Apple’s smartwatch lineup has gone from straightforward to surprisingly complex seemingly overnight. Where we used to have this year’s model or last year’s model at a lower price to choose from, now Apple is selling three distinct Apple Watch models at varying price tiers and with varying options.

Fast performance; Great smartwatch software; Reliable battery life

No always-on display; No third-party watch faces; No ECG or blood oxygen monitoring

The Apple Watch SE is as slick as the higher-priced Watch Series 6, and delivers all the essential features and then some. But when it comes to more advanced health sensors, it's not as well equipped as competitors.

Fast and smooth to use; Comfortable; wearable design; Clear and bright screen; Great background health features; Excellent fitness tracking overall

No always-on screen; Sleep tracking is basic; No blood oxygen or ECG sensors

All it's missing is an always-on display

Sleek looking; Offers most of Series 6's key features; Excellent activity monitoring

No always-on display; Expensive; Disappointing battery life

It might not be the best Apple Watch in terms of features, but for most people the Apple Watch SE is the one you should buy. It retains all the vital tech (IP rating, GPS, sharp OLED) and ditches the ones that make the most sense.

Excellent value; Huge range of tracking features; The best smartwatch OS around; Wide variety of straps available

No always-on display; Battery life still only really a day

The Apple Watch SE lacks key features that the Series 6 and other competing smartwatches boast, including ECG and SpO2 monitoring, but if you're not too fussed about the advanced metrics those offer, the SE is the perfect entry point into the Apple Watch family.

Premium design and build quality; Fall Detection; watchOS is a joy to use

No always-on display; Lacks ECG or SpO2 monitor; 18-hour battery life

The Apple Watch has a lot to offer. Sure it lacks the blood oxygen measurement and ECG abilities of the Apple Watch 6, but those probably only matter to you if you have a condition that requires monitoring.

Apple Watch SE does exactly what it was designed to do – provide the stellar Apple Watch experience at a more accessible price. While you miss out on a few premium features, there’s little to be disappointed about in this reasonably priced wonder.

The Apple Watch SE is almost a resounding success, but is let down by one cut corner too many. It has all the major features that make an Apple Watch good. Excellent notifications, pin-sharp haptics, snappy performance and good battery life.

The Apple Watch SE packs plenty of modern smartwatch features into a compact, low-profile package. It’s not the prettiest watch, and its sleep-tracking reports aren’t as insightful as the competition. But for the price the Watch SE is an excellent starter smartwatch for newcomers.

Powerful OS; Responsive performance; Comfortable design; Comprehensive features for the price

Sleep tracking lags the competition; No always-on display

The Apple Watch SE is the smartwatch most people should buy. It delivers a solid feature set at an affordable price....

High-quality hardware Bright display Plentiful features Affordable

Short battery life No ECG Limited sleep tracking Limited color selection