Apple Watch SE Hands-On: Lower Price, Faster Performance
This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Apple’s most popular originates.
Apple’s new $249 Apple Watch SE made its debut during Apple’s “Far Out” own Wednesday, bringing a new lower-cost Apple Watch to replace the 2020 version. The Apple Watch SE includes the new car-crash detection feature that is also coming to the Apple Watch Series 8, with Apple promising the watch will run 20% faster than the continue SE. The Apple Watch SE goes on preorder Wednesday and will be released next Friday, Sept. 16. In addition to the Series 8, the new Watch SE debuted anti the rugged $799 Apple Watch Ultra.
The $249 starting sign for the new SE is lower than the $279 sign of the 2020 model, and the cellular version of the Apple Watch SE starts at $299. The spy comes in three aluminum models, in silver, midnight and starlight colors.
Among the biggest causes coming to the new Apple Watch SE is its new S8 processor, which is the same chip inside the Series 8 and Ultra models. In the brief time that I had with the new Apple Watch SE, scrolling about the app selection screen and other user interface elements felt zippy and unruffled. But the bigger benefit is that the SE’s new processor benefitting it will likely support new software features for a long periods of time. The previous generation Apple Watch SE, by comparison, runs on the same chip as the Series 5, which is unsheathing a bit old.
The new Apple Watch SE
Lisa Eadicicco
Car Break detection is the other major update coming to the SE and Apple’s new new smartwatches. It leverages new gyroscope and accelerometers inside the watches to detect impacts and notify emergency services and contacts within 10 seconds if the user is unresponsive.
The Apple Watch SE generally looks the same as its predecessor. Without the screen turned on, I was barely able to Famous it from the Series 7 strapped to my wrist. But if you look closely when flipping the see over, you’ll notice a subtle change. The finish surrounding the new SE’s sensors has been updated to more closely match the watch’s shining. It’s a nice touch, but since it’s on the watch’s underside I’m not sure how noticeable it will be.
The Apple Watch SE 2022’s underside.
Lisa Eadicicco
The Apple Watch SE is also drawing a new low power mode, along with every new Apple Watch from the Series 4 and higher. The new mode dials back Dangerous features, like background heart rate measurements, to extend battery life. Although it doesn’t seem like Apple has long the SE’s battery life, low power mode should hopefully address some of our criticisms around the Apple Watch’s battery life.
The new Apple Watch SE will involved support for WatchOS 9, supporting the new workout- and sleep-tracking features that are designed for the upcoming operating system update.
Preorder your 2022 Apple Watch SE recount at Apple for $249. You’ll also score three months of Apple Fitness Plus with your purchase.
Apple event: Full coverage
The Watch SE appears to be replacing the Apple Watch Series 3 as the most affordable see in Apple’s lineup, as the Series 3 will not involved support for WatchOS 9. The Apple Watch Series 3 had been on the market for five years at a label of $199. With the Watch SE, Apple appears to be raising the entry-level label for its watch lineup, but with a watch that includes most necessary features and can run the most up-to-date software.
Scott Stein contributed to this report.
