In addition to the high-end model, the cheaper Apple Watch SE has also been tested. The reviews have been very positive.
The Apple Watch SE will be delivered starting Friday, September 18. For this reason, the first reviews have now been published by various media outlets. Given that the Apple Watch SE is a cheaper option that does not offer any new features, Victoria Song, of Gizmodo, presented a Comparison on:
First off, you won't get the electrocardiogram app to detect atrial fibrillation or the new sensor to monitor blood oxygen. You also won't get the always-on display introduced with the Series 5, the Series 6's faster S6 chip, or the U1 Ultra Wideband chip. As for charging, the Series 6 will also go from zero to 100% a little faster at 1.5 hours compared to the Watch SE's 2.5 hours. For WiFi, the Series 6 supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz while the SE can only handle the former.
Positively surprised
Although the comparison highlights certain disadvantages, Song was still very positive about the performance of the Apple Watch SE:
The S5 chip is snappy so far. I have zero complaints about downloading or launching apps. I'm sure the S6 chip is faster but the S5 chip is better than just "fast enough". I'm not sure if it's just my storage but it feels faster than I remember on the 2, 3 and 4 series. Maybe it's the S5 chip?
In terms of performance and battery life, Chris Velazco of Engadget was similarly positive surprised:
In other words, you can expect performance that's on par with what was - until recently - Apple's flagship wearable. I haven't had the SE long enough to fully test battery life, but I easily got a full day of use out of the Series 5 when it launched, and the SE version might last a little longer since it doesn't have an always-on display to worry about.
Ultimately, both came to the conclusion that the Apple Watch SE offers very good value for money. However, the disappointment about the lack of an ECG function could not be ignored. The cheaper Apple Smartwatch is now available from Apple starting at 291.45 euros. (Image: Apple)
