At a look
Professional’s Score
Execs
- Good worth
- Stable characteristic set
- Nice integration with iPhone
Cons
- No always-on show
- So-so battery life
Our Verdict
The second-gen Apple Watch SE does every little thing you want an Apple Watch to do with not one of the further options that makes different fashions way more costly.
Value When Reviewed
$249 (GPS solely)
Finest Costs As we speak: Apple Watch SE (2nd technology)
$249
$249.00
The principle factor you might want to know concerning the 2022 Apple Watch SE is that for $279/£259/€299, it’s most likely all of the Apple Watch you want.
The Apple Watch Collection 8 and Apple Watch Extremely pack in additional options, however a better and terribly excessive asking worth respectively in comparison with the SE.
As entry-level tech merchandise go, the Apple Watch SE nails the temporary by having each important characteristic from the dearer fashions and leaving out all of the options that most individuals received’t need – or use – within the first place.
Design & construct
- 40mm and 44mm sizes
- Premium supplies
- Common band compatibility
Though it’s the most affordable Apple Watch, the SE doesn’t really feel low cost. That is nonetheless a premium constructed and feeling product created from aluminium in both the starlight (gold) of my assessment unit, midnight or silver.
The underside of the watch that homes the center charge sensor and sits in opposition to your wrist is created from a nylon composite and matches the color of the metallic casing.
If you need a stainless-steel or titanium Watch you’ll must go for the Collection 8 as a substitute, although you may get a Nike model of the SE if you wish to get your fingers on one of many Nike-branded straps.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
The SE has an analogous design to the older Apple Watch Collection 4 and 5, with decent-sized shows however ones with bigger bezels than on the newer Collection 6, Collection 7, and eight.
I reviewed the smaller 40mm model, which at first felt too small in comparison with different smartwatches and Apple Watches I had beforehand worn. After a few weeks although I very a lot loved this extra compact measurement.
The principle benefit of the bigger 44mm mannequin is the bigger display and battery, however Apple pleasingly has stored all its official Watch bands full appropriate with each mannequin supplied you purchase the appropriate measurement.
The Watch is light-weight at simply 27.8g with out the strap for the 40mm mannequin and 33g for the 44mm. I quickly forgot I used to be sporting it (in a great way), and it’s small and discreet sufficient that I didn’t thoughts sleeping with it on to trace my sleep, nevertheless it’s not as slim or refined as a skinny exercise tracker such because the Fitbit Encourage 3.
Apart from the Digital Crown wheel, there’s one button on the identical aspect for accessing the app tray and different menus, whereas a mic and speaker are housed in a slit on the left edge.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Display screen & audio
- Larger bezels than different Watches
- Superb show
- Speaker OK for calls
The SE has a pin-sharp OLED show that excellently produces vibrant color all set in opposition to a black background. This has all the time been Apple’s method with the Watch, and it nonetheless appears to be like stylish. Using black on an OLED display saves battery life too, as lit white pixels use extra energy.
Apple makes use of sturdy Ion-X glass that hasn’t picked up any scratches in my time with it, nevertheless it’s not as sturdy because the sapphire screens on the metal and titanium Collection 8 fashions.
Even on the small 40mm display I discovered poking concerning the interface no concern, and mixed with the Digital Crown scroll wheel, going via messages and menus is intuitive. Like a cellphone, you ping out and in of apps. A swipe down for notifications and a swipe up from a management panel. It’s a mini iPhone in your wrist.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
You’ll be able to bump the textual content measurement up if you really want, however the show is massive sufficient to indicate full watch faces with many app icons and problems.
The largest draw back to choosing the SE is it doesn’t have an always-on show. When not in use, the display is a clean black. All different fashions of Watch Apple sells have an always-on display that exhibits the time and different info in a low-power state when the gadget will not be purposefully risen to take a look at.
It means in case you look down on the SE you’ll be able to’t see the time, you need to elevate your arm to show the display on or faucet the display. It’s a small inconvenience.
There’s a small speaker grille on the left of the watch. The audio is surprisingly loud and crisp, adequate to take cellphone calls on in a quiet sufficient setting. Although the Watch can retailer music and podcasts, you’ll be able to’t play these via the speaker and should as a substitute pair wi-fi headphones.
I often used the Watch on vibrate mode solely, however in case you maintain sounds on you get a pleasing ‘ping’ sound once you get notifications, although you’ll be able to’t customise the sound – it’s the identical for each app.
Specs & efficiency
- Similar chip as Collection 8
- Very responsive
- 32GB storage
For the value, it’s nice that the SE 2022 has the identical S8 chipset because the dearer Apple Watch Collection 8. In reality, all of the {hardware} options are the identical together with Apple’s second-generation coronary heart sensor, the W3 wi-fi chip for connectivity, and nice new options equivalent to worldwide emergency calling and worldwide roaming – although the latter two are solely on the mobile model of the Watch.
The SE lacks the U1 chip discovered on the Collection 6 and later, however contemplating it doesn’t actually do a lot on the Apple Watch proper now, it’s not a giant loss in my e-book. You’ll be able to nonetheless discover the watch utilizing the Discover My app.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
It’s additionally waterproof to 50 metres, is IP6X dustproof, and has a really beneficiant 32GB of storage. You’ll be able to obtain audio from Apple Music, Podcasts, and Books onto the Watch and pay attention with out your cellphone utilizing headphones (Apple hopes AirPods, naturally). You can even obtain songs from Spotify, nevertheless it’s a lot much less dependable than utilizing Apple’s companies.
I loved utilizing NFC for cell funds with Apple Pay, and the Specific Mode characteristic to be used on public transport is nice – you’ll be able to rapidly contact the Watch to the contactless card reader on buses and Tubes in London to pay with out having to double faucet the operate button as you often do for different funds.
The guts charge sensor on the underside is correct and dependable whether or not you’re sleeping or on a 5k run. If you need extra sensors to measure blood oxygen, ECG, or temperature, you’ll must go for the Collection 8.
A mobile mannequin is accessible for each sizes of Look ahead to an extra price, however it can solely work with sure service suppliers and you must contact them to get it arrange. As soon as up and operating, you’ll be able to take calls, play music to headphones, and obtain messages and alerts over a 4G connection when not linked to your cellphone.
For those who get the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi-only mannequin then you need to keep linked to your cellphone or Wi-Fi to obtain alerts always – however you’ll be able to nonetheless monitor train utilizing GPS and hearken to audio offline in case you depart your cellphone at house.
Software program & options
- Superlative integration with iPhone
- Nice third-party app help
- Good security options
Whereas Apple has not a lot modified the design of the Watch for the reason that first model, we at the moment are as much as watchOS 9 for the software program, and it’s a lot improved. You get the identical model on the Apple Watch SE as all different appropriate fashions, with many various wonderful watch faces to show as a lot or as little info as you need.
Notifications ping pleasantly in your wrist as they arrive in tandem along with your iPhone. Apple has made positive the 2 units work in seamless tandem and the pairing stays a greater total expertise than any Android equal.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Little issues just like the cellphone or Watch mirroring Do Not Disturb mode irrespective of which gadget you turned it on or off on is a straightforward contact that the Google Pixel Watch fails to do when paired with an Android cellphone.
There’s additionally a enjoyable walkie-talkie mode to rapidly chat to household or mates, enjoyable iPhone options like Memoji, and the most effective third-party app integration of any wearable. Many, equivalent to good house apps or airline apps are pretty naked bones, however with the latter, you’ll be able to often simply entry your boarding move QR code within the app or through Pockets.
You’ll be able to even management the temperature of your tea out of your wrist you probably have an Ember mug, or subtly test your financial institution stability earlier than splitting that meal out with mates that landed a few days earlier than payday.
Although it misses out on some headline options, the SE does get crash detection, the characteristic that may inform you probably have been in a automotive accident and might name emergency companies robotically, additionally triangulating your location.
Apple additionally markets the SE as the perfect Apple Watch for a kid or aged member of the family due to its Household Setup service that permits you to give a mobile Watch to them to speak with with out them having or needing it to be linked to an iPhone.
Health & monitoring
- Good GPS monitoring
- Coronary heart charge sensor correct
- Cycle monitoring
The Apple Watch works very effectively as a wrist laptop nevertheless it’s additionally an excellent health tracker. With built-in GPS you’ll be able to monitor runs simply, and I discover Apple’s in-run info display essentially the most readable and helpful even in comparison with devoted health watches from Polar and Garmin.
With watchOS 9 now you can get in-run audio and visible updates on lap occasions, and it’s simple to manage music quantity and playback on a second display a swipe away.
You’ll be able to monitor a plethora of workouts from strolling to swimming, mountain climbing to HIIT periods, yoga to tai chi. A few of these don’t monitor particular motion however assist you to view total time and coronary heart charge metrics by completely different actions within the Health app in your iPhone.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Different metrics are stored within the Well being app, equivalent to Sleep knowledge, and I’m glad Apple doesn’t unfold your knowledge over greater than these two as it may be a bit overwhelming and complicated to seek out sure issues.
Sleep monitoring is kind of related to what’s discovered on Fitbit. Combining motion and coronary heart charge, the SE provides you a graph of your sleep levels – deep, core, REM, and awake – and signifies how effectively you slept. Although you most likely already know in case you slept effectively or not.
The Watch may use your exercise and coronary heart charge knowledge to estimate your degree of cardio health and in case you enter knowledge it might probably additionally estimate your ovulation for cycle monitoring of your interval. It is a useful instrument however ought to solely be used as a information, and the temperature sensor on the Collection 8 signifies that watch is healthier suited to you than the SE if you wish to use cycle monitoring.
You don’t must pay a subscription to entry any of the primary knowledge factors you get out of your Watch, a giant benefit over Fitbit, which prices for its Premium service and retains some knowledge locked away in case you don’t. However Apple does cost for Health+, a video service that guides you thru exercises. You get a three-month free trial once you purchase an Apple Watch.
Battery life & charging
- 1-2 days on a cost
- Extra juice on 44mm mannequin
With the caveat that I reviewed the smaller mannequin, battery life on the Apple Watch SE is OK. It will get me via a day and night time of monitoring comfortably if I don’t use GPS or stream music from it to my AirPods.
Utilizing extra juice will see the facility run down, as with each smartwatch, and if you wish to use sleep monitoring you might need to chuck it on the little puck charger earlier than mattress. Be aware that USB-C charging cable comes within the field, however there’s no brick.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
The SE has higher battery life than the Google Pixel Watch, however lower than the bigger 44mm SE, which I’d advocate over the smaller one for its battery life and greater show.
Although they don’t have nearly as good integration with the iPhone for apps and notifications, if you would like a health watch with higher battery life then the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 price much less and about the identical respectively because the Apple Watch SE however can go for 3 to 5 days away from a charger.
The SE does include Low Energy Mode, so if you end up with out a lot juice you’ll be able to flip that on and nonetheless have full monitoring, fall detection, and different features whereas turning off others to protect battery.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Value & availability
The 40mm Apple Watch SE prices $249/£259/€299, which is an outstanding worth for what you get.
Even at $279/£299/€339 the 44mm remains to be very effectively priced contemplating it has the important options of the Collection 8.
You’ll must pay extra for each fashions if you would like the mobile model, and the costs can go up relying on which strap you buy.
The principle miss for the SE is the always-on show, which is helpful and makes the product look extra premium. Apart from that, the Apple Watch SE may be very absolutely featured.
You would possibly choose spending $229.99/£199.99/€229.95 on a Fitbit Versa 4 to get a lovely health tracker in watch type, however you miss out on a heck of quite a lot of Apple’s wonderful premium options and mainly all third-party apps.
In case you are actually into health you would possibly choose a devoted sports activities watch just like the Polar Pacer, which has longer battery life and much more health options.
Verdict
The Apple Watch SE is the most effective Apple Watch choice for most individuals with an iPhone who desire a smartwatch. It is extremely moderately priced – not one thing we will typically genuinely say about Apple {hardware} merchandise.
It has most of the options of the dearer Apple Watch Collection 8, whereas sustaining a contemporary design with the identical chipset and stable battery life – for an Apple Watch, that’s.
For those who equally worth good options like third-party app integration, music storage, contactless funds and full health monitoring, the Apple Watch remains to be the most effective smartwatch you probably have an iPhone. The SE does every little thing surprisingly effectively contemplating it’s the most affordable one.
Specs
- 40/44mm casings
- IP6X mud resistant
- 50ATM water resistance
- Coronary heart charge monitoring
- Cycle monitoring
- Automotive crash detection
- GPS
- Barometer
- All the time-on altimeter
- Non-compulsory mobile connectivity with worldwide roaming
- 18-hour battery life
- Longer with Low Energy mode