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There's a €180 price difference between the cheapest Apple Watch and the standard model. For that, you get a display twice as bright, a chip from this year, and three health features that the SE 3 completely lacks. One figure from the spec sheets is still surprising, though.
The Apple Watch Series 12 has been available for pre-order since September 9th and will be released on September 18th. The Apple Watch SE 3 remains available alongside it – it's from last year and hasn't been updated. Anyone deciding between the two is therefore comparing a current device with one that has remained unchanged for a year. This comparison is based on the German specifications for the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch SE 3. For a more detailed comparison, see the section on the Series 12 and Ultra 4.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The SE 3 starts at 269 euros, the Series 12 at 449 euros – a difference of 180 euros.
- ECG, blood oxygen and high blood pressure notifications are only available on the Series 12.
- The Series 12 display shines twice as brightly at 2,000 nits.
- 24 hours of runtime instead of 18, and 80 percent is charged in 30 minutes instead of 45.
- The smaller Series 12 offers virtually the same surface area as the larger SE 3 – but at a lower weight.
The smaller watch has the larger display
Herein lies the most surprising finding. The SE 3 is available in 40 and 44 millimeters, the Series 12 in 42 and 46. However, if you compare not the case size but the actual display area, the picture changes: The 44-millimeter SE has 977 square millimeters, the smaller 42-millimeter Series 12 970. That's practically the same value.
The aluminum Series 12 weighs even slightly less at 32.2 grams than the 44mm SE 3 at 32.9 grams. Those who opt for the larger Series 12 case get approximately 22 percent more surface area (1,196 square millimeters) than the largest SE.
The difference in the panel itself is clear: 2,000 nits peak brightness versus 1,000 nits, LTPO3 with 1 Hz versus LTPO, and Ceramic Shield 2 front glass instead of Ion-X. The minimum brightness is 1 nit instead of 2 nits – relevant at night.
Health: three functions are completely missing
The Series 12 features the new health monitoring system with a third-generation electrical heart sensor, a continuously active optical sensor, blood oxygen sensors, and a temperature sensor. The SE 3 has a second-generation optical heart sensor and a temperature sensor – nothing more.
This results in a clear dividing line. According to Apple's own comparison, the SE 3 lacks the ECG app, the blood oxygen app, and hypertension notifications. Background high-frequency heart rate monitoring and HRV during recovery are also exclusive to the Series 12; consequently, the SE 3 lacks blood oxygen saturation in the Vital Signs app.
However, both devices have more in common than one would expect: sleep apnea notifications, sleep index, notifications for irregular heart rhythm, cycle tracking with support during perimenopause, fall and accident detection, and temperature detection at the wrist.
Runtime, charging and water
The Series 12 lasts up to 24 hours, the SE 3 up to 18 – a third more. In power-saving mode, the difference is 38 hours versus 32 hours, and during outdoor training, 10 hours versus 7 hours.
The difference is more noticeable in everyday use when charging: the Series 12 reaches 80 percent in about 30 minutes, while the SE 3 takes 45. A quarter of an hour on the cable provides 12 hours of runtime instead of 8.
Both are water-resistant to 50 meters, but only the Series 12 has a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, making it suitable for snorkeling up to 6 meters. It also features IP6X dust protection, which the SE 3 lacks.
| Feature | Apple Watch SE 3 | Apple Watch Series 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | 269 € | 449 € |
| Housing | Aluminum, 2 colors | Aluminum, titanium, ceramic |
| Sizes | 40 / 44 mm | 42 / 46 mm |
| Display area | 759 / 977 mm² | 970 / 1,196 mm² |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Front glass | Ion-X | Ceramic Shield 2 (Aluminium) |
| Chip | S10 | S11 |
| ECG app | — | Yes |
| Blood oxygen app | — | Yes |
| Hypertension notifications | — | Yes |
| Duration | up to 18 hours. | up to 24 hours. |
| Outdoor training | up to 7 hours. | up to 10 hours. |
| 80 % loaded | in about 45 minutes. | in about 30 minutes. |
| Water | 50 m, Swimming | 50 m, plus snorkeling up to 6 m |
| Depth gauge | — | up to 6 m |
| Wi-Fi | only 2.4 GHz | 2.4 and 5 GHz |
| Ultra-broadband | — | 2nd Generation |
What the 180 euros stand for
The higher price buys three things: health features that can't be added later without the appropriate sensors, a significantly better display, and a chip from this year instead of last year. It doesn't buy a fundamentally different watch – operation, watchOS, fall detection, sleep analysis, and training features are identical on both.
Which model is suitable for whom?
The Series 12 is worthwhile if heart health is a concern – ECG and blood pressure notifications are the only real reason to rule out the SE. It's also a good choice if you want the watch to connect to Wi-Fi without an iPhone, as the SE 3 only operates on 2.4 GHz, and if you regularly track long outdoor workouts.
In all other cases, the SE 3 is the more sensible choice. It offers the same user interface, the same sleep analysis including apnea notifications, and with 18 hours of battery life, enough for a full day – at a price 40 percent lower than the Series 12. Whether you need a cellular model will be clarified by the difference between GPS and cellular connectivity.
Would ECG and blood pressure alerts be worth €180 to you, or are pulse, sleep, and training enough? Tell us in the comments what you actually look for in a smartwatch.
Frequently Asked Questions: Apple Watch Series 12 vs. SE 3
The health sensors. The Series 12 has a third-generation electrical heart sensor and a blood oxygen sensor, while the SE 3 lacks both. Consequently, it also lacks the ECG app, the blood oxygen app, and hypertension alerts. These features cannot be added via a software update.
No. Apple explicitly states that the ECG app is only available for Series 4 and newer, as well as all Ultra models – SE models are excluded. Anyone needing a wrist-based ECG will need a Series 12 or an Ultra model.
Yes to the casing, but hardly to the screen. The 44mm SE has a 977 square millimeter display area, while the smaller 42mm Series 12 offers 970 – practically the same value in a more compact casing and with slightly less weight.
180 euros. The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at 269 euros, the Series 12 at 449 euros. The SE is therefore around 40 percent cheaper than the Series 12. Both prices are for the GPS model without cellular connectivity.
Yes, up to 24 hours instead of 18, and in power-saving mode 38 instead of 32. The difference is even more noticeable when charging: the Series 12 reaches 80 percent in about 30 minutes, while the SE 3 takes 45. A quarter of an hour on the cable gives 12 hours instead of 8.
Yes, both are water-resistant to 50 meters according to ISO 22810:2010. However, only the Series 12 has a depth gauge and a water temperature sensor, making it suitable for snorkeling up to six meters. Apple only approves the SE 3 for swimming.
It's the current entry-level model, but it's from last year and wasn't updated in 2026. This is recognizable by the S10 chip, while the Series 12 uses the S11. Both require an iPhone 11 or newer with iOS 27.
