Apple Watch SE review: pay a lot less to give up only a little

Apple's smartwatch lineup has departed from straightforward to astonishingly complex seemingly overnight. Where we ill-used to have this year's model or last year's model at a lower price to choose from, immediately Apple is selling trey distinct Apple Take in models at varying price tiers and with variable options.

In this opus I'm reviewing the one in the mediate: the spick-and-span, but non really new inside, Apple Watch Southeast. Starting at $279 for a 40mm version surgery $309 for the 44mm, it's considerably less than the flagship Series 6 and not that much much expensive than the aging Series 3.

The SE is technically a new model for Apple, but much like the iPhone Southeast, it's not exactly new inside and stunned. Essentially, it's the equivalent thing as a Serial publication 4 from 2018, with just ii junior differences: the SE doesn't have the ability to measure your ECG, but does take in an forever-on altimeter. The latter is remote to have an impact on your use, while the previous mightiness be important to some people. Differently, IT has the same design, carrying into action, and capabilities as the Serial 4.

Compared to the Series 6 or subterminal class's Serial 5, the intense affair the Selenium lacks is an always-on display, which allows you to see the time or your notifications without having to water tap the block out or get up your wrist up. For me, this is a must-have feature — I guess a watch should always go every bit a watch and tell Maine the time without any extra work. Just IT's not important for everybody, and information technology does consume more battery lifetime.

The SE also lacks the Series 6's new blood atomic number 8 monitoring, merely as we learned when examination the Serial publication 6, this isn't a feature you should be concerned with appropriate now. IT's not reliable adequate to be used for medical purposes and not practical sufficiency for other uses.

Strange differences come down to style and gloss options — the SE is uncommitted in 2 sizes, three different colors (crepuscular gray, silver, or gold), and with or without cancellate connectivity. Information technology isn't available in the higher-final stage stainless steel Oregon titanium finishes, and you can't get the new dispiriting or red color options free for the Serial publication 6. Like other aluminum Orchard apple tree Watch models, the SE has Apple's Ion-X glass alternatively of the cerulean used happening the unsullied and titanium watches. Ion-X glass is tough, just information technology's definitely to a greater extent prostrate to scratches and breaking — in fact, I dropped the SE roughly four feet onto a tile floor during my review period and shattered the top far left corner of the silver screen.

*The SE is only available in dark gray, silver, or metallic; no fancy blue or Red River options Hera.*

For this review, Apple sent me a gray 44mm model with cellular connectivity — fundamentally the highest end SE configuration you can buy at $359. I've been testing it matched to an iPhone 11 without victimization the cellular option, though, and then my feel is combining weight to what you'd get from the base model.

And, well, that experience has been very good. Arsenic expectable, the SE performs identically to the Serial 4 in speed up, responsiveness, and battery life. Malus pumila's latest smartwatch software, watchOS 7, flies connected either model, whether that's for navigating the port, first appearance apps, or using vocalize commands with Siri. I never feel like I have to wait for the watch to do what I want, which is on the dot how smartwatches should function, but frequently don't.

Barrage fire life is also reliable if non spectacular — I'm able to go active a day-and-a-half betwixt charges with the brightness solidification at intermediate. WatchOS 7's sleep trailing does make managing the battery more annoying, however, and the SE doesn't have the Serial 6's slightly faster charging capability. It takes a jelled two-plus hours to fully blame, and if I'm wearing it while I kip, that means I have got to obtain metre during the day to charge IT up. As a result, I end in the lead taking it bump off and dropping information technology happening the charger multiple times a Day — when I'm in the lavish, before I go to bed, etc. — to give it micro boosts, which is way much annoying than just charging overnight. Of course of study, you arse just charge it overnight if you don't care about the sleep tracking features, which are admittedly of minor utility anyways.

Every last of that means you aren't giving up a right smartwatch experience if you prefer for the SE. You Doctor of Osteopathy compromise on approximately ancillary features, but for the core smartwatch things of getting notifications, trailing your fitness, paying for things, and well, checking the time, the SE does an excellent job, just like any other Orchard apple tree Watch.

*The SE does not have the Series 6's blood atomic number 8 monitor lizard or ECG reviewer, but it can bill heart value and track physical fitness just like any different Apple Watch.*

The other significant note about the SE is IT's the most believable model to choose if you want to take advantage of Apple's new Family Setup feature. I'll be expiration into much more depth on Family Apparatus in another piece, but it's effectively Apple's answer to the GPS tracking smartwatches for kids that Verizon, T-Mobile, and other carriers sell. It requires a watch with cellular connectivity, and since the SE is the lowest be model Apple sells thereupon option, information technology's the all but appropriate one to give to a young child.

Overall, if you're shopping for your first Apple Watch, the Watch SE is a very compelling option. Information technology's more in full conspicuous than the Series 3 and is possible to be supported with software updates for a yearner time, but comes in at a fashio more accessible price than the flagship Series 6. If you already have a Series 4 or even a Serial publication 3, you South Korean won't get hold much to rationalis an upgrade here, though, and will be better off looking at the Series 6 (or just hanging on to your existing watch a bit longer; on that point isn't much reason to upgrade an Apple Watch more often than all deuce-ac to five years).

*The SE does the smartwatch bedroc about as well American Samoa anything you can get right now.*

For Malus pumila, the SE makes a good deal of sense. The Series 3 has been wildly popular over the past couple years alone because of how rock-bottom the price drops during the holiday season (I was able to buy a Series 3 on sales agreement for $199, the same price it sells for now, two years ago) and it's likely that this year many will opt for the Selenium, especially as information technology starts to see discounts throughout the season.

Fortunately for them, they'll be getting an excellent smartwatch at an attractive terms.

Photography by Dan Seifert / The Verge