The packaging around the new Apple Watch SE is typically slick, and now pretty thin. That’s because there is no plug for the wall included – you just get the puck-like charger on a USB-A cable. As you can see, the watch itself and the strap come in separate boxes which are then wrapped into one.

It’s not the best Apple Watch, but it's the most easily recommendable. The Apple Watch SE is anything but a ‘cheap Apple Watch.’ It brings the brilliant core experience that most people want, for less.

Top design; All the essential features; Competitive price

At the end of the day, the Apple Watch SE is nothing new. Apple just took the Apple Watch Series 5, cut off the always-on functionality reserving it for the more expensive Series 6, and also did not include an ECG and blood oxygen sensor.

More affordable price; great deal on cellular model; Fast performance; Great variety of high-quality watchfaces; Very comfortable to wear; Very accurate heart rate measurements for a smartwatch

No always-on screen; Still have to charge it every day; Sleep tracking less useful than on rivals; No ECG; no blood oxygen sensor; Does not work with Android phones

I’ve had a few people come to me during the holiday shopping season asking about smartwatches. My first question is always “what kind of phone is the person using?” If it’s an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE is my number one recommendation. It’s the best Apple Watch for most people.

The Apple Watch SE is billed as entry-level, but it doesn’t actually sacrifice all that much compared with many top-of-the-line smartwatches, Apple or otherwise. The Series 3 features the same large display as the Apple Watch Series 6 and many of the same WatchOS7 features, including water...

Good value; Fall detection; Optional cellular

No always-on display

Snappy performance on watchOS 7 thanks to the S5 processor; you get all the basic features of a premium smartwatch for a budget price

I miss the always-on display

The mid-range Apple Watch SE is a very good smartwatch and gives you more than the Apple Watch 3, but it feels a bit pricey for what it offers. You’re not going to find a more well-rounded smartwatch than those made by Apple. From the design to the features, no other smartwatches come close.

Classic design, Huge app library, Large screen, Responsive

No always-on display, Lacks ECG and blood Oxygen monitoring, Mediocre battery life

The Apple Watch SE is a simple, no-nonsense device. It offers everything it claims and sort of resonates with the ideology that the brand proposes with its iPhone SE model too — where you get new features in a classic design at a lower cost.Year after year Apple announces a new model and the...

Reliable performance, Elegant design, Bright display