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Amazon is offering just about the cheapest way to get a recent Apple Watch on your wrist during its Prime Big Deals Days 2024 promotion, with a model you may have forgotten existed. You can buy a second-generation Apple Watch SE in various colors and with a choice of bands for $170 if you choose the 40mm version or $200 if you buy the 44mm model. If you’ve wondered what life with an Apple Watch is like, now is the time to find out.
It’s not the latest Apple Watch Series 10 model, but it’s about half its price, and although it doesn’t have the same specifications, when that kind of saving is involved, there are some acceptable sacrifices. The second-generation Apple Watch SE was released in 2022, and with several more expensive models launched since then and no replacement from Apple, it has stopped being part of the conversation. However, that’s unfair as the SE 2 has an aluminum case, Ion-X protective glass, a nylon composite case back, a heart rate sensor, an OLED screen, and a battery that should last at least a day with normal use.
It looks the same as the first Apple Watch SE and many other Apple Watch models, but is smaller and thicker than the current Series 10 model. It doesn’t have an always-on screen, so it won’t show the time until you raise your wrist to see the screen. The good news is this feature works so well that you won’t ever be left staring at a blank screen. Don’t expect recent features like the Double Tap gesture or some of the advanced health features like an electrocardiogram, blood oxygen monitoring, or a body temperature sensor, though.
Where the Apple Watch SE 2 wins is with the software. It runs Apple’s watchOS 11, just like the most recent models, so it won’t feel any different operationally. It has the same control system, basically the same workout tracking with GPS, and it’ll show you all your health data and notifications, too. Apple’s all-day battery life claim is on the conservative side, and if you don’t track workouts, it’s possible for the battery to last deep into a second day before it needs recharging.
When I wore the Apple Watch SE 2 ahead of my review when it was released, the lack of an always-on screen bothered me, but mostly because I was coming from an Apple Watch that had the feature. Newcomers probably won’t care, especially when the price is so competitive, and I did wonder at the time if we should be recommending it as the core Apple Watch to buy, as it did almost everything the more expensive model did. Two years on, and it lags further behind in headline features a design, but it’s still a current model, meaning it’ll be supported with new software for several years to come and remains a fantastic option for anyone wanting to try the best smartwatch you can buy without paying $350 or more.
Which color case you choose will be down to you, but I’d recommend getting one of the models with a Sport Loop band if possible. It’s more comfortable for all-day and night wear than the Sport Band, and its quick and easy adjustment makes it great for exercise. It may also be worth looking at the GPS and Cellular models, which are $220 for the 40mm and $250 for the 44mm, as they allow you to leave your phone at home and still stay connected, provided you add it to your regular phone plan. It’s usually around $10 per month to do this.
Few talk about the Apple Watch SE 2 these days, an oversight that probably needs correcting, but Amazon’s low price makes this a brilliant smartwatch for anyone with an iPhone who wants to try life with an Apple Watch.
