Apple Watch SE (2022) review: All Apple for part of the price

The Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen is the full smartwatch experience, for less.

Apple Watch SE (2022) being worn by a man
(Image: © Future)

Our Verdict

The new Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen is as smooth, fast and flexible as Apple's more expensive smartwatches, with all the app support you could want. The new lighter build makes it perhaps Apple's most comfortable watch ever, too. It's a pity it doesn't have an always-on screen (other watches manage to provide one at a similar price), but we can live with that. And it's great for fitness and general health as long as you don't want to get hardcore with pulse-ox sensing. Even more than before, you need a good reason to upgrade from the Watch SE 2nd Gen to the Series 8, rather than only getting it for budget reasons. It's a great experience for iPhone users in its own regard.

For

  • Lightweight, premium design
  • Excellent apps and iPhone integration
  • Very good fitness options
  • Long battery life (for an Apple Watch)

Against

  • No always-on screen
  • Limited health sensors
  • Low battery life (for a fitness watch)
  • Only for iPhone users still

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Apple Watch SE (2022) is the first update to Apple's lower-priced wearable, and on paper, it doesn't look like much of a change. There are certainly some updates internally, including a new processor and upgraded motion sensors, but there's no big list of new features compared to the older version.

The Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation looks like a refinement of the previous version, and that's exactly what it is. But we're having trouble finding too much fault with that because after testing it in practice for over a week, the list of things we wish Apple has added is short. We switched directly from the Series 7 (the previous flagship) to the new Watch SE, and it didn't feel like a significant step back in the experience. That's the Watch SE's best trick.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Verdict
9

out of 10

Apple Watch SE (2022)

The new Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen is as smooth, fast and flexible as Apple's more expensive smartwatches, with all the app support you could want. The new lighter build makes it perhaps Apple's most comfortable watch ever, too. It's a pity it doesn't have an always-on screen (other watches manage to provide one at a similar price), but we can live with that. And it's great for fitness and general health as long as you don't want to get hardcore with pulse-ox sensing. Even more than before, you need a good reason to upgrade from the Watch SE 2nd Gen to the Series 8, rather than only getting it for budget reasons. It's a great experience for iPhone users in its own regard.

TOPICS
Matt Bolton

Matt is Managing Editor at TechRadar.com, and previously worked on T3, MacLife and MacFormat. He's been testing technology for over a decade, working in specialist Apple publications as well general technology and creative journalism, and has charted Apple’s ups and downs since his student days (but still hopes to hear “one more thing”). By day, you can find him covering TV, audio, smart home gear and more at T3.com, as Home Tech Editor. By night, he's probably updating or pairing or installing some new piece of technology in the quest for the perfect setup.

Read more
Google Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a review: all the AI, for less
iMac
iMac M4 review: Apple's beautiful desktop computer keeps defying the doubters
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: AI power in an overpriced form?
Asus Zenbook A14
ASUS Zenbook A14 review: this Copilot+ laptop’s been on a diet
A liquid silver Xiaomi 15 on a desk
I've had the Xiaomi 15 for a week, and I never want to see a Samsung or iPhone ever again
Apple Watch 10 deal
Apple Watch 10 prices plummet to lowest ever after legal battle ends
Latest in Smartwatches
Three Apple Watch 9s in a row.
Apple Watch Series 9 price alert: the best deals on my favourite Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch ban is a surprising first for the company
Google Pixel Watch 2
The Google Pixel Watch 2 just got a $50 price cut in time for Christmas
A Midnight Apple Watch Series 9 sitting on a desk
Apple Watch Series 9 review: if it ain't broke, don't fix it
Apple Watch Series 9
I dumped my Apple Watch but still miss 3 features
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Apple Watch deals.
LIVE: These are the top Apple Watch Black Friday deals right now
Latest in Reviews
A liquid silver Xiaomi 15 on a desk
I've had the Xiaomi 15 for a week, and I never want to see a Samsung or iPhone ever again
Sorry We're Closed review; a digital illustration of a stylised female character, featuring vibrant colours and a unique design, is presented against a dark background.
Sorry We're Closed review: a bewitching, bizarre and often frustrating horror cocktail
Wanderstop review; a stylised digital illustration shows a whimsical landscape with a large, stout figure gazing at a quaint, fantastical structure beneath a decorative archway.
Wanderstop review: a surprisingly intricate, de-stressing tea-making indie game
A white Boox Palma 2 ereader tablet on a yellow background
Boox Palma 2 review: ereader deja vu
The Sihoo C300 Pro office chair, facing a desk, in a home office.
Sihoo Doro C300 Pro review: A good-to-great ergo chair that's worth your time (when it's on sale)
A Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank on a wooden table
Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank review: impressive charging but limited port selection