Amazon’s Prime Day event has pushed every Apple Watch model to its lowest price yet, offering discounts of up to 25 per cent on the latest generation of wearables. The entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 is available for $229 for the 44mm GPS model – an 18 per cent saving – while the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been cut to $649 (a 19 per cent reduction). The mid-range Apple Watch Series 11, retailing at its lowest ever price, is 25 per cent off at major retailers.
The Apple Watch SE 3: The best value for most people
“The recently updated entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 offers almost everything its more expensive siblings do, but at a discount,” said Samuel Gibbs, the Guardian’s consumer technology editor. Launched on 19 September 2025 alongside the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 is the first model in the SE line to include an Always-On Retina display. Its Ion-X glass is four times more resistant to cracks than the previous SE 2. Powered by the Apple S10 chip, it offers heart‑rate monitoring, sleep tracking with a daily sleep score, and temperature sensing for the Vitals app and retrospective ovulation estimates. It also supports sleep apnea notifications, high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm detection, and cycle tracking. Safety features include Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, and a new “Check In” function. For parents, the “Apple Watch For Your Kids” setup is available. Battery life is rated at up to 18 hours of normal use (36 hours in Low Power Mode), with fast charging delivering eight hours of use from a 15‑minute charge. Gibbs anointed it the best Apple Watch for most people, noting that if you are new to wearables and do not need specialised features, this is the one to buy.
Apple Watch Series 11: Advanced heart‑health monitoring
The Apple Watch Series 11 gives you everything the SE 3 does, then adds a bigger and brighter Always-On Retina display, longer battery life (up to 24 hours, or 38 hours in Low Power Mode), faster charging, and more advanced sensors. “For heart health, this is the Apple Watch to choose,” said Gibbs. It includes a single‑lead electrocardiogram (ECG) capable of detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib) – an irregular heart rhythm that should prompt an immediate visit to a cardiologist. Studies cited in regulatory filings show high diagnostic accuracy for AFib detection: pooled sensitivity of 94.8 per cent and specificity of 95 per cent compared with a standard 12‑lead ECG, and an 86 per cent positive predictive value. The ECG feature has received De Novo classification from the US Food and Drug Administration, which notes it is a screening tool rather than a definitive diagnostic instrument.
The Series 11 also features blood‑oxygen monitoring, although this capability has been disabled in the US because of a long‑running patent dispute with medical‑device company Masimo. In November 2025 Apple was ordered to pay Masimo $634 million for patent infringement. While a temporary import ban was imposed, Apple implemented a workaround that processes blood‑oxygen data on the paired iPhone rather than the watch itself, allowing sales to resume. Masimo is continuing to challenge that workaround.
Other health upgrades include temperature sensing, sleep apnea notifications, and high and low heart rate alerts. Hypertension notifications – designed to alert users to potential high blood pressure – are expected soon for the Series 11 and Ultra 3. The Series 11 is available with or without cellular connectivity; opting out of cellular saves on both the upfront cost and ongoing monthly fees of roughly $10‑15. The model also supports 5G for faster downloads and streaming, and carrier‑provided satellite features for emergency messaging on cellular versions.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Built for the outdoors
“The Ultra 3 is the biggest, baddest and best Apple Watch the company makes,” said Gibbs in his five‑star review. Even with a 19 per cent discount, it remains twice the price of the SE 3, but outdoor enthusiasts may find the premium worthwhile. The Ultra 3 features a rugged titanium case with a flat sapphire crystal display, water resistance to 100 metres, IP6X dust resistance, and MIL‑STD 810H certification. Its Always-On Retina display uses wide‑angle OLEDs and LTPO3 technology to reach 3000 nits of peak brightness, and includes a dedicated Night Mode for certain watch faces. Battery life extends to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
Health monitoring mirrors the Series 11, with ECG, temperature sensing, sleep tracking, sleep apnea notifications, and blood‑oxygen monitoring (subject to the same US patent restrictions). The Ultra 3 also includes the same hypertension notification feature expected soon. For navigation and safety, it boasts dual‑band GPS for more accurate tracking, a siren, a customizable Action button, and two‑way satellite messaging that works outside cellular and Wi‑Fi coverage. Satellite messaging is free for two years after activation; carrier‑provided satellite features are also available on cellular models across the range. The Ultra 3 is powered by the Apple S10 chip and runs watchOS 26, which introduces features such as “Workout Buddy” powered by Apple Intelligence and a wrist‑flick gesture for quick interactions.
All three models include Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, an Always-On display, and the ability to take an ECG. The SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3 are available in multiple finishes: the SE 3 in Starlight and Midnight aluminium in 40mm and 44mm; the Series 11 in Space Gray, Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver aluminium or Natural, Gold, and Slate polished titanium; and the Ultra 3 in a single rugged titanium case with a flat sapphire crystal display.
