Both have eSIM. The Series 12 costs noticeably more - for the new chip, SpO2 and longer battery life.
Short answer
Apple Watch Series 12 Cellular - S11, SpO2, up to 24 h, IP6X, thinner. Apple Watch SE 3 Cellular - a bigger screen for less.
Key differences
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 44mm GPS + Cellular | Apple Watch Series 12 42mm GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| Display | OLED, 368×448 | OLED, 374×446 |
| Chip | Apple S10 | Apple S11 |
| Memory | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Battery life | up to 18 h | up to 24 h |
| Connectivity | 5G RedCap, LTE, eSIM | 5G RedCap, LTE, eSIM |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou (L1) | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou (L1) |
| NFC | yes | yes |
| Sensors | heart rate, barometer, compass, gyroscope, temperature | heart rate, SpO2, barometer, compass, gyroscope, temperature |
| Protection | 50 m | 50 m / IP6X |
| OS | watchOS 26 | watchOS 27 |
| Compatibility | iPhone 11 / iPhone SE 2 / iOS 26 | iPhone 11 / iPhone SE 2 / iOS 27 |
| Dimensions, weight | 44×38×10.7 mm, 33 g | 42×37×9.7 mm, 31.5 g |
| Price | current prices | current prices |
Specs come from the device pages on Smartphone.ua.
Chips
Apple S10 vs S11.
Sensors and protection
Only the Series 12 has SpO2 and IP6X.
Battery life
Up to 18 vs up to 24 h.
Verdict: who should buy which
- The full feature set - Series 12 Cellular.
- eSIM for the lowest price - SE 3 Cellular.
FAQ
Do both have 5G RedCap?
Yes.
How heavy are they?
33 and 31.5 g.
Which is cheaper?
The SE 3 44mm Cellular.