate is the SE 3's standout — testers rate it among the best wrist sensors available. Apple adds nightly wrist-temperature tracking and sleep apnea notifications. But ECG, blood oxygen (SpO2), and the Series 11's new hypertension alerts are all absent, and sleep-stage data underreports deep sleep.

• Heart-rate accuracy is excellent — Mike O'Brien tested it against a Polar H10 ECG chest strap and found it had the second-highest correlation of the watches tested, behind only the Pixel Watch 3.
• The Quantified Scientist rates the Apple Watch's optical heart-rate sensor as the best wrist HR monitor he has tested — the SE 3 inherits it.
• No ECG sensor — confirmed missing; if heart-rhythm ECG matters to you, you need the Series 11 or Ultra 3.
• No blood-oxygen (SpO2) sensor and no hypertension notifications — the Series 11's headline health features are absent.
• Apple adds nightly wrist-temperature tracking — the watch samples skin temperature roughly every 5 seconds overnight.
• Sleep apnea notifications are now included — a useful screening feature given how many people have undiagnosed sleep apnea.
• Sleep-stage tracking underreports deep sleep — Mike O'Brien recorded 45-55 minutes of deep sleep per night while reference devices showed 1.5-2.5 hours.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

BioActive sensor — optical HR, ECG, BIA body composition, skin temperature. Sleep tracking with coaching. Comprehensive wellness suite, though HRV accuracy drew a caveat.

• BioActive sensor — optical HR, ECG, BIA body composition, and skin temperature in one sensor array.
• Expanded wellness features — Engadget: 'Samsung focused its efforts on expanding its wellness-centric features.'
• Sleep tracking with sleep coaching — detailed sleep stages plus a multi-week coaching program.
• DC Rainmaker found Samsung's HRV metrics 'far out of alignment' with other wearables on most nights — a sensor-accuracy caveat.
• BIA body composition — on-wrist body-fat and muscle-mass estimates, a Samsung-distinctive feature.

Apple Watch SE 3

The full watchOS workout app, activity rings, automatic workout detection, and built-in GPS. Apple rates about 7 hours of GPS workout tracking. It is not a dedicated running watch — no dual-frequency GPS — but for everyday fitness it covers the essentials well.

• Full watchOS workout app, activity rings and automatic workout detection — everything expected of an Apple Watch.
• Built-in GPS rated for about 7 hours of workout tracking — DesFit found real-world endurance well beyond that claim.
• The Quantified Scientist rates the Apple Watch SE as a pretty good GPS tracker — accurate enough for everyday runs and rides.
• Not a dedicated running watch — no dual-frequency GPS and no deep training analytics; serious runners still look to Garmin or the Ultra 3.
• Crash detection, fall detection and Emergency SOS carry over — Mike O'Brien notes fall detection is 'among the best in the industry.'

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

100+ workout modes, personalized HR zones, custom workouts, auto-detection. Samsung Health analytics. Solid for everyday fitness; serious athletes still lean Garmin.

• 100+ workout modes — broad activity coverage through Samsung Health.
• Personalized heart-rate zones + custom workouts — tailored training guidance.
• Automatic workout detection — catches walks, runs, and cycling without manual start.
• GPS with GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou — multi-constellation tracking for outdoor activities.
• 5 ATM water resistance — pool + open-water swim tracking supported.

Apple Watch SE 3

Apple still rates the SE 3 at 18 hours of all-day battery, and that conservative number holds — but independent endurance tests stretched it to 37-41 hours of continuous wear depending on size. The genuine upgrade is fast charging: roughly 0-80% in 45 minutes, with a 15-minute top-up buying about 8 hours. A low-power mode reaches ~32 hours.

• Fast charging is new to the SE line — about 0-80% in 45 minutes, matching Apple's claim in testing.
• A 15-minute top-up buys roughly 8 hours of use — enough to rescue a sleep-tracking night.
• Endurance test: the 44mm SE 3 ran ~41 hours of continuous wear and the 40mm ~37-38 hours — far beyond Apple's conservative 18-hour rating.
• Still rated 18 hours — fast charging helps, but daily charging is the reality, and you may need a pre-bed top-up for sleep tracking.
• A low-power mode extends life to roughly 32 hours on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

300mAh (40mm) / 425mAh (44mm). ~30 hours typical use, slightly improved over the Watch 5. Wireless fast charging. Daily-ish charging required.

• ~30 hours typical use — Engadget notes Samsung 'extended battery life' over the Watch 5, though daily-ish charging remains.
• 425mAh battery (44mm) / 300mAh (40mm) — the larger model lasts noticeably longer.
• Wireless fast charging — Notebookcheck confirms 'wireless charging, fast charging / Quickcharge.'
• Battery still trails Garmin by a wide margin — ~30 hours vs Garmin's multi-week endurance.
• AOD on cuts battery noticeably — AOD off is the way to comfortably reach the full-day rating.

Apple Watch SE 3

watchOS 26 on Apple's S10 chip — identical core performance to the Series 11 and Ultra 3, including double-tap and wrist-flick gestures. 64GB of storage. Apple Pay, the App Store and the full ecosystem are all here. The one hard limit: it works only with an iPhone.

• Same S10 chip as the Series 11 and Ultra 3 — TheJuan&Only confirms identical core performance across the lineup.
• Supports the S10-enabled gestures — double-tap and wrist-flick to dismiss notifications.
• 64GB of storage and the full App Store, Apple Pay, Find My and Siri — nothing core is cut from the experience.
• iPhone-only — like every Apple Watch, the SE 3 does not work with Android phones.
• TechRadar: it has 'the same fantastic chipset as the Ultra 3 and Series 11' — the SE 3 doesn't feel slow or cut-down in daily use.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Wear OS 4 + One UI 5 Watch. Samsung Health, Samsung Pay + Google Wallet, Google Play Store. Best inside the Samsung phone ecosystem. Android-only.

• Wear OS 4 + One UI 5 Watch — a complete, polished Wear OS experience with the full Google Play Store.
• Samsung Health — the analytics backbone; some features (BIA, ECG) are tied to a Samsung phone.
• Samsung Pay + Google Wallet — both contactless payment options supported.
• Best inside the Samsung ecosystem — works with any Android phone, but BIA + ECG need a Samsung phone.
• Android-only — no iOS compatibility.

Apple Watch SE 3

Crack-resistant Ion-X glass, now rated about 4x tougher than the SE 2, over an aluminum case. Water resistance is 50m (5 ATM) — fine for pool and open-water swimming.

• 50m (5 ATM) water resistance — rated for pool and open-water swimming.
• Crack-resistant Ion-X glass, now about 4x more crack- and scratch-resistant than the SE 2.
• DesFit notes Apple Watch aluminum models hold up well in practice — he has scratched only one across many Apple Watches going back to the Series 3.
• Not as scratch-hardened as the Series 11's ceramic-coated glass or the Ultra 3's sapphire — fine for everyday wear, not adventure abuse.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

5 ATM (50m) water resistance + IP68 + MIL-STD-810H. Sapphire Crystal display + aluminum case. Ruggedized for everyday wear.

• 5 ATM + IP68 + MIL-STD-810H — Notebookcheck confirms the full Galaxy Watch durability ratings.
• Sapphire Crystal display protection — premium scratch resistance.
• Aluminum case — durable and lightweight for everyday wear (the Classic uses stainless steel).
• Ruggedized + waterproof — built to take everyday and workout abuse.

Apple Watch SE 3

Built-in GPS, Apple Pay via NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. An optional cellular model adds standalone connectivity for about $50 more. The SE 3 lacks the Series 11's second-generation ultra-wideband chip, so it can only ping a lost iPhone rather than guide you to it.

• Built-in GPS, Apple Pay (NFC), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi — the standard Apple Watch connectivity set.
• An optional cellular model adds standalone connectivity for roughly $50 more — useful for leaving the phone behind.
• No second-generation ultra-wideband chip — the SE 3 can only beep a lost iPhone, not precision-guide you to it like the Series 11.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Multi-constellation GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou), optional LTE, NFC for Samsung Pay + Google Wallet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.

• Multi-constellation GPS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou for accurate outdoor tracking.
• Optional LTE — standalone calls, texts, and music streaming without the phone.
• NFC for Samsung Pay + Google Wallet — both contactless options.
• Bluetooth + Wi-Fi — full Wear OS connectivity stack.
• Single-band GPS — accurate for everyday use, but not the multi-band precision of higher-tier sports watches.

Apple Watch SE 3

At a held-steady $249, the SE 3 is the cheapest way into a current Apple Watch and the obvious pick for most iPhone owners. The $399 Series 11 adds ECG, blood oxygen, hypertension alerts, a brighter screen and 24-hour battery; the $799 Ultra 3 adds far more. For the majority, the SE 3's gaps will not be felt.

• TechRadar's verdict: the SE 3 'might be the best-value Apple Watch ever made.'
• Mike O'Brien calls it 'the best Apple Watch for most people' — major improvements with very few noticeable differences from the $400 Series 11.
• Gizmodo: 'The Apple Watch SE 3 is a stupidly good value for $250.'
• Step up to the $399 Series 11 for ECG, blood oxygen, hypertension alerts, a 2,000-nit screen and 24-hour battery — worth it only if you actually need those.
• Best for: first-time Apple Watch buyers and anyone who wants the core experience for the lowest price — Tom's Guide names the SE 3 'the best value, great for first-time users.'

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

$299 (40mm) / $329 (44mm) launch. Now superseded by the Galaxy Watch 7 + 8 — a strong value if discounted. Competes with the Pixel Watch and (for iOS) the Apple Watch.

• $299 (40mm) / $329 (44mm) launch — Engadget calls it 'a fair price point' for a flagship Wear OS watch.
• Now superseded by the Galaxy Watch 7 + 8 — Digital Trends notes the Watch 7's 'display and specs are similar.' The Watch 6 is a strong value if discounted.
• vs Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: the Classic adds the physical rotating bezel + stainless steel for more money.
• vs Pixel Watch 2: both run Wear OS; Samsung offers more sizes + BIA body composition, Pixel offers tighter Fitbit integration.
• Best for: Samsung phone owners who want a complete Wear OS smartwatch with a great display and full health suite — and find the Watch 6 discounted now that newer models exist.