Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 12

Both figures below were read from the retailer by us and written down. Where a row is blank we do not hold that fact for one of them, which is stated rather than filled in.

Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant

Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch

Price today: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: $239.00 (the better of the two); Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: $389.99
Per printed unitNot ranked: these two count different things, so the figures are printed and left alone.: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: not held; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: not held
Pack: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: not held; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: not held
Record behind itDays with a recorded price in the last 90. We hold a verdict until 10 of them, or until one price has held for 14 days.: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: 1/10 days; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: 2/10 days (the better of the two)
Lowest we recordedAnd the last day it was that price. A floor touched last week is a different argument from one touched in March.: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: $239.00 · Sep 14; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: $389.99 · Sep 15
Highest we recorded: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: $239.00; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: $399.00
Sold by: Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant: Amazon.com; Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 42mm Smartwatch: Amazon.com

How the gap has moved

Across the 3 days we have held a price for both, the gap between them was widest at $160.00 on Sep 14 and narrowest at $150.99 on Sep 15. Apple Watch SE 3 has been the cheaper of the two on every one of those days. Today it is $150.99.

Measured from our own readings, carried forward day by day — a price stands until we record a different one. It starts on the first day we held a price for both, which is later than the day we began tracking one of them.

What they are

6 attributes the retailers describe differently, first. These are their words, not ours — we record prices, we do not test products.

Size: 40mm case + Small/Medium band; 42mm case + Small/Medium band
Color: Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band; Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
Weight: 0.06 pounds; not held
Dimensions: 9.4 × 3 × 1.2 inches; not held
Model: MEH34LW/A; MJEA4LS/A
Released: September 2025; September 2026
Warranty: Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty; Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty

2 products compared on the record we keep. Nothing here is ranked by what pays us, and neither of these placements was bought. Other model-against-model comparisons.