The Apple Watch SE is Apple’s cheaper alternative to the premium lineup of watches. At a starting price of $249, it is not cheap however much Apple tries to sell the narrative. Despite it being the entry level Apple watch, it comes with most standard features such as Emergency SOS, Swim Proof, Crash detection, the same motion sensors as in the Apple Watch Series 8 and of course the S8 chip just like in the Apple Watch Series 8.
However, the big question must be addressed. Who is this watch suitable for? According to Apple, this watch is mainly targeted towards children, the elderly, those people on a budget or those who are starting out in the Apple ecosystem. But how is it suitable to the elderly? Well, let me explain.
With the family setup feature, anyone without an iPhone can use the watch. However, there is a catch. The watch still needs to be paired to an iPhone, preferably from a member of your family, hence the name family setup. With this in mind, you can gift the watch to your child or an elderly person which opens up a world of possibilities. For example, they can access the health sensors which are very crucial to older people, they can use the watch to pay using Apple Pay, they can send and receive texts as well as calls, just to name a few. In this article, we are going to discuss its design language, its various sensors, features such as Emergency SOS, Crash detection and lastly, I will give you my final thoughts.
Specs.
- Build – Glass Front, plastic/ sapphire crystal back, Aluminum Frame
- Display – 1.57” or 1.78” Retina LTPO OLED
- Water Resistance – Yes (50m)
- Chipset – Apple S8
- CPU – Dual Core
- GPU – PowerVR
- OS – watchOS 9.0
- RAM – 1GB
- Storage – 32GB
- Loud Speaker – Yes
- WLAN – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth – Version 5.0
- Card Slot – No
- NFC – Yes
- GPS – Yes
- Sensors – Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate (2nd gen), barometer, always-on altimeter, compass
- Battery Capacity – Li-Ion 296mAh, non-removable
- Wireless Charging – Yes
- Colors – Midnight, Starlight, Silver
- Starting price – $249
- Availability – From 16th September
Design Language.
The Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen comes in two sizes; 40mm or the 44mm version. The 40mm version has a smaller 1.57” display while the latter comes in at 1.78”. Despite all the upgrades made to this watch, the design is similar to its predecessor and in fact it can be quite difficult to distinguish them when placed side by side. The bezels are relatively chunky when compared to its bigger brother; the Apple Watch Series 8.
It’s not all negative though. The case is made out of Aluminum which is every bit better than plastic as it offers durability while still being light weight. During the release event, Apple made it clear that you can use the previous bands with this watch. As for color choices, you get Midnight, Silver and Starlight. Apple will also be selling matching straps made out of nylon and various others from brand partners such a Nike.
Display.
Despite this watch being an entry level product, both versions of the Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen feature an LTPO OLED display. As mentioned earlier, the 40mm version comes with a 1.57” display while the bigger 44mm version comes with a 1.78” display. Another upside to these displays, is that they have a peak brightness of 1000nits which is more than enough even for outdoor usage.
Even with this 2nd Gen version, we still don’t get the Always-on-display which is very disappointing. This is a very basic feature that most watches in this price range have. Apple should up their game in the next generation of the SE.
Software and performance.
Although smart watch performance isn’t a topic that is often discussed, Apple deserves a pat on the back for including the Apple S8 Chip in this watch. The Apple S8 is a new dual core chip that is also found in the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch SE is also set to run the latest watchOS 9.0. With this new version of watchOS comes a couple of cool features such as new low power mode, improved sleep tracking, a redesigned calendar app, new Family Setup features, just to name a few. Although Apple did not mention about the battery life of this watch during the release, we expect it to be slightly better. This is thanks to the new S8 chip and the watchOS 9. A full day of battery life is therefore expected, but with the new low power mode, perhaps you can squeeze in a few more hours.
This watch just like its predecessor, still lacks fast charging. It is not that big of a deal, although some people are not impressed by the lack of ‘basic’ features especially at this price range.
Health features.
When it comes to health features, this watch packs a couple of sensors that will accurately provide you with all the data you need for a healthy lifestyle. It can track most sports activities like running while providing you with accurate heart rate readings.
On the downside, it still can’t measure ECG or even blood oxygen levels. In addition to this, the Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen does not get the temperature sensors like in the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra.
On the upside, features like Emergency SOS and Crash detection are available in this model. In fact, it has the same motion sensors like in the Apple Watch Series 8. These sensors coupled with the microphone and the barometer are very crucial in determining whether you’ve been in a car crash. This is not a situation we hope to find ourselves in, but if you do, at least the Watch can come to your rescue.
Final thoughts.
The Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen is a fantastic watch if you are not looking to break the bank. It offers the perfect balance between what the premium watches have to offer and the relatively older models. Although it still lacks features such as ECG, Blood oxygen sensor and a larger display, it is still a solid watch.
But again, it begs the question, who is this watch for. Well, children can benefit from it greatly and better yet, they don’t need ECG data or even blood oxygen metrics as older people do. In addition to this, if you are just starting out in the Apple ecosystem and you don’t want to commit yourself to the more expensive devices, then this is a great fit for you.
Very luxurious
Interesting 🤔