Compare Apple Watch SE 3 vs Withings ScanWatch Nova

GPS accuracy was mostly praised for everyday workouts, though reviewers noted single-band GPS can wander in dense urban or more challenging environments.

GPS-linked tracking drew repeated complaints about connection gaps and missing map routes, reinforcing the lack of robust built-in GPS.

Heart-rate tracking drew strong praise across testing, with reviewers saying it aligned well with comparison devices and remained usable even in harder workouts.

Heart rate accuracy received strong support from one reviewer who compared it favorably with a chest strap.

Fitness tracking accuracy was a clear strength, with reviewers reporting reliable workout, activity, and comparison-test results for the price.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mixed, ranging from good workout measurements to specific inaccuracies in automatically logged activities.

Sleep tracking was generally useful and often accurate enough, though several reviewers felt Apple’s Sleep Score was simpler than competing systems.

Sleep tracking accuracy was mixed, with one review finding it pretty accurate and others doubting accuracy or reporting missed sleep periods.

Workout variety was viewed very positively, with reviewers noting broad sport profiles and nearly the same workout options as pricier Apple Watches.

Workout variety was mixed: one reviewer found options limited, another called workout tracking less comprehensive, while another appreciated broad automatic activity support.

Workout Buddy and coaching features were appreciated as helpful motivation, though reviewers often described them as basic, repetitive, or hit-or-miss.

Coaching-style insights were considered useful when they translated health data into behaviors or an actionable overview.

Blood oxygen tracking was consistently treated as a missing premium health feature, with reviewers noting it remains reserved for higher-end Apple Watches.

Blood oxygen tracking was generally useful and easy once working, though one reviewer needed several attempts to get an SpO2 reading.

Wellness insights were considered helpful for beginners or casual users, especially Sleep Score, sleep apnea alerts, and the Vitals-style health context.

Wellness insights were praised when they made health data actionable, contextual, or useful for spotting broader health risks.

Calorie tracking appeared as part of the useful core fitness toolkit, with one test finding calorie and distance figures matched a comparison watch exactly.

Calorie estimates earned praise in one review as more accurately rendered than the reviewer's previous Fitbit experience.

Reviewers described the core health basics as adequate or mostly complete, especially heart-rate alerts and general tracking, while noting that advanced sensors remain absent.

Health tracking accuracy was one of the most praised areas, with reviewers describing accurate sensors, useful health data, and results comparable to other devices.

Comfort was a consistent strength, especially for sleep, smaller wrists, and unobtrusive daily wear.

Comfort was a major strength across reviews, especially for all-day and overnight wear, with lighter models and comfortable bands helping.

Materials quality evidence was limited but positive, centered on the aluminum case, rounded body, and premium-looking construction.

Materials quality was praised through references to robust glass, rotating bezel construction, and premium materials.

Style and design were the main aesthetic tradeoff: reviewers liked the familiar Apple Watch look but repeatedly called it dated or bezel-heavy.

Style and design were the most consistent strengths, with reviewers praising its analog look, elegance, premium feel, and compliment-worthy appearance.

Durability was mixed: stronger Ion-X glass drew praise, but some reviewers noted weaker dust/scratch protection or actual scratching.

Durability evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer saying the watch still looked pristine after travel and rough handling.

Band quality evidence was limited but very positive, with praise for easily replaceable Apple Watch bands.

Bands were often praised for comfort, flexibility, quality, and included tools, though some reviewers found adjustment imperfect or only liked the metal band best.

Build quality was considered solid for the price, with reviewers calling it well made and modern enough despite the older design.

Build quality came across as premium, with reviewers praising the solid construction, price-appropriate finish, and premium materials.

Fit evidence was limited and mixed, with one reviewer saying the older body did not sit as flush as the Series 11.

Fit was mixed: some reviewers achieved a good or problem-free fit, while one struggled with the metal strap being too tight or too loose.

Water resistance was considered adequate for common needs, with several reviewers accepting the 50m/swimproof rating.

Water resistance was viewed as capable but not class-leading, with one reviewer comparing it unfavorably to Apple Watch Ultra 2 and another noting a significant 10ATM bump.

Size options were viewed positively for offering 40mm and 44mm choices, especially for smaller wrists.

Size evidence was limited to the Brilliant version being suitable for smaller wrists.

Battery life was the main practical compromise, ranging from excellent in some tests to daily-charge frustration in others.

Battery life was one of the strongest points, with reviewers repeatedly reporting weeks of use and little battery anxiety.

Charging speed improved substantially over the SE 2 and was usually praised, even when still slower than pricier Apple Watches.

Charging speed was viewed positively, with reviewers describing full recharges from under an hour to a respectable two hours.

Charging convenience was mixed because faster top-ups help, but sleep tracking still forces many users into a daily charging routine.

Charging convenience split reviewers: the newer cradle was praised by one reviewer, but several others called the charger cheap, inelegant, or lacking wireless convenience.

Display quality was a major upgrade thanks to always-on functionality, though reviewers still noted smaller bezels and lower specs than Series models.

Display quality was generally legible and improved, but its small size and smartwatch limitations caused mixed reactions.

Brightness was usually adequate and sometimes praised, but reviewers acknowledged it is below the brighter Series and Ultra screens.

Brightness handling was praised for automatic adjustment, although the evidence is limited to the small OLED display.

Outdoor visibility was generally serviceable, but direct sunlight remained a repeated display limitation.

Outdoor visibility was mixed: some reviewers found the OLED readable in sunlight, while others struggled with direct sun or reflections.

Third-party app support was praised for extending the native experience, with reviewers highlighting Apple’s App Store depth and useful fitness apps.

Third-party app support was a weakness, with reviewers telling app-focused buyers to look elsewhere or comparing it unfavorably with full smartwatches.

Reviewers generally agreed the SE 3 delivers the core Apple Watch experience, making it feel much less like a compromised budget model.

Smartwatch features were consistently limited, with reviewers framing the Nova as a health-focused hybrid rather than a full smartwatch.

Navigation evidence was limited but positive, with offline Apple Maps presented as helpful when away from the phone.

Mapping evidence was negative in one review, where the app produced a black-screen map for a recorded route.

Notification handling was a major everyday strength, with reviewers praising call, text, and response convenience from the wrist.

Notifications were a major tradeoff: some reviewers had no issues or found them readable, but several disliked the limited, non-interactive alert experience.

Button and gesture controls were widely praised, especially Double Tap, Wrist Flick, the Digital Crown, and side-button shortcuts.

Control feedback was mixed: the crown interface could feel intuitive, but the crown or bezel placement could also be awkward to manipulate.

The companion app setup drew a mixed note because managing Watch, Health, and Fitness across multiple iPhone apps can feel tedious.

The companion app was repeatedly praised as clear, efficient, user-friendly, powerful, and good at presenting health and activity data.

Watch faces were viewed positively, especially the always-on versions and Apple’s high-quality built-in choices.

Watch face quality was mixed, with easier time reading and a premium analog face offset by weak lume in some reviews.

The user interface was praised as easy, cohesive, and fluid, with gestures and Smart Stack improving quick interactions.

The user interface was split between intuitive simplicity and the limitations of a passive, small-display interface.

Call handling was rated highly where tested, especially voice isolation and gesture-based call management.

Call handling is basic but useful as a screening alert, rather than a full phone-call experience from the watch.

Customization was useful through watch faces, workout views, and settings, but limited by the lack of third-party watch faces.

Customization evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer valuing the ability to reorder workout options and screens in the app.

The app ecosystem was one of the SE 3’s strongest advantages, repeatedly described as unmatched or far richer than competing budget watches.

Withings' broader app and device ecosystem was praised for combining watch data with scales and other health products in a useful dashboard.

Menu navigation evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer describing the basic home-screen and control flow as simple.

Menu navigation was praised as easy and intuitive through the rotating crown.

Pairing/setup evidence was limited but positive, with one review calling setup quick and easy.

Pairing and syncing were praised as simple and seamless in the supporting reviews.

Software smoothness was one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers praising the S10 chip for snappy menus, fast apps, and fluid navigation.

Software smoothness was supported by seamless watch-app syncing in two reviews.

Cross-platform compatibility was a clear limitation because the SE 3 remains an iPhone-only smartwatch.

Cross-platform support was supported by one positive app review noting iOS/Android availability and integration with major health platforms.

ECG was the most repeated missing health feature, often framed as the main reason some higher-risk buyers might step up to the Series line.

ECG functionality was usually praised as easy, useful, or medically meaningful, though one reviewer noted setup delays and another found it movement-sensitive.

Safety features were strongly praised, especially fall detection, crash detection, emergency features, and real family anecdotes.

Safety features were supported by health-risk warning potential, especially around continuous tracking while awake or asleep.

Auto-detection was useful but not flawless; reviewers found it adequate for walks and workouts, while one later review said it still lagged rivals.

Reviewers liked that activity detection can work reliably and conveniently, but several also found false or incomplete auto-detected sessions.

Value for money was the strongest consensus attribute, with reviewers repeatedly calling the SE 3 a standout bargain or best-value Apple Watch.

Value was mixed: reviewers often called it expensive, but some felt the design, build, battery life, and health tools could justify the price.

Recovery-related evidence was limited, but one fitness-focused review valued training-load tracking as a way to monitor workout volume over time.

Temperature tracking was viewed as medically useful by several reviewers, though one reviewer questioned its wrist accuracy and another found it irrelevant day to day.

Step counting accuracy was praised as user-friendly and accurate, including one comparison favoring it over a previous Fitbit.

Reliability evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer concluding the SE 3 has what most users need.

Connected workout tracking could drop the watch connection and leave gaps, creating a Bluetooth-related caveat during GPS-linked activities.

Apple Pay was positively mentioned as part of the compelling smartwatch feature set and deep Apple ecosystem integration.

Music controls and speaker/media features were useful additions, though reviewers were split on how often they would actually use playback from the watch speaker.

watchOS experience received very strong marks for polish, smoothness, and making the SE 3 feel similar to pricier Apple Watches.

Touchscreen responsiveness had limited but very positive evidence, with PCMag saying the watch responded promptly and consistently.

On-device Siri was broadly seen as a useful upgrade, making commands faster and more practical for workouts, timers, weather, and health questions.

Cellular connectivity was viewed as a useful option, with 5G improving coverage, efficiency, and phone-free use for calls, messages, and downloads.