This year, Apple unveiled three fresh Apple Watch variations: the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Whether you’re considering one for personal use, selecting a last-minute holiday present, or investigating the various models, we can guide you effectively.

With a price of $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is clearly targeted at a specialized, premium market and athletes. For the average consumer, the buying choice will likely be between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, priced at $249 and $399, respectively.

Even though it has a lower price point, the Apple Watch SE 3 includes much of the same software as the Series 11. If you want a basic smartwatch with key functionalities like step tracking and sleep monitoring, the SE 3 is a fantastic and economical selection. 

While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 present slight enhancements over their prior models, the SE 3 has gotten a substantial upgrade from the SE 2. It moves from the S8 chip to the S10 and now offers an always-on display, supports rapid charging, has improved crack resistance, introduces new health functionalities, incorporates a wrist-temperature sensor for advanced sleep monitoring and retrospective ovulation insights, and more. 

Although it may not be as extravagant as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it certainly stands out and offers great value, especially for new buyers and younger users. The divide between standard and budget smartwatches has never been narrower. 

Naturally, if you seek more sophisticated health features, greater battery life, and a larger display, the Series 11 would be the more suitable choice for your requirements. However, it’s worthwhile to compare both options because the SE 3 could be all that you need.

We’ll guide you through the similarities and distinctions between the two smartwatches to assist in your choice.

Commonalities between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• S10 chip: Both devices are equipped with the same processor, ensuring uniform performance levels.
• Always-on Retina display: The watches allow displaying the watch face and time, even with the wrist lowered.
• Heart health features: Both models provide high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, and low cardio fitness alerts.
• Wrist flick and double tap gestures: Both watches support the “wrist flick” gesture for dismissing notifications and timers, as well as a “double tap” for actions like answering calls or playing music.
• Emergency SOS: The watches can rapidly contact local emergency services, share location details, and notify emergency contacts by holding down the side button.
• Fall detection and crash detection: Both models can automatically alert emergency services and identified emergency contacts when a severe fall or crash is detected.
• Water resistant up to 50 meters: Both watches are suitable for swimming activities.
• Sleep tracking: Both variants include sleep tracking capabilities, sleep tracking alerts, and Apple’s new Sleep score ranging from 1 to 100 regarding sleep quality. Additionally, both feature temperature sensing to provide insights into well-being through nightly wrist temperature changes.
• Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates: These watches can identify the likely ovulation period in your last cycle.
• Fast charging capabilities: Both models support fast charging (up to 80% in approximately 30 minutes for the Series 11 and up to 80% in about 45 minutes for the SE 3; 15 minutes for eight hours of typical use for either device). 
• Find iPhone: Both watches allow pressing a button to make a sound on the iPhone to aid in finding it, though the Series 11 features “precision finding” for exact phone location tracking.

Discrepancies between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• Battery life: The Series 11 lasts up to 24 hours (28 hours in low-power mode), while the SE can last up to 18 hours (32 hours in low-power mode).
• Health features: The Series 11 offers more sophisticated health monitoring options, such as hypertension notifications (detects high blood pressure), an electrical heat sensor, an ECG app, and a Blood Oxygen app.
• Screen and display: The Series 11 can achieve up to 2000 nits, whereas the SE 3 maxes out at 1000 nits. Additionally, the Series 11 features a wide-angle OLED display, while the SE 3 has a standard OLED screen.
• Size: The Series 11 is offered in 46mm and 44mm sizes with aluminum or titanium casings, while the SE 3 is available in 44mm and 40mm sizes with an aluminum casing. Furthermore, the Series 11 is nearly 10% thinner than the SE 3. 
• Color: The Series 11 is available in aluminum shades: Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, alongside titanium colors: Natural, Gold, and Slate. The SE 3 features Midnight Aluminum and Starlight Aluminum.
• Other minor distinctions: The Series 11 includes a depth gauge of six meters, a water temperature sensor, a minimum brightness of 1 nit (compared to 2 nit on the SE 3), and certified IP6X dust resistance.

If you’re not particularly familiar with emerging platforms, you likely didn’t hear of Mastodon before Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X. In the wake of this purchase, as Twitter users expressed concerns about its future, millions migrated to Mastodon, another microblogging platform. As time progressed, some users also explored Bluesky and Instagram’s Threads app — but given that Mastodon was established in 2016, it has had ample time to cultivate its unique identity beyond merely being an alternative to Twitter.

What is Mastodon?

Founded in 2016 by German developer Eugen Rochko, Mastodon differs from popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit as it operates as a nonprofit, striving to serve the public good rather than shareholder interests.

At first sight, Mastodon may resemble a Twitter imitation, but the technology powering the microblogging platform is significantly more intricate. It operates as a decentralized service (not related to blockchain), depicting itself as a “federated network resembling email.”

Upon creating your account, you select a server — akin to choosing an email service provider such as Gmail or Yahoo — which establishes your profile address. For instance, if you join Mastodon via the climate justice server, your address will be @[your username]@climatejustice.social. Regardless of which server you choose, you can still interact with users from any other server, much like how Gmail users can email Hotmail users. However, some servers may restrict access to others (perhaps due to undesirable groups), meaning that communication with users from a blocked server is not possible.

The Mastodon lingo

Mastodon users commonly refer to distinct communities as “instances” or servers. These servers can be managed by individuals, groups, or organizations, each with its own regulations regarding user registration and moderation policies. Some servers allow open registration, while others may be invite-only or require admin approval. For example, a server designed for professional scientists requires applicants to provide a link to their research to prove their professional status.

Selecting a server to register with might seem overwhelming, but transferring your account later is feasible, so don’t stress. Additionally, you can follow users regardless of their server affiliation.

You might also hear Mastodon referred to as part of the “Fediverse,” an interconnected network of various social media platforms. Similar to how having a Twitter account does not grant you access to Instagram, your single Mastodon account also provides access to other decentralized social networks, if that interests you.

At times, you may encounter Mastodon’s alternative to tweets referred to as “toots,” though this term is losing popularity (as it sounds somewhat ridiculous!). Nowadays, many simply call them “posts,” but “toot” can still be found in references within older third-party clients.

Mastodon accommodates several Twitter-like features, including replies, reblogs, favorites, bookmarks, and hashtags. Initially, Mastodon intentionally opted not to include a quote tweet feature to prevent incentivizing criticism piling, but in 2025, the platform introduced that feature.

Furthermore, lists on Mastodon operate slightly differently than Twitter, as you can only add users to a list if you already follow them. Moreover, direct messages on Mastodon are simply @username posts rather than private messages arriving in a DM inbox — remember to adjust the visibility settings if you wish to keep that message private between the two of you.

What does it mean that Mastodon is open source?

Anyone can download, modify, and install Mastodon on their server — additionally, the platform’s developers do not hold the copyright.

However, this does not imply that you can utilize Mastodon’s code without crediting the source. For instance, Donald Trump’s social media service, Truth Social, initially launched with Mastodon code and presented it as original software, which Mastodon found unacceptable.

How do you create a Mastodon account?

When visiting the Mastodon website, you can click on a button labeled “create account,” leading you to a page with a list of servers to select from. These can be filtered according to several factors, including region, language, topic, sign-up speed, and more. Locate a server that interests you and join — if it’s an approval-required server, there might be a short wait. From there, you can begin following others regardless of their server.

To alleviate confusion for newcomers choosing a server, Mastodon implemented changes during the “Twitter exodus” to streamline the account creation process. Now, when registering, you’re provided with an easy option to create an account on mastodon.social instead of selecting a specific server.

How do you decide which Mastodon server to join?

Mastodon’s website contains useful resources — but it can still feel a bit daunting when trying to identify a base that resonates with your interests. Ask friends already on Mastodon for recommendations! Alternatively, you can join a random server since you can always switch your server later as you acclimate.

Can you talk to people on other Mastodon servers besides your own?

Yes, you can follow and reply to individuals from other servers. However, to follow someone on a different server, you need to input their username in your server’s search box to find them first before following. You cannot simply visit their profile and click the follow button like you would on Twitter.

What’s the difference between the Home, Local and Federated timelines?

The Home timeline displays posts from users you follow, similar to Twitter. The Local timeline shows posts from all users within your server, while the Federated timeline presents all public posts from users whom people in your server follow. (Tip: You can activate “Slow Mode” in Preferences –> Appearance to conceal timeline updates behind a click if the information flow is too rapid!)

What is Mastodon’s moderation policy?

Each server’s admin establishes its own moderation policy, so it’s essential to review the policy on your chosen server to ensure it aligns with your values.

What are the drawbacks of Mastodon when compared with Twitter/X?

Mastodon’s user base is only a small fraction of Twitter’s. Moreover, navigating it is far less user-friendly, as it is not designed for a vast global audience like Twitter. This could evolve over time as more developers contribute to the project following the Twitter acquisition.

What are the benefits of Mastodon compared with Twitter/X?

For starters, Mastodon is not under Elon Musk’s ownership… However, it may pose a challenge for Mastodon to cultivate the same “watercooler of the world” atmosphere that characterized Twitter. Some users may prefer Mastodon over X, as it offers more customization. Unlike X, different communities have varying content guidelines, leading to diverse user experiences. Although Mastodon’s user base is smaller, this can facilitate more intimate and direct interactions, unlike tweeting into the void, so to speak.

Is Mastodon safer than Twitter?

Mastodon’s safety is determined by individual usage. Given its decentralized nature, if you seek a more regulated online experience, you can join a server that has stricter measures against harassment. Several features within Mastodon are designed to reduce harassment. For instance, you can search solely by hashtags, not by keywords within a toot. Therefore, if you want your post to be found, you’d need to tag it; if you prefer a more limited audience, no one can locate your post about the Red Sox simply by searching “red sox” unless it’s tagged.

Nevertheless, text-based searches can reveal posts you’ve authored, liked, boosted, or been mentioned in, which can be advantageous.

Can I post images and video?

As previously stated, Mastodon accommodates many Twitter conventions, but its media support is more restricted. Unlike Twitter, which supports various media types and other data appended to tweets, including its audio-centric social “Spaces,” Mastodon solely supports images, videos, audio, and polls.

You can attach a maximum of four images to a post, each up to eight megabytes. Video and audio can be of any duration, but must remain beneath a 40-megabyte file size.

Can I post privately to friends?

Mastodon allows you to set the privacy level of your posts while composing them. Posts can be made public for visibility to everyone; unlisted to remain public but exclude them from discovery features; visible only to your followers; or exclusively visible to referred users.

Can I get verified on Mastodon?

No. There is no overarching verification system like Twitter’s. Some servers may vet user sign-ups, and you can confirm your identity by including links in your Mastodon profile with a specific attribute (rel=”me”) to establish you are who you claim to be.

Some servers playfully approach the notion of verification in a less formal manner. For instance, the mstdn.social server permits users to add blue-and-white checkmarks and other emojis to their display names if they wish, giving an impression of verification, although these have no official meaning. (Much like Twitter’s revised verification system! But at no cost!)

Is Mastodon here to stay?

As of summer 2025, Mastodon has fewer than one million monthly active users, with about 10 million registered accounts — which highlights that Mastodon is significantly smaller than X, which had an estimated 132 million daily active users. Nevertheless, social networks vary considerably, and you may discover that you prefer discussing TTRPGs in a dedicated server over tweeting into the chaos. Alternatively, you might find this decentralized setup to be perplexing and choose to continue using X during the Muskening or switch to Bluesky, Threads, or something altogether different. It’s your journey!

I’m not sure I want to leave X. Can I cross-post from X to Mastodon?

Yes, it is possible through third-party tools. These require you to link your accounts on Twitter and Mastodon and configure the parameters accordingly. We have had success using Moa Party, which allows specific tweets or retweets to be cross-posted. Other options are available, including Mastodon Twitter Crossposter, also accessible on GitHub.

Can I find my Twitter friends on Mastodon?

Yes, you can do this with third-party tools. Many Mastodon users have explored tools like Fedifinder, Twitodon, and Debirdify, for instance.

Does Mastodon work with Bluesky and Threads?

Bluesky isn’t compatible — at least not unless it decides to adopt the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon. However, Bluesky plans to create its own networking protocol independently. There is skepticism within the development and open-source communities regarding whether Bluesky’s choice to forge its own path is genuinely based on its protocol’s benefits or if it aims to establish a standard it can control.

There are many existing protocols for decentralizing discourse, including ActivityPub, SSB, Matrix, & RSS. Each of these are successful in their own right, but none of them fully met the goals we had for a network that enables global long-term public conversations at scale.

— Bluesky (@bluesky) April 6, 2022

On the other hand, Threads does support ActivityPub, allowing users on Threads to share their posts with other ActivityPub servers, including Mastodon.