The Apple Watch SE offers all of the company’s main smartwatch features at a lower price, with few compromises.
It is the first departure from the standard path of Apple smartwatches that we have seen since the launch in 2014. It doesn’t fit into the simple Series 1-6 generations we have seen so far. Of course, the Apple Watch Series 6 is still there and the Apple Watch Series 3 sticks around. That means there are now officially three Apple Watch models to choose from.
But don’t call it a “cheap Apple Watch”.
The Apple Watch SE is still quite expensive, starting at 309 Euro for the smaller 40 mm model. Perhaps the best way to describe it is “the Apple Watch for the masses”. A real contender for the best smartwatch money can buy, in terms of both price and experience.
While ECG and SpO2 are exciting additions in terms of progress, we think many people will happily go without them to save a third of the price. And the Apple Watch SE gives them that option.
Design
This shouldn’t take long, because the Apple Watch SE is physically identical to the Series 6 and Series 5.
While the Series 3 uses the older, boxier shape with the smaller display, the Apple Watch SE comes with the shape introduced with the Series 4. It is a nicer device in almost every respect, and we recommend paying extra to get the SE rather than the 3.
The larger screen allows for more complications on watch faces and more information on screen – and it comes in both 40 mm and 44 mm models.
You get a smaller choice of finishes with the Apple Watch SE. You can only get aluminium, in gold, space grey or silver. The new colours are reserved for the Series 6, and you won’t get stainless steel.
The SE watch uses the S5 processor, designed for the Series 5, so everything feels fast and snappy. It is twice as fast as the Series 3, although we’d say you would only notice it when using heavier apps.
There is no Always On Display; only the Series 6 has it. We got used to the always-on display with the Series 5 and it feels like a step backwards. Having a dark screen on your wrist feels a bit old school, even though Apple’s wrist-raise detection is almost perfect. This is probably the compromise people will feel most keenly.
Once again, you get more storage on the Apple Watch SE than on the Series 3, with 32 GB available for music and media.
The number of watch faces has grown again with watchOS 7 and there is more choice than ever. Apple still takes a “less is more” approach, but it lets you customise most faces with first- and third-party complications. These are small pieces of information or quick shortcuts to apps, right from the watch face, such as your fitness goal progress or battery information.
Apple Watch SE: health and fitness
Where the Apple Watch SE differs from the Series 6 (and the Series 5) is in what you don’t get.
There is no ECG or SpO2 sensor, so if you are looking to maximise your health data, the SE watch falls short.
But it is still an excellent fitness watch.
To begin with there are the three Activity rings – calories, exercise minutes and standing time – which are a powerful fitness motivator. And if that isn’t enough, you can compete with friends in weekly challenges.
There is built-in GPS, which locks on automatically when you start an activity, and the Workout app keeps growing with every watchOS update. It tracks most running and cycling disciplines as well as swimming, and now includes tennis, yoga, functional strength training and more.
There is still a heart rate monitor, of course, and it provides plenty of health data. It analyses your workouts and keeps an eye on you 24/7. It records resting heart rate data on the watch and in the Apple Health app, which is an important statistic to keep track of.
You also get high and low heart rate alerts, which have proved to be lifesavers. Fall detection comes from the Series 5, thanks to the advanced accelerometer introduced there. If you fall and don’t get up, the Apple Watch will call the emergency services for you.
And there are noise notifications too, which will warn you if your surroundings could damage your hearing. And although it isn’t a lifesaver, the always-on altimeter has been there since the Series 6, so you can see your ascent and descent live when you run or hike.
Sleep tracking
Sleep tracking was only recently introduced for the first time with watchOS 7, so naturally it makes an appearance here.
It is nowhere near as detailed as the data you will find on Fitbit or other competitors. But there is enough to help you improve your sleep. You can also set an alarm, which uses the watch’s haptic feedback to wake you.
It is not a smart wake-up feature like the ones you will find on Fitbit and Withings, which use your sleep cycle to wake you gently. But the benefit of those features is debatable, while the Apple Watch once again strips things back to keep them simple and essential.
Smartwatch features
It is easy to get carried away with the Apple Watch’s fitness, sports and health features and forget that it is a great wrist companion.
And it is that versatility that makes it the best smartwatch around.
Personally, I don’t like getting lots of notifications on my wrist, so it is easy to cut them down to the essentials. Likewise, I keep the number of apps low too. But the Apple Watch App Store selection is unrivalled. In essence, the Apple Watch can be as active or passive on your wrist as you need it to be, and that is one of its greatest strengths.
Of course you have Apple Pay on your wrist. And there are LTE options for the Apple Watch SE, if you want a data connection for streaming music and podcasts, taking calls from your iPhone and all that jazz.
Apple Watch SE: battery life
There is no real change in battery life on the Apple Watch SE and, despite the lack of an always-on display, you still get around 18 hours, according to Apple.
This has always been the main complaint about the Apple Watch and, for those who need more, you now have Fitbit, Garmin and Huawei offering it.
We have never had a big problem with Apple’s one-day battery life, thanks to easy overnight charging, but sleep tracking creates a problem.
That is because there is now no “empty” moment in the day to charge.
Now you have to make sure you put it on the charger as soon as you wake up (our preferred time) or before you go to bed. It is a little annoying and, unlike before, charging takes active thought.
The good news is that charging is quick. The Series 6 cut its charging time to 1.5 hours and the Apple Watch SE isn’t far off that either.
It isn’t the best Apple Watch, but it is the easiest to recommend. The Apple Watch SE is far from a “cheap Apple Watch”. It offers the brilliant core experience most people want, at a lower price. It lets the Series 6 become a more aggressive and complete health watch, allowing more people to enjoy the excellent fitness and sports tracking, apps, smart features and Apple Pay.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
