If you've been waiting for an attractive discount on the Apple Watch SE 3 to start in 2026, then you're in luck as we've finally found some serious savings worth highlighting. And it's cheaper than what we saw during Black Friday 2025!
A decent 16% saving on Apple's most affordable smartwatch, with prices starting at AU$337 for the smaller 40mm variant (down from AU$399), means you're getting even better value than ever, with the SE 3 offering more than its predecessor did at the same retail price. The larger 44mm model also gets a decent price drop, going from AU$449 to AU$387.
We called the SE 3 the best Apple Watch for most people in our review, and with these discounts on the table, it becomes a no-brainer for iPhone owners who have been eager to put Apple's wearable device on their wrist.
The Apple Watch SE 3 may not have received any design changes when it was introduced in September 2025, but it did receive a number of internal updates that make it worthy of consideration for any aspiring wearable device.
Perhaps most importantly, it benefits from the same S10 chip that powers the Series 11 and Ultra 3, meaning navigating and using watchOS 26 is a breeze.
It is also the first Watch SE model to have an always-on display. Previously, this was a major factor in the standard Apple Watch being recommended over the SE, as the always-on display makes checking the time and notifications a breeze. Now the SE 3 is getting the same treatment and it's starting to become clearer why we consider it to be the best watch model for most people.
Another worthwhile upgrade is support for fast charging, so while battery life is still up to 18 hours, recharging is less of a hassle. Apple says you can go from 0% to 80% in about 45 minutes. You'll probably still need to recharge every night, but if you forget, you should be able to squeeze it all out before you leave the house in the morning.
Notable feature omissions include an ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, hypertension notifications, and sleep apnea tracking (you'll want to upgrade to the Watch 11 if you want), but not everyone will need such in-depth health tracking. Maybe you just want an Apple Watch for fitness tracking and to be an extension of your iPhone, in which case it's easy to recommend the SE 3. In fact, my colleague and long-time Apple Watch user Sharm admits that while he loves his Watch 11, he admits that the Watch SE 3 is the better choice for most people.
I'm not sure how long these Apple Watch SE 3 discounts will last, but since Apple discounts of this size are rare and stock sells out very quickly when they happen, I don't expect them to last long. So move.
Note that I specifically mentioned the GPS model. If you want the option to add cellular connectivity, you can get it from AU$427 for the 40mm size. Alternatively, the Apple Watch Series 11 is also discounted up to 27%, depending on size.
