In 2020, Apple finally introduced the Apple Watch SE, which serves as a middle ground between the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 3. Although this “Special Edition” doesn’t stand out too much from the new Series 6, it does offer many useful features at a more reasonable price. So, here is our Apple Watch SE review for you.
Design & Display
The SE display uses the same OLED display technology like other Apple Watch models. And, there are also 2 sizes, which are 40mm and 44mm.
Additionally, the Apple Watch SE comes in silver, gold, and space gray with aluminum finish. Even though it doesn’t have many color options like Series 6, you can still spice up the look with different band options.
New Features
While Apple Watch SE lacks the ECG and blood oxygen apps like Series 6, it still offers plenty of health features. These include fall detection and heart health notifications, which are very helpful when caring for aging parents.
Fall Detection
If a user has taken a fall and remains motionless for a certain amount of time, the watch will automatically call emergency services and send the GPS coordinates to emergency contacts.
Heart Health Notifications
With this feature, the watch lets you know if you experience an abnormally low or high heart rate. Also, it can detect irregular heart rhythms that might indicate atrial fibrillation (aFib), a serious heart condition.
Other Features
The Apple Watch SE can even keep track of noise levels and sends you a notification when it detects levels that could be harmful to your hearing. Moreover, the sleep tracking is useful, even if it’s not as fully-featured as dedicated sleep monitors.
With the new Family Setup feature which allows other family members to take advantage of various features, including location notifications, parental controls, and texting even if they don’t have an iPhone, buying the Watch SE for a non-iPhone user becomes a relatively straightforward proposition.
Battery Life
While the battery hasn’t improved significantly compared to its predecessors, Apple says you can get around 18 hours of use with the Apple Watch SE.
Price
The price of the Apple Watch SE depends on whether you choose the GPS-only version or the cellular edition. Also, the price is slightly different if you prefer the elegant Braided Solo Loop to the Solo Loop / Sport band. Apple Watch SE is available now at physical Apple Stores or online.
Apple Watch SE prices – Solo Loop / Sport Band
| Region | 40mm GPS | 40mm GPS+LTE | 44mm GPS | 44mm GPS+LTE |
| US | $279 | $329 | $309 | $359 |
| UK | £269 | £319 | £299 | £349 |
| Australia | AU$429 | AU$499 | AU$479 | AU$549 |
Apple Watch SE prices – Braided Solo Loop
| Region | 40mm GPS | 40mm GPS+LTE | 44mm GPS | 44mm GPS+LTE |
| US | $329 | $379 | $359 | $409 |
| UK | £319 | £369 | £349 | £399 |
| Australia | AU$499 | AU$569 | AU$549 | AU$619 |
Pros
- Premium design
- Excellent iPhone companion
- Great range of features
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks always-on display
- Short battery life (common issue of all Apple watches)
- No Blood Oxygen apps
The Verdict
If you need a high-end smartwatch at a reasonable price, then the Watch SE is the one to go for! It’s got all the useful features of the Apple Watch 6, but at much cheaper rate. Unfortunately, for those who’ve loved the always-on display since the days of the Watch 5 and 6, this is not something we recommend to you. But, if fitness is all that matters to you, then the SE is really worth your shot.
Let us know what you think about Apple Watch SE in the comments!
