The most affordable smartwatch in Apple’s lineup is the Watch SE. A speedier processor, a new motion sensor for Crash Detection, and much longer battery life are among the great under-the-hood improvements in the second-generation SE, which has the same design as its predecessor but costs $30 less. you can read our article on Apple Watch SE review. It does not have the Series 8’s conveniences, such as an always-on display and sensors for measuring body temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). 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 only differences between the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6 are the latter’s colours and materials. Silver, space gray, gold, blue, and red are just a few of the colours available for the Series 6, while only silver, space gray, and gold are available for the SE. Similar to how the Series 6 is offered in aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel, the SE is only offered in aluminum. Everything else remains unchanged. The Watch’s design has remained largely unchanged for a number of years at this time, so there isn’t much to say about it (since the Series 4). There are two sizes of the Apple Watch SE: 40mm and 44mm. It can be ordered with a variety of straps and, if desired, LTE for cellular connectivity. The 44mm space grey (GPS) model with the red silicone strap was the one we examined. (We were unable to secure one of the newest Solo Loop acts.) The Apple Watch SE fits us well in terms of both size and fit. 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
As a replacement for the entry-level Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE is a respectable upgrade. Its display may not be as near to the edge as the Watch Series 8 or Series 7 for that matter, but it still has 30% 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 the 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. Sadly, an Always-On Retina display is still absent from the 2022 Watch SE. Instead of having a black screen when the display is off, the Always-On display enables you to see certain bits of information always, such as the time or Activity Rings. However, it would have been nice to see it in this entry-level device in 2022. It’s not a feature that everyone will miss, and you can live without it – especially if you’re coming from the Series 3 which also didn’t have it.
Tracking
As opposed to a pure fitness device from the likes of Garmin and, to some extent, Fitbit, the Apple Watch has always placed a greater emphasis on overall health. And this is still true with this new, more affordable model. Similar to the Series 6, the Apple Watch SE has an always-on altimeter, gyroscope, and accelerometer. Additionally, it has features not found on the Apple Watch 3 like fall detection, noise monitoring, emergency SOS, and international emergency calling. The Apple Watch SE lacks blood oxygen (SpO2) 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. also you will learn our article on Apple Watch SE review. Additionally, because the SpO2 sensor on the Apple Watch 6 has not received FDA approval, users should not regard it as a medical device. The ECG app, which is included with the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch 5, allows you to check your heart rate on-the-go, is also absent from 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. It 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 Watch SE is unobtrusive and comfortable to wear while in bed. The majority of the features are accessible on the Watch Series 4 and later, so it’s important to keep in mind that the software isn’t limited to the Watch SE, Watch Series 8, or Watch Ultra. Although the user experience is very similar across the various models, the Watch SE lacks the skin temperature sensor, SpO2 sensor, and electrical heart rate sensor that are present in the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra. Even though the Watch Ultra has some additional features like built-in diving capabilities, the interface is largely the same. The Watch SE has smartphone notifications, GymKit support, Apple Pay—one of the nicest features on an Apple Watch—Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall detection, and noise monitoring, just like the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra. Additionally, it provides notifications for high and low heart rates as well as irregular cardiac rhythms. Additionally, there is multi-sport tracking, which includes running, swimming, and cycling. The Watch SE (2022) excels at all of these activities, and there are many excellent apps available in the Apple Watch App Store. Additional features include the Car Crash feature and International Roaming features. Since the Watch SE lacks some features, it is reasonable to say that it has the majority of the features that the majority of users will require.
Apple Watch SE review: Performance
No other devices outside iPhones and Android phones can be linked with Apple Watches. The Watch 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. From the home screen, swipe down to view your alerts and up to access the quick toggles. To display the installed apps, you must press the digital crown. The multitasking button is located below the digital crown. The Watch SE has 32GB of storage, so you can install many apps and store music on it. All of the Apple Watch SE’s available app alternatives are downloaded when it is first set up. We observed no lag and a well-polished user interface. Incoming call or message haptic signals were loud enough to get our attention. 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, there will be times when you will miss the always-on screen, but there will also be times when you will be glad it isn’t there because it uses a little bit more battery power. Apple claims that the Watch SE 2 has the same 18 hours of battery life as the Series 8, but in my opinion, this is on the conservative side unless you’re tracking GPS workouts every day. 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. also you can check our article on Apple Watch SE review. You might want to stop tracking your sleep as well because 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
Whether you choose the GPS-only or cellular variant of the Apple Watch SE, as well as whether you choose the straightforward Solo Loop / Sport band or the more opulent Braided Solo Loop band, will affect the pricing. The Solo Loop prototypes that were given to us were regrettably a touch too big on our wrists. However, there was something lot more enjoyable about putting them on as opposed to fumbling with a buckle. The Apple Watch SE is now accessible at the Apple Store or online.
Conclusion
Almost a smashing success, the Apple Watch SE is let down by one too many shortcuts. It has each of the key characteristics that make an Apple Watch great. Good battery life, crisp haptics, excellent notifications, and quick performance. Although the workout tracking is reliable, the sleep tracking isn’t as good as the other fantastic health monitoring capabilities. The absence of blood oxygen saturation and ECG sensors is only really 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.
