Apple Watch SE 2020

Apple Watch SE

The best Apple Watch for the budget-conscious

If you’ve always wanted an Apple Watch but have baulked at the price tag, then you really ought to let the Apple Watch SE tempt you. It’s a lot cheaper than the current Apple Watch 6, but doesn’t sacrifice on a lot to achieve that lower price tag.

It’s a full-featured smartwatch, doing absolutely everything the more expensive Apple Watch 6 does, but just without the always-on display option. The fitness suite is refined and impressive, and is more so with Apple’s new Fitness Plus feature. It’s got a plethora of apps for almost everything you might need, although few might be too lightweight for some users. That, however, is not unique to the Apple Watch SE – every Apple Watch running the latest version of watchOS will suffer from that.

And, like all other Apple Watches out there, the SE also suffers from middling battery life. However, because the SE lacks an always-on display, you’ll likely be able to squeeze a lot more out a single charge than Apple’s claim of 18 hours. 

Everything else about the Apple Watch SE is pretty much what you’d expect from a full-fat smartwatch. The display is the same OLED panel you’ll find on the other Apple Watches launched since 2018, and there are plenty of straps to choose from if you want to style things up a notch.

Moreover, watchOS 7 adds far more fitness features to the already-excellent setup in the Workouts app, with Dance and Cooldown now also available alongside the usual exercise routines like running, cycling, walking and more. The Apple Watch SE has 5 ATM water resistance, so you can even take it swimming. GPS and Glonass are on board, so all your outdoor activities can be tracked quite accurately, and Apple’s quintessential fitness rings are also there to make sure you hit your goals. Meditation and breathing reminders are available, as are the hourly reminders to move around a little.

Heck, you’ll even be reminded to wash your hands – a very useful feature during the global pandemic. Sleep tracking hasn’t been left out either, although a limited battery life might prompt you to set the Watch SE to charge overnight. Accessing Siri is as simple as raising your wrist close to your mouth, although you can still use the ‘Hey Siri’ voice command if you’d prefer.

All in all, you’re getting all the high-end features from the more expensive Apple Watches for less money, with only minor features missing. 

Score: 4.5/5

Verdict: The always-on display and blood oxygen level monitoring found on the Apple Watch 6 are great features to have, but if you can live without them, then the Apple Watch SE is the best Apple Watch you can get, with plenty of bang for your buck.