The Latest Apple Watches: What’s New and Who They’re For

The Latest Apple Watches: What’s New and Who They’re For

Smartwatches have taken the world by storm in the last decade. Whether you’re tracking running times, checking notifications without having to get out your phone, or are more in tune with your body’s health, it’s safe to say that Apple watches can play a helpful role in everyday life/

Apple’s September 2025 event introduced three new watches: the top-end Series 11, the Ultra 3, and the budget-friendly SE (3rd gen). With these upgrades, many people are wondering ‘should I sell my Apple watch?’ to make the new purchase more affordable.

We’re running through these new watches, what’s changed, and whether it’s worth upgrading.

Is the Apple Watch 11 worth it?

The new Apple Watch Series 11 has minor design tweaks, but big internal upgrades.

  • Externally, it looks much like the Series 10, but the aluminium models now use Ion-X glass that’s twice as scratch-resistant.
  • It’s also 5G-capable for faster data and has a slightly thinner body for comfort.
  • The biggest new benefit is battery life. Apple says Series 11 can now last up to 24 hours on a charge (up from about 18 hours in Series 10).
  • On the health front, the Series 11 can now passively monitor for hypertension (high blood pressure) and alert you to possible concerns.
  • It also introduces a new Sleep Score in the updated watchOS 26 software, giving an easy-to-understand number rating of your sleep quality.

The Series 11 has added features that make the watch more practical for all-day wear and overnight sleep tracking, aimed at those who want the latest health and fitness tracking and can’t afford the more expensive Ultra 3).

A person presses and holds Digital Crown on Apple Watch Series 11 to measure heart health in ECG app

Image Credit: Apple

How much is the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes with a heftier price tag, starting at £749 (a jump up from the Series 11 at £369). So, what makes this model so premium?

  • It boasts a larger, brighter screen than the Ultra 2. In practice, it’s only a few pixels bigger, but even small gains help when you’re navigating outdoors.
  • The Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours of normal use (vs around 36h on the Ultra 2), or up to 72 hours in Lower Power mode. That means less concern about running out of juice on multi-day treks.
  • Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch with built-in satellite communications. When you’re off-grid (no network or Wi-Fi), you can text emergency services or share your location via satellite.
  • For athletes, the Ultra 3 has all the fitness upgrades of Series 11 and adds the rugged sports features like always-on altimeter, depth gauge for divers, up to 100 meters water resistance, and the Action button.

In summary, the Ultra 3 is for outdoor enthusiasts and pros. If you do long-distance running, triathlons or hiking, the bigger battery and satellite SOS are big wins.

If you have an older Ultra (or even a Series watch) that you take on walks or bike rides, you may consider using our ‘sell my Apple watch’ service and make the upgrade.

Is the Apple Watch SE 3 worth buying?

The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s budget model, now in its third generation. Is it worth buying?

  • It keeps the same 40mm and 44mm aluminium cases (new colours of Starlight and Moonlight) but finally adds several features from the higher-end models.
  • The SE 3 has an Always-On display (so you can check the time or notifications at a glance) and a faster S10 chip.
  • The cover glass on the SE 3 is much tougher too. Apple says it’s 4x more crack-resistant than before.
  • On the health side, the SE 3 can now track sleep score each night (like Series 11) and detect sleep apnoea notifications.
  • It also adds a wrist temperature sensor for better cycle tracking and ovulation estimates.
  • The watch still has heart rate and fall detection, and now has 5G LTE for faster connectivity so calls and streaming are smoother off Wi-Fi.
  • The battery life is still about 18 hours (all-day) but thanks to fast charging you get more runtime after just a quick charge.

The SE 3 has many Series-class features at a lower price (from £219). It’s ideal for first-time smartwatch owners who want a solid fitness tracker without the higher price of Series or Ultra.

A close up of the Apple SE 3 watch

Image Credit: Apple

Which new model should I buy?

All three 2025 watches share some big updates across software, battery, and display. In summary:

  • If you want ultimate durability and battery, plus outdoor features like satellite SOS, the Ultra 3 is for you.
  • If you want the latest tech in a regular-sized watch (health insights, 5G, longest battery of the main line), the Series 11 is the choice.
  • If you need an affordable watch with most benefits like great health and fitness tracking and new convenience features, the SE 3 is best.

A smart way to offset the cost is to trade in your current Apple Watch. We make it simple, just answer a few questions about your watch’s model and condition, and you get cash in a matter of days.

Ready to upgrade? Trade in your current watch with Mazuma today