Technologies

The Apple Watch SE 3 Is Missing Only 3 Health Features, but You Can Save at Least $150

If you’re debating between the Apple Watch SE 3 and Series 11, these are the health feature differences you should know about.

Now that you can get your hands on the new Apple Watches that were revealed earlier this month, you’re likely comparing the differences between all models to see which is worth your hard-earned cash. A more affordable option is the Apple Watch SE 3, which still starts at $249, the same price as the last version released three years ago. However, the third generation now has the S10 chip and WatchOS 26, giving it even more features that make it comparable to the other new watches.

If the Apple Watch’s health features are a big draw for you, then you’ll be happy to know that the SE 3 has many of the same wellness capabilities as the Series 11. There are only three differences, but those can save you at least $150. Let’s discuss that and the other features that might make the SE 3 your top Apple Watch pick.

The Apple Watch SE 3 health features

In addition to core features like heart rate notifications, fall detection, cycle tracking and crash detection, the SE 3 now includes sleep apnea notifications, sleep score and wrist temperature sensing, which allows for ovulation estimates and more detailed insights in the Vitals app.

Sleep score helps you better understand your sleep quality and how to improve it. In the SE 3’s Sleep app, you can find an overall score after each night of sleep, which provides additional insight into sleep duration and stages. The scoring approach was created with current guidance published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation and World Sleep Society, while the scoring algorithm was tested with over 5 million nights of sleep data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study.

Thanks to the SE 3’s faster charging, it’s even more efficient to wear the watch overnight to track your sleep.

With watchOS 26, the Apple Watch SE 3 now features Workout Buddy. Powered by Apple Intelligence, this feature uses workout data to provide personalized, spoken motivation for certain workouts. The Workout app’s new layout further enhances the SE 3’s fitness experience.

The Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 11 health features

In terms of health features, the Series 11 has hypertension notifications, an ECG app and a Blood Oxygen app. However, all other core health features — such as sleep tracking and score, heart rate notifications and wrist temperature tracking — are the same.

The big difference is that the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 with GPS and $499 with GPS and cellular, while the SE 3 starts at $249 with GPS and $299 with GPS and cellular. In other words, you can get many of the same health features on the SE 3, but for at least $150 less.

Apple Watch SE 3 battery life

The S10 chip allows the SE 3 to charge up to two times faster than the previous model in just 15 minutes, adding up to 8 hours of normal use. This gives the SE 3 an all-day, 18-hour battery life. In just 45 minutes, it can charge to about 80%.

What the S10 chip brings to the Apple Watch SE 3

Thanks to the S10 chip, you can now read the time and see your watch face without raising or tapping the watch display. The SE 3 also supports double-tap and wrist flip gestures, making it easy to control with just one hand. With double-tap, you can open Smart Stack, send a message, answer calls and more.

With on-device Siri, you can access and log health data. For instance, you can start a workout or get health-related questions answered using data from the Health app. This on-device processing is private and secure.

When your AirPods aren’t available, you can now play your media directly through the SE 3’s speaker. The S10 chip also enables voice isolation to dim background noise when on a phone or FaceTime call.

WatchOS 26 features on the Apple Watch SE 3

With watchOS 26, you get the new liquid glass design, which creates a vibrant visual experience with Smart Stack, Control Center, the Photos watch face and as you navigate in-app controls. You also get an updated watch face gallery with two new faces, Flow and Exactograph. Plus, over 20 watch faces now allow users to see a ticking seconds hand when their wrist is raised.

With Apple Intelligence, there is now live translation in Messages. When the Apple Watch is connected with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone, incoming text messages can be automatically translated into the user’s preferred language. If that language is English, the watch will suggest relevant actions based on the message’s context, such as a check-in once a friend arrives home or using Apple Cash for a gift.

When connected to a nearby iPhone, the SE 3 also has Hold Assist and Call Screening. The former alerts a user who is on hold when a live agent is available, while the latter helps people manage incoming phone calls by collecting a name and reason for the call before it rings to help them decide whether they want to pick up.

Apple Watch SE 3 design

Available in starlight and midnight (no longer silver or aluminum), the Apple Watch SE 3 is made with 100% recycled aluminum. It still comes in the 40mm and 44mm sizes. The cover glass is four times more resistant to cracks than the SE 2 and is made of Ion-X glass, the toughest glass available in a smartwatch.

As of Sept. 19, the Apple Watch SE 3 is now available for purchase.

Technologies

Meta and AMD’s Multibillion-Dollar Deal Is All About the AI Chips

Meta will take a stake in the chipmaker in exchange for a commitment to buy billions of dollars’ worth of AI chips.

Meta is joining OpenAI as one of the major tech companies to take a stake in chipmaker AMD, as part of an AI hardware buying frenzy. Meta and AMD on Tuesday announced a partnership that will involve CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s tech giant buying billions of dollars’ worth of AMD Instinct GPUs in order to fuel its ambitions to build out AI offerings across Meta platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

In a release, Meta described the deal as «multi-year,» and said the AI purchase will provide Meta with up to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs, «the silicon computing technology used to support modern AI models.»

According to the US Department of Energy, a single gigawatt (1 billion watts) is equivalent to nearly 2,000 large solar panels or 100 million LED bulbs.

In AMD’s version of the announcement, CEO Lisa Su said, «We are proud to expand our strategic partnership with Meta as they push the boundaries of AI at unprecedented scale.» As part of the deal, Meta will take a 10% stake in AMD.

AMD, based in Santa Clara, California, previously signed a deal with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI that it announced last October, which is similar to the Meta deal and also gives its AI rival 10% ownership of AMD.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

What does this mean for the rest of us?

AMD’s two megadeals may not have an immediate impact on people who use Meta’s social networking and communications apps, or even on those who buy AMD’s products, including desktop processors and graphics cards.

But it signals that large companies making huge bets on the future of AI are doing what they can to secure the hardware they need as supplies tighten and prices rise for components such as RAM. Some of those constraints aren’t expected to end anytime soon, and shoppers could begin to see prices rise even more than they already have for computers, smartphones, vehicles and other products that heavily rely on computing components like these.

It is also a sign that Meta’s ambitions for AI are not slowing down as it continues to compete with companies including OpenAI, Microsoft and Google to develop AI products and tools.

Also a factor: Meta’s push into wearables

Another reason AMD may want access to AI chips goes beyond its own data centers and online platforms: Meta has increasingly been focused on wearables such as its Oakley Meta AI Glasses and other potential new portable products.

In addition to what AMD’s GPUs can offer Meta for AI infrastructure power, AMD may also be part of its wearable future.

«With AI models requiring unprecedented processing power to process real-time data and information, Meta is focused on securing the supply chain necessary for its wearable devices,» said Michael J. Wolf, founder and CEO of the consulting firm Activate.

Wolf believes that the deals Meta and OpenAI have signed won’t be the last time a major AI-focused company locks down a supply of semiconductors.

«As consumer hardware transitions from smartphones to smart glasses, we will absolutely see more of these mega-deals,» Wolf said.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Feb. 25, #520

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 25, No. 520.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition features a mix of difficulties. The green one is kind of fun today. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Whack it!

Green group hint: Halloween colors.

Blue group hint: The airport is YUL.

Purple group hint: It’s also a hat.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: To hit a baseball hard.

Green group: Orange and black teams.

Blue group: Associated with Montreal.

Purple group: ____ derby.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is to hit a baseball hard. The four answers are belt, blister, hammer and tattoo.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is orange and black teams. The four answers are Bengals, Flyers, Giants and Oklahoma State.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Montreal. The four answers are 1976 Olympics, Canadiens, Expos and Youppi!

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ derby. The four answers are home run, Kentucky, Merseyside and roller.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Feb. 25

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 25.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

I thought today’s Mini Crossword was a tough one! Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.