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While it doesn’t have the lowest price, the new Apple Watch SE represents better value on paper.
Apple
This story is part of Apple event, our full coverage of the latest news from Apple headquarters.
With the launching of the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE, now you have even more options for your wrist and wallet. The 6 Series brings a host of new features, including the S6 processor and a sensor that can measure your blood oxygen level. The Watch SE pulls parts from Series 3, Series 5, and Series 6 into an affordable new version.
We saw Apple do something similar when it launched the iPhone SE earlier this year. It used the body of the iPhone 8 and the processor of the iPhone 11 Pro, but it was priced at $ 399. It’s the most affordable new iPhone you can buy.
Priced at $ 279 (£ 269, AU $ 429), the same cannot be said for the Apple Watch SE. That’s because you can still buy the Apple Watch Series 3 for $ 199 (£ 199, AU $ 299). So, you may wonder, what is the point of the Apple Watch SE?
If you’re just looking at the price, obviously saving $ 80 and getting the Series 3 will be tempting. But you’d get a watch that was released three years ago, and if all is equal, they’ll run out of WatchOS updates three years earlier than the Watch SE.
The Watch SE also contains a more powerful processor than Apple’s older wearable device. Think of the SE as a 3 Series with a much-needed update on the interior. Powering the Series 3 is the S3 processor. Beneath the watch face of the SE is an S5 processor that is 2x faster than the S3 and is the same as found in the Series 5. The newer processor makes the SE more relevant in 2020 and in the future. . For example, Series 3 does not support Apple’s new family setup plan which allows you to set up an Apple Watch for your child, with parental controls for messaging and location tracking. The Apple Watch SE does.
The Apple Watch Series 3 was launched in 2017.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Then there is the screen and the body. The Watch SE has a Retina display that is 30% larger than the Series 3. That said, the always-on display found on the Series 6 doesn’t either. The SE comes in silver, space gray, and gold, while the Series 3 is available in silver and space gray only.
The SE also supports features like drop detection and noise monitoring, and it comes in cellular and non-cellular models. Apple only sells Series 3 in a non-cellular version. Although you may be able to find the cellular version of the Series 3 through other retailers.
The SE also has a compass, an always-on altimeter (the Series 3 has an altimeter, but it’s not always on), a second-generation optical sensor (the Series 3 has a first-generation one), and a W3 chip for connecting accessories like AirPods. Series 3 has a W2 chip.
At the end of the day, even with a higher price, the Apple Watch SE seems like the best value. But no one will embarrass you for getting a Series 3. You will.
See this:
Apple introduces lower-priced Apple Watch SE
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