Too Close to Call
VS
Score Comparison
Criteria
Whoop 5.0
Apple Watch SE 3
Overall Score
8.7
8.6
Health Insights & AI
9.8
8.5
Sleep Tracking
9.5
8.2
Battery Life
7.5
6.5
Value for Money
6.5
8.0
Design & Comfort
8.5
9.0
Activity Tracking
8.5
8.8
App & Ecosystem
9.0
9.5
Pricing & Features
Specification
Whoop 5.0
Apple Watch SE 3
Price
$199/yr
$249
Released
15-Jan-25
09-Sep-25
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Whoop 5.0
Serious athletes and biohackers wanting the deepest recovery analytics
Whoop 5.0 delivers unparalleled recovery insights for dedicated athletes willing to invest in a subscription-based health platform.
Strengths
- Industry-leading recovery and strain insights
- Healthspan feature tracks physiological age
- Journal correlates behaviors with metrics
- Screenless design eliminates distractions
Limitations
- Expensive subscription ($199-359/year required)
- Device stops working without subscription
- No display for real-time data
When to Choose Apple Watch SE 3
iPhone users wanting the best smartwatch-fitness hybrid without premium pricing
Apple Watch SE 3 delivers nearly everything the Series 11 offers at $150 less, making it the smartwatch to beat for iPhone users.
Strengths
- Workout Buddy AI provides spoken motivation
- Always-on display (new for SE)
- Seamless iPhone integration
- Vast App Store ecosystem
Limitations
- Only 1-2 day battery life
- iPhone required
- No ECG or blood oxygen
