Written by Robyn
Edited on
1 October 2025
·
10:02
Expert review Apple Watch SE
With the Apple Watch SE, Apple made their smartwatch available to a wider audience. The smartwatch is more affordable than the Apple Watch Series 6, but it does have the most important functions of the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch SE is also a lot faster than its predecessor the Series 3, thanks to the S5 chip. I've tested the watch and I'll tell you all about the Apple Watch SE.
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First impression of the Apple Watch SE
As soon as I receive the Apple Watch, I open the box. I immediately notice that there's only a charging cable and no charger adapter in the package. Luckily, I have my iPhone charger. I can use that to charge the Apple Watch SE. The watch case looks the same as that of the Apple Watch Series 6 from the front, but it doesn't have a large sensor for ECG cardiograms on the back.
Larger display, no Always On
The display of the Apple Watch SE is 30% larger than that of the Apple Watch Series 3. The display doesn't have a thick black bezel around it, which makes all my messages easy to read. Unlike the Apple Watch 6, the Apple Watch SE doesn't have an Always On display. Instead, the display turns completely black when you're not using the watch. You have to lift your wrist to see the time or your notifications.
Fall detection makes me feel safe
If I get up too quickly in the morning, I sometimes get very dizzy. If I don't sit down on time, I'll pass out. Thanks to the fall detection on the Apple Watch SE, I don't have to worry if I fall. As soon as the smartwatch detects a fall, I get a notification with 2 options: "I'm OK" or "Call emergency services". If I don't respond within 1 minute or the Apple Watch doesn't detect motion, the watch automatically calls the emergency services for me. My most important contacts also receive a message that I've fallen.
Always up-to-date with the always-on altimeter
A new feature on the Apple Watch is the always-on altimeter. With this function, you always see how high you've climbed. If I work from home, the function may not be of much use to me. But when I'm on vacation in the mountains, I can see exactly how high I've climbed and how fast I descend while hiking. It's good to keep an eye on this, especially on very high mountains where the air is thin. This way, you avoid passing out on the mountain due to lack of oxygen.
Lots of storage capacity, faster than the Series 3
The Apple Watch SE is a big leap forward compared to the Apple Watch 3. The smartwatch has a 32GB storage capacity, instead of 8GB. This means I have enough space for all my apps and to try new ones. I can also easily save all my Apple Music playlists. Switching between apps is faster thanks to the S5 chip. My apps load in no time.
Conclusion
The Apple Watch is a good starter model for Apple iPhone users. Thanks to the larger display and the new processor, the smartwatch works faster and easier than the Series 3. Fall detection makes me feel safer when I'm alone, because emergency services get notified if needed. All my apps also fit on the 32GB storage capacity. I think it's a disadvantage that the Apple Watch SE doesn't have an Always On display. I don't always see what time it is, so I have to lift my wrist first.
Article by Robyn
Smartwatch Expert.
