Apple Watch SE Review

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.

Smart Function

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, AirPods, 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.

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 Watches, 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.

Regarding call quality, our team experienced the slightest echo, but overall the quality is exceptional and as good as you could expect from an iPhone. Like 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.

Health

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. A 98.98 percent step accuracy was about 2 percent better than the two more premium Apple models.

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.

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 can also monitor sleep stages, does menstrual cycle tracking, and encourages mental wellness by having users actively log moods and emotions.

Battery Life

The Apple Watch SE gen 2 did not do as well as Apple's more premium models, 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 18 hours with normal use, our team measured battery life under two more typical real-world scenarios, one with the GPS enabled, and another without.

With the GPS enabled, we were able to run the Apple Watch SE gen 2 for 12.5 hours, and a better but still underwhelming 27 hours with the GPS disabled.

The Apple Watch SE also doesn't charge super quickly. It required fifty minutes on a charger before reaching a half charge, and over two hours to reach a complete charge.

It's 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 making your purchasing decision.

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.

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.