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;

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

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

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;

All it's missing is an always-on display

Sleek looking; Offers most of Series 6's key features; Excellent activity monitoring

No always-on display; Expensive; Disappointing battery life

You’re happy with the features on your pre-Series 4 Apple Watch but it’s too slow. Your budget doesn’t go higher than $350. You’re giving it to a child as part of Family Setup. You don’t care about blood-oxygen or ECG readings. You’re content to wear a blank screen on your wrist for most of the day.

Design and display is identical to the Series 6; Price for the LTE model is 50% less than Series 6; Processor and LTE are pleasantly fast

Lack of always-on display is glaring; Doesn't have next-gen health sensors; Battery life is only adequate

Our early tests with the Apple Watch SE show a wearable that takes the best of the range, drops the added health benefits and could well be the top-selling Apple Watch out there.

Lower price; Still-powerful chipset

No always-on display; Battery life still not improved

The Apple Watch SE is set to start shipping Friday, September 18, but the first hands-on reviews of Apple's lower-cost wearable are now appearing...

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.