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amazon Apple Watch SE reviews
The Apple Watch SE removes the always-on display and a few advanced health sensors from the Series 6 but otherwise offers the same winning safety and fitness features for $120 cheaper.
If you find the $399 Series 6 too expensive and the $199 Series 3 too old, the $279 Apple Watch SE is just right. Except for the always-on display and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, it offers almost everything else you get in Series 6, including a wide range of applications. Downloadable apps, great calling and texting capabilities, and potentially life-saving health features like fall detection, heart rate, irregular heartbeat notifications, emergency SOS, and the national emergency call economy. It also boasts a larger screen, a faster processor, and more safety features than the Series 3. That makes the Watch SE a great, cost-effective choice for kids, the elderly, or anyone who wants fitness apps.
Price and design
The Apple Watch SE starts at $279 for the GPS-only model or $329 for the GPS and cellular versions (plus monthly data costs from your cellular carrier). Meanwhile, the Series 6 starts at $399 for the GPS-only model and over $100 for the GPS and cellular versions. Meanwhile, Series 3 is still on sale for $199 for the GPS-only model. Regardless of which one you choose, all Apple Watches require an iPhone paired, so Android users are out of luck.
The Watch SE comes in a 100% recycled aluminum case in gold, silver, or space gray, 40mm or 44mm. It supports the same straps as other Apple Watch models, including the new buckleless solo bracelet. Compare that to the Series 6, which comes in more colors, including new navy blue and red, and finishes, including stainless steel and titanium. For this review, I tested the 40mm GPS and the SE Mobile Watch with its space gray aluminum case and charcoal sport band.
Apple includes a charging cable in the box, but you don’t get a USB power adapter. Apple says it decided to help the environment and have the same impact as removing 50,000 cars from the road.
From a design perspective, the Watch SE looks like the Series 6 and its predecessors, featuring the distinctive square case with rounded corners for which the Apple Watch is known. The 40mm model measures 1.56 x 1.35 x 0.42 inches (HWD), while the 44mm model is slightly taller and wider but the same thickness, at 1.73 x 1.48 x 0. 42 inches.
It’s hard to tell the difference when looking at the Watch SE next to the Series 6 and Series 5. Indeed, all three models have screens of the same size and resolution, 30% larger than those on Series 3. Finally, the 40mm Watch SE has a 1.57-inch display with 394 x 324 pixels, while the Series 44mm 6 has a 1.73-inch screen with 448 x 368 pixels.
The SE watch is light and comfortable on my wrist, even when I wear it to bed. The 40mm and 44mm GPS models weigh in at 1.07 ounces and 1.27 ounces, respectively, without a strap. The GPS and cellular versions are slightly heavier at 1.08 ounces and 1.28 ounces.
The SE is water-resistant to a depth of 165 feet. Apple says it’s safe for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool. You can also wear it in showers and hot tubs. However, you shouldn’t wear it while scuba diving, water skiing, or “other activities involving high-speed water or deep diving,” Apple says.
Setup and interface
The Watch SE has the same user-friendly setup process as the Series 6, with fewer steps. It is partially charged, and as soon as you take it out of the box and turn it on, a screen will appear on your iPhone asking if you want to set up the watch for yourself or someone else using the Home Setup service. Apple’s new family or not. It will then instruct you to put on your watch, hold it to your phone’s camera, and align the watch face with the on-screen viewfinder to pair. As soon as you do this, it will ask if you want to restore it from a backup (if you’re already an Apple Watch user) or set it up as your new watch. I just set up a Series 6, so I chose to restore from that device.
Next, you can choose to create a passcode and enable automatic updates. If automatic updates are turned on, you’ll get a notification before you install any new software.
Then it goes through emergency SOS and fall detection features. To call emergency services, press and hold the side button. Doing so will also send a message to your emergency contacts. The watch will automatically call emergency services with fall detection enabled if it detects you’ve fallen hard. You can turn this feature off in the Apple Watch app.
If you have a mobile model, it goes into the mobile setup. With the cellular version, you can make and receive calls and access apps using cellular data when the watch isn’t connected to your iPhone. When you tap Set up cellular, it brings up a new page that lets you sign in with your carrier and add your Apple Watch to your plan.
Like other Apple Watch models, you navigate the SE with swipes to scroll and move and taps to select. To see your notifications, swipe down from the top edge of the screen. To see your battery level and access additional controls like Do Not Disturb mode, swipe up from the bottom.
The Watch SE also has Apple’s signature digital crown on the top right. Please press this button to return to the watch face; long-press it to talk to Siri; or rotate it to scroll, zoom, or adjust.
Below the digital crown on the right side of the screen is a button with various functions. You can tap it to access your open apps quickly; double-tap it for Apple Pay; or press and hold it for Medical ID, Emergency SOS, and power information. The Medical ID feature allows you to create medical records that include allergies and medical conditions that emergency responders can use if needed. The Emergency SOS feature allows you to quickly notify emergency services and send them your location if you have an issue.
where can you get a Apple Watch SE online
New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) – Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band: Buy it now
Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) – Gold Aluminum Case with Pink Sand Sport Band (Renewed): Buy it now
Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) – Gold Aluminum Case with Pink Sand Sport Band (Renewed): Buy it now
Key Features and Performance
The SE is powered by the same Apple dual-core S5 System in Package (SiP) as the Series 5. The S5 is 20% slower than the new S6 chip in Series 6 but two times faster than the S3 SiP in Series 3. Series 6 supports 5GHz Wi-Fi; SE only works on 2.4GHz bands; this is true for Series 5 and below.
Like the Series 6, the Watch SE runs WatchOS 7, the latest generation of Apple’s smartwatch operating system, which offers many great features, including automatic hand wash detection with a 20-second countdown timer, sleep tracking, new workout styles, and cycling directions in select cities. WatchOS 7 is also available on Series 3 and later, but the new operating system is said to cause significant crashes, errors, disconnections, and battery drain on some third-generation models.
The SE has the same size and resolution screen as the Series 6, but it doesn’t have the always-on option you get with the Series 6 and Series 5, allowing you to see the watch face and time when your wrist is down. There’s no denying that the always-on display greatly improves the user experience, making the Apple Watch feel more like a traditional watch. On the Watch SE, the screen turns on as soon as you raise or swipe your wrist and turns off automatically when you lower it. You can also tap the screen or press the digital button to activate it.
I thought the SE’s lack of always-on display would be a deal-breaker, as I’m used to Series 5 and, more recently, Series 6, but surprisingly it didn’t bother me. The SE’s display stays on as soon as I lift my wrist, making it easy to see whenever I want to watch.
With Do Not Disturb most of the time enabled, the SE lasted 30 hours before receiving a low battery warning (when the battery dropped to 10 percent, the watch alerted you and asked if you wanted to use it). Power reserve zero). Meanwhile, with the display always on and the Do Not Disturb mode enabled most of the time, the Series 6 lasted nearly 25.5 hours before displaying a low battery warning.
The Watch SE offers the same safety and emergency features as the Series 6, including fall detection, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular heartbeat alerts, SOS emergency, and international emergency calls. It also has a Noise app, which sends you alerts when the decibel level of the surrounding area could damage your hearing.
The international emergency calling feature allows you to call emergency services when traveling abroad in more than 150 countries, even if you do not have a phone nearby. It also works with drop detection. If the watch detects a strong drop after a period of inactivity, it can automatically notify emergency services from almost anywhere in the world. Just keep in mind that you’ll need GPS and a cellular model to take advantage of this feature.
The SE also gives you access to the same fitness tracking features you’ll find on the Series 6, including Move, Exercise, and Stand loops that can motivate you to stay active. It will also support Apple’s new Fitness+ at-home workout service, which is expected to launch before year-end. However, the Watch SE cannot perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) or measure your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), two advanced health monitoring features you get on the Series 6.
The SE offers access to the App Store in terms of lifestyle, allowing you to browse and install apps right from the watch itself. Apple Watch easily has over 20,000 apps available with the largest, highest-quality third-party selection for any wearable.
It also has an always-on compass and altimeter like the Series 6. Thanks to the always-on altimeter, you can see your altitude change in real-time as you add it, complicating the face clock.
For comparison, Series 3 does not support international emergency calls as it is not included in the cellular model. It also lacks fall detection, Family Setup support, noise tracking, compass, and always-on altimeter, but it does offer emergency SOS and heart health notifications.
Compare and conclude
Starting at $279 or $120 less than the Series 6, the Watch SE is a compelling alternative if you want the apps, connectivity, fitness, and safety features of the Series 6 without having to pay for advanced health monitoring capabilities. It gives you almost every feature of its more expensive sibling, except for the always-on display, the SpO2 app for measuring blood oxygen saturation, and the ECG app for checking heart rate to look for signs of atrial fibrillation on demand. However, despite the lack of an electrocardiogram, it has an optical sensor to measure your current heart rate. It can alert you if it detects an abnormally high or low pulse or an irregular rhythm.
The SE also supports fall detection and emergency SOS, two other potential life-saving features. It runs Apple’s latest smartwatch operating system, watchOS 7, has a 20-second hand wash countdown timer, sleeps tracking capabilities, new watch faces, and workout tracking options. And a great set of safety features, combined with support for Apple’s new Family Setup feature that allows you to set up and manage the Apple Watch for a family member without an iPhone, makes the SE the particularly attractive smartwatch for students.
The three-year-old Series 3 is still on sale as another cost-conscious option, for $80 less than the SE, but we think you should skip this one. The SE offers a larger screen, a faster processor, and enough new safety features to make the extra $80 investment a worthwhile one. For a more affordable alternative, or if you’re an Android user, check out the Fitbit Versa 2. $199.95 battery life and Amazon Alexa and Fitbit Pay support.
Advantages
Same screen size and resolution as Series 6
Supports fall detection, heart health notifications, and emergency SOS
Always-on altimeter for real-time altitude tracking
WatchOS 7 adds a hand wash countdown timer and sleep tracking
Selection of the best third-party smartwatch apps
Disadvantage
No always-on display mode thị
Lack of ECG and SpO2 sensor