Would you like to purchase an Apple Watch? If that’s the case, you might be torn between two Apple wristwatches: the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 5.
The truth is that, except for the brand new Apple watch ultra, each Apple Watch released over the past four years has been essentially the same. Each is equipped with the same 18-hour “all day” battery life, operates on the same watchOS, and has a similar design and set of features.
Whether you go with a newer model or older apple watch will depend on factors including the updated design, an always-on display, exclusive health features, and your willingness to spend.
If you’re thinking about apple watch se vs. apple watch series 5, continue reading to see a full comparison of the two models.
Functionality
Here's What We Have in This Article
In terms of motion sensors, the original Apple Watch SE is on par with the Apple Watch Series 6 and 7. It has an altimeter, gyroscope, and accelerometer. Despite being cheaper than other smartwatch options, it takes full advantage of the many enhancements to functionality included in Apple’s latest operating system, watchOS 8.
This entails many new watches faces tailor-made to the user, sleep monitoring, VO2 Max monitoring at low intensities, language translation, and Focus modes that filter out all but the most important alerts.
The Watch Series 5, on the other hand, was launched with watchOS 6. Apple has since updated it to watchOS 7. The main addition in this newer version is a Family Setup feature that lets you add multiple family members to a single account and manage their activity, location sharing, and communication from your own watch. Besides that, the Watch Series 5 is identical to the Watch SE in terms of functionality.
Design
The Retina display of the Apple Watch SE is beautiful and has rounded corners and tiny bezels. The interface makes it possible to have app icons and fonts that are visually appealing and easy to read while providing detailed information about any issues that may arise. Customers may choose from several new watch faces that make the most of the screen to read their notifications, texts, workout stats, and more.
The Apple Watch SE is exceptionally quick thanks to the dual-core CPU and S5 System in Package (SiP). As you turn the Digital Crown with haptic feedback, you’ll feel incredible, distinctly mechanical clicks. The new speaker and microphone in the Apple Watch SE, in conjunction with the device’s built-in Bluetooth 5.0, improve the clarity of your phone conversations, interactions with Siri, and Walkie-Talkie1.
The Watch Series 5, however, has an always-on display. This is a first for Apple Watches, and it’s a major selling point if you want to be able to see the time without having to raise your wrist or tap the screen. The display is dimmed when you’re not looking at it, which conserves battery power, but it’s still easy to read in direct sunlight. The always-on feature is turned off by default, but you can enable it in the Watch app on your iPhone.
The other big change with the Watch Series 5 is that it’s available in a new titanium case. This is in addition to the traditional aluminum and stainless steel options, giving the watch a slick, modern look. The titanium case is also more scratch-resistant than the aluminum and stainless steel options.
Health and fitness features
The Apple Watch SE has all the essential health and apple fitness features, including a built-in optical heart rate sensor, GPS, barometric altimeter, and 50-meter water resistance. It also has a new Blood Oxygen app that lets you measure your blood oxygen level with just a few taps.
The Watch Series 5 has the same health and fitness features as the Watch SE, plus it adds an ECG app and an international emergency calling feature.
You can use the electrocardiogram (ECG) app to diagnose atrial fibrillation, and it’s already on the market in some locations. In the event of an emergency, you can reach local emergency services without needing your iPhone.
Battery life
Identical to the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 5, the Apple Watch SE can go for 18 hours without charging. Since it doesn’t require charging, you can use it continuously throughout the day.
The Watch Series 5 has the same 18-hour battery life as the Watch SE, but it also has an always-on display. This means that you’ll get slightly less battery life if you enable the always-on display feature.
Price
You can choose between a 40mm or a 44mm Apple Watch SE depending on your preferences. The 40mm model starts at $279, and the 44mm model starts at $309. The Watch Series 5 is available in the same two sizes as the Watch SE, but it starts at a higher price point.
The Watch Series 5 is available in the same two sizes as the Watch SE, but it starts at a higher price point.
Prices begin at $399 for the GPS-only version and $499 for the LTE-enabled version.
Which Apple Watch Model Should You Get?
The Apple Watch SE is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable Apple Watch with all the essential features. If you don’t require an always-on screen or an ECG app, this is a great option as well.
The Watch Series 5 is the best choice if you’re looking for the most feature-packed Apple Watch. If you require an always-on screen or an electrocardiogram (ECG app), this is a great option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the Apple Watch SE cheaper than the Series 5?
A: The new Apple Watch SE is cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 5 because it doesn’t have the always-on display, titanium case, ECG app, or emergency SOS feature.
Q: What are the advantages of the always-on display?
A: The always-on display feature conserves battery power by dimming the display when you’re not looking at it. The sun doesn’t affect readability either.
Q: What apple watch has fall detection and crash detection?
A: The Apple Watch SE and Series 5 have fall detection and crash detection.
Q: What is the emergency calling feature?
A: If you are ever in an emergency and don’t have your iPhone with you, you can still get in touch with emergency services in more than 150 different countries.
Q: Which Apple Watch is better for fitness?
A: Both SE and series 5 are good choices for fitness. They have built-in optical heart rate sensors, GPS, barometric altimeters, and 50-meter water resistance. However, the Watch Series 5 has a new Blood Oxygen app that lets you measure your blood oxygen level. This can help track your fitness progress, as well as for detecting certain medical conditions.
Q: Which Apple Watch is better for everyday use?
A: The Apple Watch SE is a great choice for everyday use. It has all essential features, including optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, and gyroscope. It’s also available in two different sizes: 40mm and 44mm.
Q: Do I need an iPhone to operate the Apple Watch SE?
A: Yes. You can use the Apple Watch SE without an iPhone. However, you won’t be able to use all of the features, and you’ll need to connect it to your Apple iPhone periodically to keep it up-to-date.
Q: Are the apple se and Samsung galaxy watch 3 the same thing?
A: No, the Apple Watch SE and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 are not the same things. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a smartwatch that runs on the Android operating system, while the Apple Watch SE is a smartwatch that runs on the iOS operating system.
Q: Can I use Apple pay with the Apple Watch SE?
A: Simply load your payment method of choice into the iPhone’s Wallet app.
Q: Does the Apple Watch SE come in a variety of colors?
A: There are three color options for the Apple Watch SE: silver, space gray, and gold
Final Words
When it comes to choosing between the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 5, it really depends on your needs and budget. The Watch SE is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable Apple Watch with all the essential features.
However, if you need the always-on display or the ECG app, then you’ll want to opt for the Watch Series 5. Whichever model you choose, you can be sure you’re getting a high-quality Apple Watch edition that will help you stay connected, healthy, and fit.
