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

The SE might be more affordable but that word has always been relative with Apple kit – it’s still very much a luxury product. Nothing here is particularly necessary to your everyday life, although the health and wellness features are clearly trying to make that case. If you want to fully commit to those, though, a Series 6 will offer you even more peace of mind. An always-on display would certainly make the SE better too, but sacrifices have to be made somewhere to keep that price down. For those who just want to be able to see who’s texting them, whether it’s going to rain, or what song is playing, all without taking their iPhone out of their pocket, the SE does that better than any non-Apple rival and is certainly worth the extra £70 over the ageing Series 3. It’s unlikely to provide an iPhone 3G moment for the Watch, when features and price both hit that perfect sweet spot and sales went through the roof, but if you’ve been tempted to take the plunge before, the SE might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Better-than-expected battery life; More affordable price; Very customisable (especially for Apple); Fully waterproof;

No always-on display; Only available in three finishes; Still fairly pricey;

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;

By pulling together many of the best bits from the now-discontinued Series 4 and Series 5, the SE is an affordable entry into the Apple Watch experience that will suit a majority of users. It's the perfect middle ground for those users who aren't fussed about having multiple high-end health sensors and the additional expense that brings in the S6 model.

Affordable price; Ease of use; Apple Pay; Heart-rate sensor; Interchangeable straps;

No always-on display; Missing some of the sensors found in Series 6 model;

If you find the $399 Series 6 too expensive and the $199 Series 3 too dated, the $279 Apple Watch SE should be just right. With the exception of an always-on display and sensors for blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and electrocardiogram (ECG), it offers almost everything else you get in the Series 6, including a vast selection of downloadable apps, excellent calling and texting capabilities, and potentially lifesaving health features like fall detection, irregular heart rate and rhythm notifications, Emergency SOS, and international emergency calling. It also boasts a larger display, a faster processor, and more safety features than the Series 3. That makes the Watch SE an excellent, cost-effective option for kids, the elderly, or anyone who wants the apps, fitness, and safety features of the Series 6 without paying a premium for its always-on display and advanced health metrics. Price and Design  The Apple Watch SE starts at $279 for the GPS-only model or $329 for the GPS and cellu...

The Apple Watch SE drops the always-on display and a couple of advanced health sensors from the Series 6, but otherwise delivers the same winning app, fitness, and safety features for $120 less.

Same screen size and resolution as the Series 6; Supports fall detection, heart health notifications, and Emergency SOS; Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation tracking; WatchOS 7 adds a handwashing countdown timer and sleep tracking; Best third-party smartwatch app selection

No always-on display mode; Lacks ECG and SpO2 sensors

My daughter is extremely happy

Great watch. Am especially enjoying the activity tracker.

How exactly do you go about making the Apple Watch better? It’s already a feature-packed, superbly made, easy-to-use wearable that’s the smartwatch to buy if you own an iPhone. The answer is, you make it cheaper, and that’s what Apple has done with the Apple Watch SE. Of course, a reduction in price comes with a reduction in functionality, but just how much does this impact the SE, and should it put you off? The answer is no, it definitely shouldn’t put you off. In fact, it’s shaping up to be the Apple Watch model to buy this year. The Apple Watch SE looks exactly the same as the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6. It has a 1.78-inch Retina screen under Ion-X strengthened glass with a 326 pixel-per-inch density. The Digital Crown is on the side with a single button below it, and the aluminum case comes in either 44mm (seen in our photos) or 40mm sizes, with a choice of silver, space gray, or gold finishes. If you like the look of the Series 5 or Series 6, you’ll like the SE. I chose a g...

Stylish design; Highly customizable; Comprehensive health tracking; Responsive, fluid performance; Reliable, easy-to-use software;

No always-on display;

If you know you want a new Apple Watch, the Watch SE is the one to go for: it’s got all the useful features of the Watch 6, but it’s much cheaper, and thus one of the best smartwatches around. The always-on display is sorely missing, but the fitness tracking – including motivating nudges to keep you active – is as good as ever, and will improve when Fitness Plus lands. However, the Watch SE comes with the same issues as the rest of the Apple Watch line: some features and apps are too lightweight, and the battery life is just too short to get the best out of the watch.

Premium design; Excellent phone companion; Great range of features;

Lacks always-on display; Battery life lacking