Main content:
- Bandletic's Verdict - Apple Watch SE (2022)
- Apple Watch SE 2022 vs. Apple Watch SE 2020 - What's New
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation - Price and Availability
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Specifications
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Design
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Display
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Performance and watchOS 9
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Fitness and Health Tracking
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Battery Life
- Apple Watch SE 2 Review - Summary
With the rapid rise of smart wearables, the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) has become highly popular since its release in 2022, thanks to its excellent performance, diverse features, and affordable price. This review will provide a comprehensive assessment of the smartwatch, analyzing its core specifications, strong performance, all-day battery life, connectivity features, and advanced fitness and health tracking capabilities, explaining why it stands out in the crowded market.
Bandletic's Verdict - Apple Watch SE (2022)
The Apple Watch SE (2022) stands out in the smartwatch market due to its powerful performance, comprehensive features, and affordable price. It is equipped with the latest S8 chip and the watchOS 9 operating system, supporting low-power mode for a smooth user experience and long battery life. As a cost-effective device, it excels in core features like health monitoring, fitness tracking, and notification management, meeting the everyday needs of most users.
Pros:
- Strong Performance: Powered by the S8 chip and watchOS 9, providing a smooth and efficient operation.
- Affordable Price: Offers core Apple Watch features at a more budget-friendly price than the premium models.
- Multifunctional: Supports useful features like heart rate monitoring, GPS, and fall detection, ideal for health and fitness enthusiasts.
- Strong Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with the iPhone and supports features like Apple Pay and notification syncing.
- Comfortable to Wear: Available in two sizes (40mm and 44mm) to fit different wrist sizes, with a stylish design.
Cons:
- Limited Health Features: Lacks advanced health functions like blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, and temperature sensors.
- Display is Average: The bezel is thicker, and brightness may be insufficient under direct sunlight.
- Short Battery Life: Offers only 18 hours of battery life under regular usage and does not support fast charging.
The Apple Watch SE (2022) offers a balanced set of features and a reasonable price point, making it a great choice for users who need a practical and economical smartwatch, ideal for daily use and light fitness tracking.
Apple Watch SE 2022 vs. Apple Watch SE 2020 - What's New
- Processor Upgrade: The 2022 Apple Watch SE features the S8 chip, providing a 20% performance boost for faster operation, ensuring priority for future updates and new technologies.
- Crash Detection: The addition of crash detection, using a high-g accelerometer and high-dynamic-range gyroscope, automatically triggers an SOS call and shares location information in case of a crash.
- Improved Back Material: The 2022 model uses a nylon composite and sapphire crystal back, replacing the ceramic back used in previous models, making the watch lighter and more durable.
- Bluetooth Chip Upgrade: The Bluetooth chip has been upgraded from 5.0 to 5.3, ensuring more stable and efficient connectivity.
- Color Unification: The back casing color now matches the strap for a more coordinated aesthetic.
- Battery Life & Charging: The battery lasts for 18 hours, with magnetic charging that takes about 2.5 hours to reach a full charge, but still lacks fast charging.
- Pricing with More Value: The Apple Watch SE(2022) starts at $249, lower than the previous generation, offering stronger performance and useful features (such as crash detection) at a better value.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation - Price and Availability
The starting price for the Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) is $249 for the 40mm GPS version, and $279 for the 44mm version. Compared to the 2020 Apple Watch SE, the SE 2 offers a more competitive price this year.
- 40mm GPS: $249 / £259 / AU$399
- 44mm GPS: $279 / £299 / AU$479
- Cellular versions: 40mm $299 / £319 / AU$479, 44mm $329 / £349 / AU$529
Compared to the Apple Watch Series 8 (starting at $399), the SE 2 offers a more budget-friendly option, making it an excellent choice for those who want the Apple Watch experience without spending too much.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Specifications
|
Material & Colors |
Aluminum case, Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver |
|
Processor |
S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor and dual-core neural engine |
|
Storage Capacity |
32GB |
|
Display |
Retina display (LTPO OLED), Brightness up to 1000 nits, 326 ppi, Ion-X glass cover |
|
Connectivity |
Optional Cellular (LTE), Wi-Fi (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, U1 Ultra-Wideband chip, GPS |
|
Sensors |
2nd-generation optical heart rate sensor, Compass, Always-on altimeter, High-g accelerometer, High dynamic range gyroscope, Ambient light sensor |
|
Health Features |
Heart Rate App, High/low heart rate notifications, Irregular rhythm notifications, Medication App, Mindfulness App, Sleep App (with sleep stages) |
|
Safety Features |
SOS Emergency Call, International Emergency Calling, Crash Detection, Fall Detection |
|
Water Resistance |
Water-resistant up to 50 meters, suitable for swimming |
|
Battery Life |
Up to 18 hours with regular use, Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Charges to 80% in about 1.5 hours |
|
Operating System |
watchOS |
|
Other Features |
Noise App, Backtrack, L1 GPS, Galileo, QZSS, Apple Pay, GymKit, Family Setup support |
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Design
The Apple Watch SE 2 continues the classic minimalist design, available in two sizes (40mm and 44mm), with a lightweight aluminum case and clear OLED display. The back cover is made from durable, eco-friendly composite nylon, replacing the plastic and sapphire crystal back found in the first-generation SE and Series 5 models.
The watch is available in three colors: Silver, Midnight, and Starlight, and fits wrist sizes from 130mm to 245mm. The 40mm version weighs 26.4g, while the 44mm version weighs 32.9g, offering a comfortable and lightweight wear.
Compared to the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, the SE 2 has a slightly thicker bezel, but its display area is 30% larger than the Series 3. Despite lacking the Always-On Display, the display still provides a significant improvement.
Compared with the design of the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch Series 8, the SE 2's display effect is also significantly improved, but it is relatively more basic in function, suitable for those users who do not need high-end features. You can also check Apple Watch Series 7 vs 8 or Apple Watch Series 8 vs 9 to know more Apple Watch comparison.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Display
The SE 2's display offers 30% more screen space compared to the previous generation, with the advanced LTPO OLED Retina display providing up to 1000 nits of brightness for easy visibility even under sunlight.
The OLED screen displays vivid colors on dark backgrounds, making the information clearer while saving battery, but it is less durable than sapphire screens. It should be noted that the SE 2 does not have an Always-On Display, so the user needs to raise the wrist or tap the screen to view the time and other information.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Performance and watchOS 9
The Apple Watch SE 2nd generation is equipped with the same S8 chipset as the Series 8, offering performance comparable to the premium models, including heart rate sensors and the W3 wireless chip. While the SE 2 offers similar performance to the Series 8, it lacks advanced features like an Always-On Display and blood oxygen monitoring, which are available only on higher-end models.
The SE 2 runs the latest watchOS 9, offering a similar software experience to the Series 8 and Ultra, with new watch faces, improved fitness apps (including running metrics), and detailed sleep tracking. While it lacks certain hardware features like temperature sensors and blood oxygen monitoring, the SE 2 provides a smooth experience for most functions.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Fitness and Health Tracking
The Apple Watch SE(2022) offers comprehensive health and fitness tracking, equipped with advanced sensors for real-time heart rate, step count, and blood oxygen data to help users maintain a healthy lifestyle. While it lacks advanced features like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and temperature sensors found in the Series 8 and Ultra, its heart rate monitoring remains accurate, suitable for most users' everyday health needs.
The Apple Watch SE 2nd generation supports various workout modes, including running, cycling, and swimming, and uses GPS to track data like distance, speed, and calories burned, helping users create a more effective workout plan. It can also automatically detect activities like running, walking, and cycling, eliminating the need to manually switch modes.
Additionally, the SE 2 includes sleep monitoring, fall detection, SOS emergency help, noise monitoring, and breathing guidance, ensuring user safety and health throughout daily life. For female users, the SE 2 provides menstrual cycle tracking, making it a comprehensive health management tool.
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation Review - Battery Life
The battery life of the Apple Watch SE 2 lasts around 18 hours, which is adequate for regular daily use. Charging takes about 2.5 hours, but it does not support fast charging. In low-power mode, the battery lasts even longer, offering better overall performance in terms of battery longevity.
Though Apple claims that the SE 2’s battery life is comparable to the Series 8, in real-world usage, the Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) performed beyond expectations. After a continuous 24-hour wear, the battery dropped by only about 50%. Even with prolonged outdoor walking and cycling exercises, using heart rate monitoring and GPS, the battery still performed well.
Therefore, the SE 2 offers reliable battery life, and low-power mode further extends its use time.
Apple Watch SE 2 Review - Summary
Overall, the Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) is a highly affordable smartwatch, ideal for users on a budget who still want to experience a wide range of features. While it lacks some high-end functionalities, it still provides strong support for everyday use, especially for those focused on health and fitness.
As an entry-level Apple Watch, the SE 2 doesn’t compromise on performance, featuring the same processor as the Series 8, ensuring a smooth experience. While its battery life is slightly shorter compared to dedicated fitness watches, two days of battery life is still impressive and suitable for most users.
Buying Recommendation:
- If you want to experience the full range of Apple Watch features at a lower price, the SE 2 is an ideal choice.
- For users with an Apple Watch Series 3 or older, the Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) offers a comprehensive upgrade.
- If reliable battery life is important, the Apple Watch SE 2nd generation is sufficient for daily use.
Not Suitable For:
- If you do not have an iPhone, the SE 2 cannot be used.
- For hardcore fitness enthusiasts, specialized watches like those from Garmin offer more features and longer battery life. Maybe you can check Garmin Approach S60 review, Garmin Fenix 8 review and Garmin S62 vs S70 to know more information about Garmin vs Apple watch.
- If you already own a Series 5 or later, the SE 2 may not provide enough of an upgrade.
The Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) is the perfect choice for first-time smartwatch buyers, seniors, children, and budget-conscious shoppers, offering a rich set of features and great value for money.
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