Reviews You Can Rely On

Apple Watch SE Review

If you can live without ECG and high speed charging then this is a fantastic Apple wearable
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Apple Watch SE Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $279 List
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Manufacturer:   Apple
By Benjamin Hickok ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 5, 2024
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 10
  • Smart Function - 40% 9.3
  • Health - 30% 8.6
  • Battery Life - 20% 5.7
  • Display - 10% 7.7

Our Verdict

The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is an ideal solution for the budget-sensitive consumer seeking a smartwatch that is part of the Apple ecosystem. While it may not match the performance, lacks a few features like the double tap gesture, and its display quality and battery life aren't on par with Apple's more premium offerings, it is still an outstanding smartwatch, above and beyond the top offerings from less mature brands in the space.
REASONS TO BUY
Great value
Very accurate sensors
IOS App store
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow charging
Dimmest screen of the Apple Watches
Slower processor than other Apple watches

Compare to Similar Products

 
apple watch se
This Product
Apple Watch SE
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Buy in Smartwatches
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Android Smartwatch
  Best Buy Award
Best Buy Under $100
Price $279 List
$307.00 at Amazon
$330 List
$189.99 at Amazon
$350 List
$197.50 at Amazon
$350 List
$349.99 at Amazon
$90 List
$69.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line The most affordable model in Apple's lineup, but compromises very littleThis capable and beautiful model will please most, and is great for Android phone usersA performance upgrade for first generation usersA good model but not great enough to recommendIf you have reasonable expectations, you won't be disappointed by this affordable model
Rating Categories Apple Watch SE Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Google Pixel Watch 2 Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Amazfit BIP 5
Smart Function (40%)
9.3
8.8
8.0
7.3
4.6
Health (30%)
8.6
8.3
8.7
7.4
5.9
Battery Life (20%)
5.7
7.2
6.2
8.1
4.5
Display (10%)
7.7
8.8
6.9
5.3
4.8
Specs Apple Watch SE Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Google Pixel Watch 2 Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Amazfit BIP 5
Charge Time 125 min 83 min 71 min 70 min 110 min
Battery Life - Regular Use 27.8 hr 62.5 hr 34.5 hr 83.3 hr 33.3 hr
Battery Life - GPS 12.5 hr 9.1 hr 10.0 hr 9.1 hr 6.3 hr
Measured Weight 1.18 oz 1.17 oz 1.10 oz 1.58 oz 0.93 oz
Measured Dimensions 1.75" x 1.50" x 0.52" 1.69" x 1.75" x 0.51" 1.61" x 1.61" 0.56" 1.88" x 1.88" x 0.56" 1.81" x 1.50" x 0.50"
Measured Display Hardness 7.5 8.5 7 7 6.5
Model Tested 44 mm 46 mm 41 mm 50 mm 46 mm
Sensors - High and low heart rate notifications
  • Irregular rhythm notifications
-Accelerometer
-Barometer
-Gyro Sensor
-Light Sensor
-Optical Heart Rate Sensor
- Compass
  • Altimeter
  • Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring 7
  • Multipurpose electrical sensors compatible with ECG app
  • Multi-path optical heart rate sensor
  • 3-axis accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) for body response tracking
  • Skin temperature sensor
  • Barometer
  • Magnetometer
- Accelerometer
  • Gyro Sensor
  • HD PPG Heart Rate Sensor
  • SpO2 Sensor,
  • Skin Temperature Sensor
  • Low Latency Off-Body Sensor
  • Barometer, Compass
- BioTrackerâ„¢ PPG biometric sensor
  • 3-axis acceleration sensor
  • Satellite positioning systems
Battery Size 296 mAh 425 mAh 294 mAh 628 mAh 125 mAh
NFC None Samsung Wallet Google Wallet Google Pay None
Splash, Dust, and Water - Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance IP6X
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance (Not specified)
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance (Not specified)
  • IP68
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance (Not specified)
- Water resistance 1.5m (splash/snow proof)
  • IP68
Safety Features - Emergency SOS Fall Detection - Safety Check
  • Emergency Sharing
  • Medical Information
  • Fall Detection
None None

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is an affordable foray into smartwatch ownership and fitness tracking while still being able to be a part of the Apple experience. Robust and intuitive apps, and a more performant processor are strong enhancements over the previous version, and the discrepancies between this model and more premium models are further and fewer between.

apple watch se - an attractive and capable offering at a significantly cheaper price...
An attractive and capable offering at a significantly cheaper price than its more premium sister models.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Smart Function


As the smartwatch name implies, it is not simply an instrument for timekeeping, but loaded with features and smart functions. The essential nature of smart functions and features to a smartwatch makes it our first and most heavily weighted test metric at forty percent of the final score awarded to each model.


The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is a great value for a wearable within the Apple watch family, as many Apple products often command a more premium price. Fortunately, there aren't many sacrifices to be made with the less premium SE Gen 2 when it comes to the user experience, and most smart functions. This model runs the familiar Apple Watch, Health, and Fitness apps used on other models, with features like custom ring notifications to help you achieve fitness goals. So you won't need to hire a fitness coach to bark orders at you.

The Apple Watch SE gen 2 also has you covered when you lose your apple devices, like your iPad, AirPod, or iPhone. Using the 'find item' feature will pinpoint your device location, and keep you from having to dig in the couch cushions. In addition to the great suite of standard apps you can access both premium versions of apps and third party apps from the IOS App store, to further customize and increase the capabilities of your watch.

The Apple interface is simple, clean, and intuitive.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

While the Apple Watch SE gen 2 doesn't offer the premium technical performance of top Apple Watch models like the Series 9 or Series 2 Ultra, it is a significant upgrade from the predecessor model, moving from Apple's s5 to their s8 processor.

For those upgrading from the first generation of SE watches to the Apple Watch SE gen 2 smart functions and features are largely the same, but the processing power should improve app performance. Unlike the more premium Apple offerings, the Apple Watch SE gen 2 does not support the double tap gesture, and its performance is a step behind models with even faster processors.

The lower price of this model also doesn't force you to make too many compromises, especially with regard to phone call quality. Our team experienced the slightest echo, but overall the quality is exceptional and as good as you could expect from an iPhone. Liek the more premium models, the Apple Watch SE gen 2 incorporates a small keyboard as well as Apple's scribble feature for texting, and only scored lower in our testing than the premium models, due to the smaller screen size.

apple watch se - apple has loaded this watch, like all others, with a complete and...
Apple has loaded this watch, like all others, with a complete and intuitive UI with lots of features.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Health


The second most heavily weighted metric in our product testing is health, at thirty percent, because of the prominent use of smartwatches for health monitoring and fitness tracking. The Apple Watch SE gen 2 surprised our team with an overall health and fitness performance that surpassed more expensive Apple Watch models, due mostly to a higher level of step accuracy.


Our team evaluated the accuracy and integrity of heart rate data, GPS tracking, step counting, and treadmill walking accuracy, as well as the availability of workout types and quality of those apps. A 98.98 percent step accuracy was about 2 percent better than the two more premium Apple models with most other results being nearly the same.

The Apple Watch SE gen 2 also has the same high quality proprietary Apple health tracking app that you get with premium models, and has access to the many third-party apps in their app store.

Our team tested the step counting accuracy of every model we put our hands on.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The only area the Apple Watch SE gen 2 struggled was in the same test that most struggle, treadmill walking accuracy. Many wearable devices have a difficult time detecting treadmill workouts and actual steps and distances, and the SE 2 does as well. Strangely, the two other Apple models we tested, while they also had a difficult time with this test, were both slightly more accurate.

Beyond the standard testing of workouts, our team enjoyed elevation maps that clearly display elevation gains and losses, which is particularly beneficial for tracking climbs on steep mountain terrains, or a walk steep city streets like you might find in San Francisco. Additionally, if you misrecorded GPS distance data and have the ability to measure your walking distance via another app or referencing a map later, you can edit and rectify your distance data post workout.

While it was not part of our standard array of testing, it is also worth noting that the Apple Watch SE gen 2 is capable of notifications for high and low heart rates and irregular rhythms. It also can monitor sleep stages, does menstrual cycle tracking, and encourages mental wellness by having users actively log moods and emotions.

apple watch se - the se gen 2 offered strong gps performance and accuracy.
The SE Gen 2 offered strong GPS performance and accuracy.
Credit: Sentry Kelly

Battery Life


For our battery life test metric, our team scrutinized the runtimes and recharging rates of each smartwatch, and awarded scores. Those scores account for twenty percent of the watch's overall score. The Apple Watch SE gen 2 did not do as well as Apple's more premium offerings, and its performance paled compared to many other models.


When economizing a high-end product like the Apple Watch SE gen 2, it seems like processing power, displays, and battery life are often the places where companies can reduce cost, and the result is often a reduction in performance. The battery life of the SE gen 2 is not an exception to the rule.

While Apple states the Apple Watch SE gen 2 has an all-day battery life of up to eighteen hours with normal use, our team measured battery life under two more typical real-world scenarios, one with the GPS enabled, and another without.

As we've mentioned, the results of our in-house testing were un-impressive when compared to the rest of the test group, and especially when compared to the best models we tested. With the GPS enabled, we were able to run the Apple Watch SE gen 2 for twelve and one-half hours, and a better but still underwhelming twenty-seven almost twenty eight hours with the GPS disabled.

The battery life isn't the most incredible, but the recharging rates aren't anything to get excited about either. The Apple Watch SE gen 2 doesn't have a fast charging ability. Many watches will achieve a fifty percent charge in a short amount of time, before slowing down the charge rate, usually to protect the battery and extend its life expectancy. The SE gen 2 is somewhat slow overall, requiring fifty minutes on a charger before reaching a half charge, and over two hours to reach a complete charge.

It is hard to complain, given the price point of the SE gen 2, but if battery life is a concern for you, then you'll want to be mindful about this when you ultimately make a purchasing decision.

apple watch se - we tested and measured every specification, including battery life...
We tested and measured every specification, including battery life, to get objective and unbiased data.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Display


In Apple's line of watches, there are good, better, and best options. Because the Apple Watch SE gen 2 is their more economical model, its display is not the better or best of the Apple watches. That isn't to say it is a bad display, this budget-minded model's display outperformed the majority of top offerings we tested from other brands, only underperforming two more premium Apple models and a Samsung.


The Apple Watch SE gen 2 incorporates a Retina LTPO OLED display that is protected by Ion-X front glass, and has a resolution of 326 pixels per inch. We measured the hardness of the Ion-X glass in-house at seven point five on the Mohs hardness scale, and the brightness of the display at 293 nits. What this translates to is a very scratch resistant display that is not only bright and beautiful, but also has very little glare or reflection and is very easy to read, even on a sunny day while outdoors.

apple watch se - the bright display isn't as great as sister models, but still...
The bright display isn't as great as sister models, but still beautiful.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should you buy the Apple Watch SE gen 2?


The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is a perfect choice for the budget-sensitive shopper looking for a smartwatch that connects them to the world of exceptional Apple products. The trade offs for the affordable SE 2 and the more premium models aren't too substantial. To put this model into a clearer perspective, while it is not as fast, and both the display and battery capacity are smaller than its more expensive sister models, it is still more impressive than the vast majority of top models from other brands. It also outperforms with higher quality sensors, app interfaces, and incorporates a higher quality display than most. If you can do without ECG and the convenience of high-speed charging, then this is a fantastic option that doesn't break the bank but delivers big on performance.

What other Smartwatches should you consider?


The Apple Watch SE gen 2 is a great watch and a top choice for Apple users with a tighter budget. However, if you can increase your budget by about forty percent, then you should seriously consider the faster, more impressive, and longer-lasting Apple Watch Series 9. Android users seeking a top-notch smartwatch will be happy with the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, which closely matches the performance of top Apple models. Additionally, Samsung Galaxy phone users can take advantage of Samsung-specific features alongside the standard Android operating system interoperability. Of course if you are shopping on the tightest of budgets, you may want to get started with ultra-affordable Amazfit BIP 5, while fitness-minded folks who are agnostic about an apple or android based OS might want to look at the Garmin Venu 3.

Benjamin Hickok