Apple's affordable Watch SE 2 smartwatch comes with a few new features, but does it make sense for first-gen Watch SE users to upgrade? At its Far Out event, Apple announced an update to its entry-level Watch SE smartwatch, the first since its release two years ago. When it was first introduced in 2020, the Apple Watch SE advertised the safety, fitness, and wellness features of the flagship Apple Watch at a lower price point.
The SE 2 continues this trend, serving consumers looking for core Apple Watch features at a lower price. The Apple Watch line now includes the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and the Apple Watch SE 2. While there are options for different preferences and use cases, the new Apple Watch SE 2 is sure to attract the attention of first-time smartwatch buyers or those on a budget.
The Apple Watch SE 2 has many features in common with the first generation Watch SE. Both watches have the same wellness monitoring capabilities, including a heart rate sensor, irregular rhythm notifications, Emergency SOS, and Fall Detection. The Watch SE and Watch SE 2 come in 40mm or 44mm case sizes and feature an OLED display with a brightness of 1,000 nits. The case design is similar for both watches, although the SE 2 gets a color-matched back panel which is made of a lighter nylon composite material. Both smartwatches are water-resistant to a depth of up to 50 meters, and can be used for swimming, but not scuba diving or high-velocity water sports. They both offer a battery life of up to 18 hours and charge via the bundled magnetic USB-C charging cable.
Updated Design Without Upgraded Functionality
The biggest upgrade to the Watch SE 2 is its new, powerful S8 chip, which also features on the Apple Watch Series 8. This makes it 20 percent faster than the first-generation Watch SE. The SE 2 also uses data from the improved accelerometer to provide Crash Detection with emergency calls, a new safety feature for the watch.
The Apple Watch SE 2 runs watchOS 9, which brings new features including improved battery life with the new low power mode. The new WatchOS release also offers a wider range of wellness apps and improves the existing sleep tracking and workout functions. However, watchOS 9 will also be coming to the original Apple Watch SE, which means there will be feature parity between the two smartwatches.
Owners of the first-gen Apple Watch SE are unlikely to see much benefit from upgrading to the Apple Watch SE 2. The faster processor might benefit power users of the original SE, however, those looking for better fitness features should look to the Apple Watch Series 8 or Watch Ultra. The Watch SE 2 is priced at $249 in the U.S., making it an affordable option for those who want the classic Apple Watch experience without all the bells and whistles. For existing Watch SE users though, there's little reason to upgrade to the Watch SE 2.
Source: Apple