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Apple unveiled its triple-watch lineup at its September iPhone event. The new contenders include the base model Series 11, the affordable SE 3, and the luxurious and rugged Ultra 3. While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 receive standout features including Hypertension Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, increased battery life, and Sleep Scores, older smartwatches also got a facelift following the new product debut.
Thanks to WatchOS 26, Apple Watches Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later get the same software as the latest lineup.
Also: The best October Prime Day deals live now
So, what does that mean for you? It means that if you are eyeing a new Apple smartwatch you might not actually have to buy the latest one at the highest price. In fact, Apple Watch Series 10, the one-year-old base model smartwatch is equally, if not better a buy than the SE 3 (or maybe even the Series 11). As October Prime Day deals begin to roll in, Amazon and other retailers might cut the price of the Series 10 down even further (it’s on sale for $329 right now, down $70 from its original price), making an even greater case for buying this smartwatch over its newer siblings.
Let’s get into why.
The Series 11 and Series 10 are built with the same exact form factor. Apple told me that in creating the new Series 11, it used the same build as the Series 10. It’s just as thin and light, and the case is exactly the same.
The Series 11 also has the same S10 chip as the Series 10, so you aren’t getting any more advanced chip hardware when you opt for the newer device. The only real difference in hardware is the battery life — the Series 11 gets six more hours than the Series 10, thanks to battery reconfiguration the Apple Watch team performed on the device.
That difference in battery life is the only real differentiator, in my eyes, between the Series 10 and Series 11. Of course, it’s a great upgrade that Apple decided to make with its device, and people will surely buy the Series 11 over the 10 because of that. In fact, I’ve been loving my Series 11 because of how long its battery lasts (I wear it to sleep and throughout the day). But if you aren’t someone who plans to wear their smartwatch 24/7 or if you are always on top of device charging, you might not need a 24-hour battery life. So, you should buy the Series 10. 100%.
Also: Which Apple Watch should you buy? I tested every model
Here are a few new features the Series 10 gets, thanks to its software update (that the Series 11 already has). Apple’s new FDA-cleared Hypertension Detection (that the new Apple Watch SE 3 doesn’t have), Sleep Scores, Wrist Flick Gesture for declining messages or calls, and Workout Buddy on the Fitness app.
When the three new watches came out, I wrote that I was impressed by the SE 3 simply because of its affordable existence. At $249, the SE 3 gets the S10 chip, Sleep Scores, and an 18-hour battery life. I also added that this spec lineup mirrored the Series 10 heavily. The difference between the Series 10, which is currently discounted at $329 and the SE 3 that’s going for $249 out the gate, is that the Series 10 gets Hypertension Detection and the full suite of health features, including blood oxygen monitoring and ECG. The SE 3 doesn’t.
So if you are buying a smartwatch for its slate of health-tracking features, especially if you are an older person looking to keep a careful eye on your health stats, I’m going to recommend the Series 10 over the SE 3, and the Series 11 over the Series 10 (only if you want more battery life).
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
The Apple Watch Series 10 is 18% off right now. It’s been hovering around this price for awhile, so it’s not a rare deal. But I wouldn’t be surprised if its price of $329 drops further during October Prime Day, which takes place on Oct. 7 and 8. For these reasons, I’m giving it a 3/5.
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