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

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

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 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 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

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 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 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.