Proud of its success, Apple decides to give a wave of freshness to its best-selling connected watch. New sensors, new chip, improved screen… all this without touching the price.
The arrival of the new Apple Watch Series 8 has not prompted the Apple brand to abandon its most popular connected watch. According to Apple, 80% of new Apple Watch users have chosen to switch to the Watch SE. Two years after its release, and to align with the new features of the Series 8, the brand has updated its entry-level connected watch model.
Still based on the case of the Series 6, the Apple Watch SE however embeds the same SiP S8 chip of the Series 8. This update would allow it to be 20% faster than the previous SE, according to Apple.
The 40 mm and 44 mm formats remain, but the brightness of the screens increases, reaching 1,000 nits. No permanent display mode, however (Always-On).
Apple also integrates its new car accident detection functions, the new Watch SE embedding the same accelerometer as the Series 8. On the other hand, it ignores the SpO2 and temperature sensors, the monitoring functions of the rate of blood oxygen, estimation of the ovulation period as well as electrocardiogram being reserved for its big sister.
The Apple firm wants to make its SE a watch suitable for children. Parents can indeed configure it to know where their offspring is and allow them to contact them if necessary.
The Apple Watch SE retains its title as the cheapest connected watch in the Cupertino catalog with a minimum price of €299 for the 40mm GPS version, the 44mm model being sold at €339. To take advantage of the Cellular model with eSIM, you will have to pay €349 for the smallest model and €389 for the 44 mm version. Pre-orders are open, for availability announced on September 16.