Apple’s 2025 Apple Watch lineup presents a diverse range of options catering to different preferences, budgets, and needs, whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade from an older model. This year’s collection includes three main models: the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch SE 3, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Each offers distinct features, design elements, and price points, giving consumers plenty of flexibility to choose the smartwatch that fits their lifestyle.
**Pricing and Design Overview**
The new Apple Watch lineup spans a wide price range, starting at $249 for the Apple Watch SE 3 and reaching up to $1,299 for a premium titanium Apple Watch Series 11 with a Hermès band. As with previous years, Apple continues to offer customization options that affect pricing, such as case sizes, materials, cellular connectivity, and a variety of bands.
The Apple Watch Series 11 is the most versatile in terms of configuration. It is available in two case sizes (42mm and 46mm), two body materials (aluminum and titanium), and offers optional cellular connectivity. There are also premium Hermès models for those seeking a luxury accessory. The Apple Watch SE 3 is a more budget-friendly option, available only in aluminum with smaller case sizes (40mm and 44mm). Lastly, the Ultra 3 is designed with durability and adventure in mind, featuring a single 49mm titanium case size with cellular connectivity included by default.
The core design of the Apple Watch has evolved incrementally since its launch, with the Series 11 maintaining the slim 9.7mm thickness introduced with the Series 10. It comes in various finishes: aluminum models in space gray, jet black, rose gold, or silver, and titanium models in natural, slate, or gold. Weights vary from 29.7 grams to 43.1 grams depending on size and material. The SE 3 is slightly thicker at 10.7mm and smaller overall, reminiscent of earlier Apple Watch designs, weighing 26.4 or 33 grams, and comes in two color options, midnight (black) and starlight (silver).
The Ultra 3 breaks away from the traditional Apple Watch shape with a robust 14.4mm thickness and a larger 49mm size, weighing in at 61.6 grams. Its titanium body is offered in natural or black finishes, with the Hermès edition limited to the natural titanium color. CNET’s lead writer, Vanessa Hand Orellana, likened the Ultra 3 to a luxury Land Rover – rugged and adventure-ready on the outside, with all the modern conveniences Apple users expect inside. Notably, the Ultra 3’s titanium case is 3D-printed using 100% recycled titanium, an environmentally conscious choice that doesn’t compromise its sleek appearance.
**Durability and Build Quality**
Durability is a key focus across all three models. The SE 3 is water resistant up to 50 meters, suitable for showering, swimming, and daily wear even in wet weather. The Series 11 shares the same 50-meter water resistance rating, while the Ultra 3 doubles that to 100 meters, making it ideal for more intense aquatic activities such as shallow diving. Both the Series 11 and Ultra 3 are also certified as IP6X dust resistant, offering better protection against particles compared to the SE 3.
All models have Apple’s signature Digital Crown and side button for navigation, but the Ultra 3 adds a programmable Action button, allowing quick access to functions like starting a workout with a single press.
**Display Technology**
Display technology has seen significant improvements this year. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 use LPTO 3 OLED displays, which provide always-on functionality, wide viewing angles, and extremely high brightness levels—2,000 nits peak for Series 11 and an impressive 3,000 nits for the Ultra 3 (matching the brightness of the iPhone 17 Pro). This ensures the screens remain easily readable even in bright sunlight or at awkward angles. These displays are energy efficient, capable of refreshing the screen at just one nit of brightness once every second during passive states, allowing users to keep an eye on the second hand or other indicators without draining the battery.
The screens are protected by sapphire crystal on titanium models (Series 11 and Ultra 3), while aluminum Series 11 models use Ion-X glass