Technical sheet, price and review: the Apple Watch SE connected watch

The new Apple Watch SE isthe most affordableconnected watch models launched by the Apple brand. It was released for less than 300 euros (the Apple Watch Series 3, still in the catalog to this day and costing less, had a higher launch price). However, its technical sheet, as you might expect, is different from its high-end cousins. This is what we will see in this article.

Design

When you buy a watch, you agree to wear it on your wrist regularly. It is therefore a real accessory ofstyleand fashion, more than a simple connected object. In this sense, Apple offers with its Watch SE to personalize its external appearance with great room for maneuver. The first criterion that will allow you to create your own Apple Watch is the size of its case. With the Apple Watch SE, you can opt forforty or forty-four millimeters. On the other hand, in terms of materials, only aluminum is offered here. If you are looking for an Apple Watch in steel or titanium, you will indeed have to turn tothe different versions of Apple Watch Series 6.

Then, Apple asks you to select yourbraceletfavorite. The first model compatible with the Apple Watch SE is the single loop bracelet. It is available in the following colors: Deep Navy, Ginger, Cyprus Green, Citrus Pink, White, Black and PRODUCT (RED). There is also a braided bracelet. Its colors are: Inverness Green, Charcoal, Pink Punch, Atlantic Blue, and againPRODUCT (RED). The sports bracelets, for their part, are available in the following versions: intense navy, ginger, Cyprus green, citrus pink, Pride Edition, cactus, grapefruit, surf blue, sand pink, white, black and always PRODUCT (RED) .

To finish with this first part, also note that there is an Apple Watch SE designed in collaboration with the clothing brandNike. The advantage is that it does not cost more and offers more original bracelets.

Apple Watch SE performance

The Apple Watch SE is powered by aApple S5 proprietary processor. This is exactly the same chip that we find in the Apple Watch Series 5, and which has already been praised by critics for its speed and foolproof handling. Based on a 64-bit architecture, it is announced as twice as fast as the previous S3. No matter what apps you decide to launch on Apple Watch SE, you'll have no problem enjoying multitasking.

The network, too, is quite fast since the watch is compatible4Gand that it connects to the iPhone using Bluetooth Low Energy, that converselywe do not find on the eighth generation iPad. The Apple Watch SE is also particularly resistant to humidity: in fact, it iswaterproofup to fifty meters deep. You can therefore take it to the swimming pool without any problem, but be careful because the dust resistance is not there so forget about the beach straight away.

What is its screen worth?

The screenRetinaOLED LTPO of the new Apple Watch SE offers a definition of 324 x 394 pixels, for a display area of ​​759 mm²regarding the 40mm model. For the largest, on the other hand, it will be more: 368 x 448 pixels, for a display surface of 977 mm². These are the official numbers communicated by Apple.

The Apple Watch SE panel also reaches a luminance of 1,000 nits, which allows it to be usedeven in direct sunlightwhile still being able to read what is displayed there. We simply regret that the screen is not circular, which makes the Apple Watch SE particularly conspicuous compared to all its competitors with a classic dial. For the rest, nothing to complain about: the Apple Watch SE screen is within industry standards.

A connected watch for health

Apple Watch SE is powered bywatchOS 7. This operating system is well-being oriented: Apple continues to praise its merits on this subject, especially when the watch saves lives. No, it's not just a marketing argument: real, similar stories have already happened dozens of times. The feature to thank is thefall detection. Thanks to it, the Apple Watch SE is able to recognize potential serious shocks and then sends you a notification to know if you are okay. If this is not the case, then after a few seconds of waiting, the Apple Watch SE notifies emergency services and sends them your GPS position.

But that's not all, since thanks to the heart rate monitor tool, the Apple Watch SE can also detect arrhythmia oratrial fibrillation. This serious disorder can cause strokes; it is important to be informed in advance so that treatment is rapid. Still on the health side, the Apple Watch SE also sends alerts when you pass by a sound source that is too loud. So, during a concert, we recommend, for example, regularly walking away from the speakers to avoid damaging youraudition.

The Apple Watch SE also serves as an activity tracker: it can track dozens ofsportsdifferent. Among them, we find step, dancing, cycling, swimming, running, walking, athletics etc. Simply start a workout manually, then the watch will record all your movements. You can then consult thestatisticsdetailed information on your performance and compare it to that of your friends if they also have an Apple Watch, regardless of the model they have chosen. The other advantage is that you just need to raise your wrist and you have access to the information immediately. Practical when you move.

The App Store also offers multiple applications compatible with the Apple Watch SE. Google Maps, for example, acts as a GPS by providing route directions during the trip. Interactive notifications also allow you to respond to messages. WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook Messenger… In fact, since it is autonomous, the Apple Watch SE can evenwork without iPhone. Which means that - especially if you have a model with a SIM card - you can continue to chat with your contacts without being bothered by the big screen.

What does it have less than the Apple Watch Series 6?

Since it was released at the same time as a model almost twice as expensive, the Apple Watch Series 6, one might wonder how the Apple Watch SE is different from its big sister. In fact, it only comes down to a few points. Here they are:

• no stainless steel housing
• no titanium case
• no blood oxygen level sensor
• 130€ less
• Retina display is not always activated
• unable to record EKGs
• far fewer colors available
• no edition designed in collaboration with Hermès
• a slightly less powerful processor
• no U1 chip (UWB)
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only

That's all! If you buy the Apple Watch SE, you will therefore be entitled to almost the same experience as if you had opted for the Apple Watch Series 6 model. We can therefore, without hesitation, consider this Apple Watch SE as a serious budget option which allows you to save money while having access to the multi-award winning Californian design.

Moreover, in terms of look, it is quite likely that those around you will not even notice that you have an Apple Watch SE and not an Apple Watch Series 6. In fact, the bracelets are compatible with all models without exception.

Apple Watch SE: autonomy

According to Apple, which is based on numerous internal tests, the Apple Watch SE is capable of staying on forsix o'clockin a row. Please note, however, that this is only an evaluation whose criteria are not public. Therefore, you may exceed this number with heavy use. However, this is rarely what happens with a small connected object like this.

Indeed, most of the time, the smartphone remains the number one communication device. Despite everything, it is still unlikely that you will be able to take advantage of the Apple Watch SE during the day and night. Thus, you will have to choose between following yoursleepor your sports sessions. Or wait a few hours for the watch battery to recharge with the wireless station. Let us also recall thatno power adapteris not supplied with this model.

Onboard sensors

As we saw above, the Apple Watch SE is renowned for its sports monitoring qualities. All this actually relies on a multitude of sensors which are responsible for recording all your actions. On request of course, for reasons of confidentiality. Among these components, we find in particular theaccelerometerand the gyroscope to track movements. For example, they are the ones taken into account when it comes to timing hand washing.

In the Apple Watch SE there is also acompass. By paying the price, you can even choose a model equipped with a GPS chip. Let’s continue with the prices.

Price and availability

The base model of Apple Watch SE costs299€. For a forty-four millimeter case, the amount to pay then increases to €329. It's the same amount to pay if you want to be entitled to 4G. AppleCare+ insurance, on the other hand, costs sixty-five euros for two years of protection against accidental damage. Most of the time, delivery is free.

To tell the truth, what will really affect the price of the Apple Watch SE is in fact the choice of its design and also its bracelet. Stainless steel bracelets, for example, cost fifty euros more.

Our opinion on the new Apple Watch SE

To conclude this technical sheet we can therefore say that the Apple Watch SE is not the best in terms of connected watch from Apple. The Apple Watch Series 6 is better, but ultimately the differences between the two models are not major.The value for money of this Apple Watch SE is simply unbeatable. The smartwatch targets the same audience asthe iPhone SE and its A13 processor, whose surname she also shares.

The duo acts as a serious competitor to other brands. For the first time in 2020, the manufacturer of the Apple Watch SE has chosen to offer us products that are much more accessible but equipped with aequally powerful softwarethan its other references. Why deprive yourself? You can compare the best Apple Watch SE price in our comparison table below. It is updated in real time thanks to promotions and good deals shared by the different French stores.