The Apple Watch SE is the most affordable smartwatch in the company’s lineup, and it has some great under-the-hood improvements. The speedier processor, a new motion sensor for Crash Detection, and much longer battery life are among the best features. You can read our full review of the Apple Watch SE here.
The Series 8 is our top pick for most Apple Watch buyers because it has a larger screen that is always on and more sophisticated health-tracking tools, but the second-generation SE is a respectable substitute for those on a tighter budget who still want to stay active, connected, and safe.
Design
The Apple Watch SE is a budget-friendly alternative to the more expensive Apple Watch Series 6. It has a silver finish and materials, while the Series 6 comes in space gray, gold, blue, and red. The only difference between the two watches is their colors and materials.
The Apple Watch Series 4 is a new model of the Watch that was released in September. It has a different design than the other watches and comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The 44mm space grey (GPS) model with the red silicone strap was the one we examined. The Apple Watch Series 4 has a different design than the other watches and comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The 44mm space grey (GPS) model with the red silicone strap was the one we examined. It can be ordered with a variety of straps, including a new Solo Loop strap, which we were unable to secure for review. ..
The Apple Watch SE is a good fit for most people. The edges never poked into our skin, and the underbelly is gently contoured for comfort. The stock silicone strap that came with our review unit has a feel that we don’t like. It has a smooth finish that is uncomfortable against your wrist. We much prefer one of the loops that resembles cloth. The silicone strap nevertheless provided a secure fit that wasn’t too tight. ..
Apple Watch SE review: Display
The Apple Watch SE is a better upgrade than the entry-level model. Its display is closer to the edge than the Series 3, and it has a larger screen than the Series 3. If you didn’t have the SE and Series 8 side by side, you probably wouldn’t notice that the SE’s display border measures 3mm instead of 1.7mm. However, anyone upgrading would immediately notice the distinction between the Watch Series 3 and Watch SE and be appreciative of its larger screen.
The new Watch SE maintains the same Retina LTPO OLED screen and resolutions as its predecessor in addition to having a display that is physically identical to that of the original SE. The 40mm model’s display is 324 x 394 pixels while the 44mm model’s display has a resolution of 368 x 448 pixels. The details on the display are lovely and crisp. Overall, the viewing experience is lovely because the colours are all very punchy, just like they were on the original SE, and the blacks are all very dark.
The 2022 Watch SE doesn’t have an Always-On Retina display, which is a shame because it would have been nice to see it in this entry-level device. However, if you’re coming from the Series 3 which also didn’t have it, then you can live without it.
Tracking
The new Apple Watch SE is a more affordable fitness device that has many features not found on the more expensive models. It has an altimeter, gyroscope, and accelerometer, as well as fall detection and noise monitoring.
The Apple Watch SE lacks blood oxygen monitoring, in contrast to the premium Apple Watch 6. This function isn’t as ground-breaking as Apple portrays it to be given that Garmin devices have offered it for many years, and the $50 Amazfit Band 5 comes with a SpO2 sensor. ..
The Apple Watch 6 does not have FDA approval, so users should not rely on it as a medical device. The ECG app, which is included with the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch 5, is not present on the Apple Watch SE. However, the SE can quietly monitor your heartbeat and notify you if it detects an irregular heartbeat. ..
Apple Watch SE review: Other features
The Apple Watch Series 3 is incompatible with watchOS 9, the most recent software release, which is used by the Apple Watch SE. The Series 3 has a wide range of functions, such as improved workout and health apps, more sophisticated sleep tracking, and many others. Although sleep tracking isn’t as sophisticated as devices like Fitbit and there is room for analysis improvement, it is generally very good and accurate in our experience. Additionally, the SE is unobtrusive and comfortable to wear while in bed. ..
The software is available on the Watch Series 4 and later, so it’s important to keep in mind that the Watch SE, Watch Series 8, or Watch Ultra doesn’t have all of the features available on the more expensive models. Although the user experience is very similar across the various models, the Watch SE lacks some of the features present on more expensive models like a skin temperature sensor, SpO2 sensor, and electrical heart rate sensor. Even though the Watch Ultra has some additional features like built-in diving capabilities, it has a largely similar interface. ..
The Watch SE has many features that are similar to the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra. Additionally, it has notifications for high and low heart rates, irregular cardiac rhythms, fall detection, and noise monitoring.
The Watch SE (2022) is a great watch for all types of users. It has many features that are not found on other watches, such as multi-sport tracking and the Car Crash feature. Additionally, it has an excellent app store and is very affordable.
Apple Watch SE review: Performance
The Apple Watch SE is the only device that can be linked with Apple Watches. The app on any recent iPhone can be used to scan a code on the Apple Watch SE’s display, making setup incredibly simple. Similar to how it was simple to set up LTE connectivity on the Watch SE, it only took a few taps. Although slightly different from WearOS, the Apple Watch SE’s user interface is quite simple to use.
The Apple Watch SE has a digital crown and a multitasking button. The crown can be used to view your alerts and quick toggles, as well as access the installed apps. The multitasking button allows you to switch between apps quickly. The watch also has a storage capacity of 32GB. All of the available app alternatives are downloaded when it is first set up. We observed no lag and a well-polished user interface.
Apple’s Breathe and Workout apps both utilize the taptic engine. When you elevate your wrist, the Apple Watch SE wakes up quickly. The standard “Hey Siri” command will activate Siri, or you can hold the Watch SE up to your face and speak the command. We needed to try again because sometimes this did not work as expected. When responding to notifications, you can either dictate your response or write it down one letter at a time on the screen. We were unable to reply to emails using the Outlook app, but you can reply to incoming SMS and WhatsApp messages. ..
Battery life
If you purchase the Apple Watch SE 2, you will have the option to disable the always-on screen. This can be useful if you want to conserve battery life, but it may be missed if you are used to having the always-on screen. The battery life for the SE 2 is claimed to be the same as that of the Series 8, but I believe this is conservative as GPS tracking may require more battery power. ..
The Apple Watch SE 2’s battery will last two full days with only one non-GPS recorded workout, all the normal notifications, a constant connection to your phone, and sleep monitoring. At the end of the second day, it might require Apple’s Low Power mode, which disables several functionalities to extend battery life, but not if you didn’t track your sleep.
The Apple Watch SE 2 charges slowly and it is best to charge it overnight. The magnetic charging puck is the same as in other Apple Watch models, but fast charging is not available, and it takes more than two hours to charge from a few percent to full capacity. The Series 8 charges completely in an hour less. ..
Price and configurations options
The new Apple Watch SE is available at the Apple Store or online. It has a GPS-only variant and a Solo Loop / Sport band, which will affect its pricing. The Solo Loop prototypes that we were given were regrettably a touch too big on our wrists, but there was something lot more enjoyable about putting them on as opposed to fumbling with a buckle.
Conclusion
The Apple Watch SE is a letdown because it doesn’t have any of the key features that make it an excellent choice for someone looking for a smartwatch. The battery life is poor, the haptics are poor, and the performance is slow.
The health tracking features of the Fitbit Flex are reliable, but not as good as other health monitoring capabilities. The lack of blood oxygen saturation and ECG sensors is a only a drawback if you’re looking for comprehensive monitoring performed manually; otherwise, you’d only stop your day to use them if you were particularly concerned about something, like your heart.
