Apple Watch SE 3 vs Garmin Lily 2
The Apple Watch SE 3 and the Garmin Lily 2 are two different answers to the same everyday smartwatch brief, each with its own set of priorities. This one has a front-runner. The Garmin Lily 2 wins 1 of 3 compared areas, and battery life is where the difference is hardest to miss.
At a glance
- Health & Fitness Sensors Tie
- Battery Life Garmin Lily 2 wins
- Smart Features & Connectivity Apple Watch SE 3 wins
- Price Apple Watch SE 3 wins
- Health & Fitness Sensors3.3
- Smart Features & Connectivity10.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors3.3
- Smart Features & Connectivity0.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Garmin Lily 2 has 567% more rated battery life
The Apple Watch SE 3 lists 18 h; the Garmin Lily 2 comes in at 5 days. That’s not a rounding error. Ratings assume typical use; GPS workouts and always-on screens will shorten both.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 has a cellular option
You won’t find this on the Garmin Lily 2. With the Apple Watch SE 3, it’s part of the package. Cellular models usually cost more and need a plan, so it’s only worth it if you’ll use the freedom.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 has a 9 mm larger case
The Apple Watch SE 3 has the larger figure, 44 mm to 35 mm. Whether that helps depends entirely on you. Case size is as much about fit and style as function; what suits your wrist matters more than the numbers.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 has contactless payments
Some features are nice extras; for some people, contactless payments is a deal-breaker. Only the Apple Watch SE 3 has it. Contactless payments let you pay with a tap of your wrist, which is handy when your phone is in a bag or you’re out on a run.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch SE 3 44 mm × 0.42 in
- Garmin Lily 2 35 mm
Size is a trade-off, not a score: the Apple Watch SE 3 is larger, the Garmin Lily 2 more compact.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 35 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 35 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Display
We don’t score this area directly, because the display specs are labels rather than measurements. The table shows what each lists.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Too close to call
Both the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Garmin Lily 2 cover health & fitness sensors equally well on paper. The takeaway: health & fitness sensors is not where these two differ.
Battery Life
Garmin Lily 2 leads
Few areas are as clear-cut as this one: the Garmin Lily 2 leads the battery life section with room to spare. The Garmin Lily 2 wins here with 567% more rated battery life. The Garmin Lily 2 is rated to last longer between charges, a big deal on trips and long weekends. For battery life, the Garmin Lily 2 is the one to beat.
Rated battery life
Apple Watch SE 3: 18 h Garmin Lily 2: 5 days Longer battery life means fewer nights on the charger, which also makes sleep tracking easier.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Apple Watch SE 3 leads
The Apple Watch SE 3 edges the smart features & connectivity section, though the Garmin Lily 2 stays close. On its side, the Apple Watch SE 3 has a cellular option. With the Apple Watch SE 3, you can leave your phone at home on a run; the Garmin Lily 2 depends on it for connectivity. So if smart features & connectivity tops your list, lean toward the Apple Watch SE 3.
Cellular option
Apple Watch SE 3: yes Garmin Lily 2: no A cellular option lets the watch take calls, receive messages and stream music without your phone nearby.
Contactless payments
Apple Watch SE 3: yes Garmin Lily 2: no The Apple Watch SE 3 supports tap-to-pay; the Garmin Lily 2 doesn’t.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | Hidden touchscreen under patterned lens |
| Resolution (largest) | 368 x 448 | N/A (not specified) |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | N/A (not specified) |
| Always-on display | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
Health & Fitness Sensors
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | N/A (not specified) |
| Blood oxygen | No | N/A (not specified) |
| Skin temperature | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
| GPS | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) | Connected GPS (uses phone) |
| Dual-frequency GPS | No | No |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 18 h | 5 days (winner) |
| Rated life in low-power modeManufacturer rating | 32 h Shortest low-power mode | N/A (not specified) |
| Charging | Fast charging, 0 to 80% in about 45 min | N/A (not specified) |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S10 | N/A (not specified) |
| Storage | 64 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| Cellular option | Yes (winner) | No |
| Contactless payments | Yes (winner) | No |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iPhone and Android |
| Software | watchOS | Garmin proprietary |
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 35 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 35 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Lily 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $249 | $250 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Launch prices sit $1 apart, so budget is unlikely to be the deciding factor. Step up by $1 to the Garmin Lily 2 and you gain 567% more rated battery life.
Launch prices in the US as of September 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Apple Watch SE 3 if…
- you want a cellular option
- you like paying with a tap of your wrist
- you don’t need the extras that cost $1 more
Choose the Garmin Lily 2 if…
- you want the longer rated battery life (5 days vs 18 h)
- you want the more compact watch
- you prefer staying with Garmin
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Garmin Lily 2?
The Garmin Lily 2 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you need a cellular option, which only the Apple Watch SE 3 offers.
Which has better battery life, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Garmin Lily 2?
The Garmin Lily 2 does better here. It lists 5 days for rated battery life, while the Apple Watch SE 3 lists 18 h.
Is the Apple Watch SE 3 bigger than the Garmin Lily 2?
The larger model here is the Apple Watch SE 3 (0.42 in); the Garmin Lily 2 is more compact at 35 mm.
Is the Apple Watch SE 3 cheaper than the Garmin Lily 2?
Going by launch prices, the Apple Watch SE 3 costs $1 less than the Garmin Lily 2. Prices as of September 2025; current offers may differ.
Executive Summary
I read both spec sheets (the Apple Watch SE 3’s and the Garmin Lily 2’s) so you don’t have to. Honestly, 567% more rated battery life on the Garmin Lily 2 does a lot of the persuading for me. Fairness check: the Apple Watch SE 3 does come with a cellular option.
If you’d rather have strength in smart features & connectivity, go with the Apple Watch SE 3. If battery life is what you’d miss, go with the Garmin Lily 2.
My pick: if it were my money, the Garmin Lily 2, unless you’d rather have a cellular option on the Apple Watch SE 3.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.