The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS) is Apple’s most affordable smartwatch, offering core features from the flagship Series 8 at a lower price. It retains the sleek design, powerful performance, and essential health tracking while omitting premium features like an always-on display and ECG.
Key Specifications
- Display: 1.78” Retina LTPO OLED (40mm) / 1.92” (44mm)
- Chipset: Apple S8 SiP (Same as Series 8)
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Optical Heart Rate, Always-On Altimeter
- GPS: Built-in
- Water Resistance: 50m (WR50) – Swim-proof
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours (36h in Low Power Mode)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC (Apple Pay)
- Compatibility: iPhone (iOS 16+)
- Storage: 32GB
Design & Display
- Same sleek design as Series 8, with an aluminum case and Ion-X glass.
- Larger display than the 1st-gen SE, with thinner bezels.
- No Always-On Display (must raise wrist to wake).
Performance & Software
- S8 chip delivers smooth performance for apps, workouts, and notifications.
- watchOS 9+ brings advanced fitness tracking, sleep stages, and new watch faces.
- Faster charging than the 1st-gen SE (~75 mins for full charge).
Health & Fitness Tracking
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Continuous and high/low heart rate alerts.
- Sleep Tracking: Stages detection (REM, Core, Deep).
- Workout Modes: 20+ including running, cycling, swimming.
- Crash & Fall Detection: Emergency SOS calls if a hard fall is detected.
- No Blood Oxygen (SpO2) or ECG (reserved for Series 8/9).
Battery Life
- All-day battery (18h) – Good for daily use but requires nightly charging.
- Low Power Mode extends usage to ~36h by disabling background features.
GPS & Connectivity
- Accurate GPS for outdoor runs and cycling.
- No Cellular Option (GPS-only model requires iPhone for calls/texts).
- Apple Pay supported via NFC.
Pros & Cons
Pros
✅ Affordable entry into the Apple Watch ecosystem
✅ Same S8 chip as Series 8 for smooth performance
✅ Crash Detection & Emergency SOS (safety feature)
✅ Swim-proof & dust-resistant (IP6X)
✅ watchOS 9+ support with future updates
Cons
❌ No Always-On Display (must raise wrist to check time)
❌ Missing ECG & Blood Oxygen sensors
❌ Battery life still just one day
❌ No fast charging (takes ~75 mins to full charge)
Who Should Buy It?
✔ First-time Apple Watch buyers looking for core features.
✔ iPhone users who want fitness tracking & notifications.
✔ Budget-conscious buyers who don’t need ECG/SpO2.
Who Should Avoid It?
✖ Those needing ECG or SpO2 monitoring (Get Series 8/9).
✖ Users who want an always-on display (Series 8/9 or Ultra).
✖ Heavy athletes needing multi-day battery (Consider Garmin).
Verdict: 8.5/10
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is the best budget Apple Watch, offering 80% of the Series 8’s features at a lower price. If you don’t need ECG, SpO2, or an always-on display, this is the smartwatch to get.
Alternatives:
- For more health features: Apple Watch Series 9
- For longer battery: Garmin Venu 3
- For Android users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6