If you need a new smartwatch, compare the Apple Watch SE 2 to the original. Apple released a lower-priced Apple Watch on September 7.
Apple introduced the Apple Watch SE in 2020 for $279 (instead of $399). The Apple Watch 6 has an always-on display, ECG reader, and SpO2 sensor.
What are the Apple Watch SE (2022)’s new features? Hands-on experience shows considerable improvements. Series 8 and SE (2022) have the same chipset but cost $100 more. The original Apple Watch SE cost $299; this one is $249. Since Apple Watch 3 isn’t compatible with watchOS 9, the Apple Watch SE (2022) may be the best cheap option.
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Price
The 40mm Apple Watch SE priced $279/£269/AU$429 and the 44mm GPS-only variant cost $309/£299/AU$479. Cellular model cost $329/£319/AU$499.
Apple no longer sells these versions, focusing instead on the Apple Watch SE 2. If you want to buy the original Apple Watch SE, a third-party vendor will likely have discounts.
Apple Watch SE 2 GPS costs $249/£259/AU$399 and cellular costs $299/£299/AU$479. It’s cheaper than Apple Watch SE at launch.
Apple Watch costs vary by band and casing.
Winner: The Apple Watch SE 2 is cheaper than the Apple Watch SE unless it’s on sale.
Design
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE looks like every Apple Watch since 2018.
The Digital Crown has the same curved shape as the OLED display (more on that later).
The power / multitasking button helps you access recently-opened programmes.
The design isn’t cheapened.
The Watch SE’s green heart rate LEDs bulge slightly but aren’t felt on the wrist.
2020’s Solo Loop looks great. It’s a silicone (or braided silicon) loop that stretches around your hand to wear the Watch SE.
Our Apple Watch SE was a bangle after Apple shipped us the largest and third-largest sizes.
People used to go to an Apple Store to get fitted, but in today’s Covid world, that’s less common; the alternative is to print off a paper sizing guide, which seems onerous.
You’ll always find an alternative band to suit you, but they’re expensive and difficult to put on and take off. Apple needs an easier-to-replace strap.
The Apple Watch SE lacks additional colours, unlike the Apple Watch 6. Cook’s Crew keeps the red colour for the flagship Watch to entice purchasers to spend more. Gold, silver, and space grey are Watch SE colours.
Apple Watch SE 2
This is Apple’s smallest watch, measuring 40mm and 44mm.
It has the Digital Crown and power/app button on the right and a crystal-covered heart rate sensor on the back, but this has been upgraded with the Watch SE 2.
Using ‘nylon-infused’ material, Apple made the Watch SE 2’s back match the aluminium frame, making it look more unified off the wrist. It’s not a major adjustment, but it’ll look better out of the box.
Wearing the Watch SE 2 is relatively normal for anyone who’s used an Apple Watch: it’s lightweight, the screen is legible (and as bright as the Watch 8), and it’s easy to swipe through and engage with apps on the go.
If you’re selecting between the Watch SE 2 and the Watch 8, you’re missing a few crucial things: no extra sensors for temperature, blood oxygen, or ECG monitoring, and a smaller, always-on screen. For many, these won’t be big losses, especially given the cheaper price.
You do receive automated car crash detection, which alerts emergency services if you’re in an accident.
Again, we couldn’t verify this, but the enhanced gyroscope and accelerometer found in more costly watches make it possible.
Battery Life
Apple Watch SE battery life is longer than Apple claims. The brand claims 18 hours of battery life, but you’ll get far more.
Due to the Watch SE’s off-most-of-the-time display, we got 24-36 hours of use with a full charge, even when using the GPS for 45 minutes to two hours every day.
Despite having the outdated S5 chipset, the Watch SE had better battery life than the Watch 5 at launch because to the display and OS enhancements.
The SE lacks heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, which can drain the battery.
We say’most’ since watchOS 7’s new sleep monitoring feature has issues.
24 hours is a hard battery life number for sleep tracking. Charging the Watch SE to 100% from empty should take about two and a half hours (we timed it closer to two). If you don’t want to charge it overnight, that’s a tough time frame to find during the day.
You’ll wind up’spot-charging’ here and there to keep your Watch topped off; and unless you have a routine that makes that easy at the same time each day, you’ll fast need to charge it overnight every few days, losing sleep data.
By slotting in the new S8 chip, Apple has played a masterstroke. The ‘cheap’ Apple Watch now includes quick charging and low-power mode.
The Watch SE 2 is only designed to last 18 hours on a single charge. Therefore you can stretch it to a couple of days if you’re not working out every day. Even if you are, a quick top-up will be easier with the faster charger.
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