Snappy performance on watchOS 7 thanks to the S5 processor; you get all the basic features of a premium smartwatch for a budget price

I miss the always-on display

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

Lacks the Series 6’s advanced health features, but the Apple Watch SE is cheaper and still a great smartwatch

Cheaper than the Series 6; Packed with features; Accurate HR and GPS tracking

No ECG or blood oxygen readings; Charges slower than Series 6; No always-on display

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

At the end of the day, the Apple Watch SE is nothing new. Apple just took the Apple Watch Series 5, cut off the always-on functionality reserving it for the more expensive Series 6, and also did not include an ECG and blood oxygen sensor.

More affordable price; great deal on cellular model; Fast performance; Great variety of high-quality watchfaces; Very comfortable to wear; Very accurate heart rate measurements for a smartwatch

No always-on screen; Still have to charge it every day; Sleep tracking less useful than on rivals; No ECG; no blood oxygen sensor; Does not work with Android phones

The Apple Watch SE is as slick as the higher-priced Watch Series 6, and delivers all the essential features and then some. But when it comes to more advanced health sensors, it's not as well equipped as competitors.

Fast and smooth to use; Comfortable; wearable design; Clear and bright screen; Great background health features; Excellent fitness tracking overall

No always-on screen; Sleep tracking is basic; No blood oxygen or ECG sensors

Like with iPhone, Apple Watch is a family now, with 2020 bringing two new models targeting not only different price points but very different users, too. More affordable of the two, the Apple Watch SE bridges the gap between the flagship Apple Watch Series 6 and the cheapest Series 3 from 2017.

Affordable balance of features; Excellent battery life; Family Setup could be a game-changer

No always-on display; Advanced health-tracking needs a Series 6 instead

Apple’s smartwatch lineup has gone from straightforward to surprisingly complex seemingly overnight. Where we used to have this year’s model or last year’s model at a lower price to choose from, now Apple is selling three distinct Apple Watch models at varying price tiers and with varying options.

Fast performance; Great smartwatch software; Reliable battery life

No always-on display; No third-party watch faces; No ECG or blood oxygen monitoring

It might not be the best Apple Watch in terms of features, but for most people the Apple Watch SE is the one you should buy. It retains all the vital tech (IP rating, GPS, sharp OLED) and ditches the ones that make the most sense.

Excellent value; Huge range of tracking features; The best smartwatch OS around; Wide variety of straps available

No always-on display; Battery life still only really a day

The Apple Watch SE is almost a resounding success, but is let down by one cut corner too many. It has all the major features that make an Apple Watch good. Excellent notifications, pin-sharp haptics, snappy performance and good battery life.