The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) pictured with the Spigen Crystal Liquid Professional Apple Watch band.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Apple’s common watch units can be found in several models, and the Watch SE (2nd Gen) continues to be the most recent base mannequin watch to hit the market. Regardless of Apple unveiling the Watch Series 10 in September 2024, the SE didn’t get an improve as originally rumored. Whereas it isn’t full of all of the Collection 9 or 10 options, it provides nice worth for these trying to observe primary well being and health metrics, hold involved with ease, and profit from connection to the Apple ecosystem.
Additionally: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the premium smartwatch I prefer – here’s why
I personal the Watch SE (2nd Gen), and it has been the right smartwatch companion to my principally low-key tech life-style. It is confirmed nice for monitoring my exercises, steps, and different well being metrics, and it has been a fantastic introduction to sleep monitoring. Proper now, you may seize my favourite watch mannequin (and Apple’s most modern base mannequin), the Watch SE (2nd Gen) for $80 off at Walmart.
This deal solely applies to the 40mm mannequin with both Starlight, Midnight, or Denim Sport Band. The 44mm Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is on sale, too, for $199. That is not fairly as little as I noticed the watch drop throughout Black Friday gross sales (the place it was briefly on sale for $149), however previous to this worth drop, the Watch SE hadn’t seen many reductions in any respect, so this 32% off supply is strong.
If you happen to’re not searching for the superior options provided within the newer Collection 9, 10, or Extremely and Extremely 2 fashions, the watch SE is a good purchase with all of the necessities. You would be stunned how properly this mannequin compares to Apple’s different contenders.
The SE provides customers as much as 18 hours of battery life and 32GB of inside storage. It does supply a few of the identical well being and security options because the Collection 9, 10, and Extremely, although it would not observe blood oxygen, carry out ECG coronary heart checks, or examine your temperature.
Additionally: I ran with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and it both humbled and motivated me
Throughout Black Friday gross sales final 12 months, I upgraded from the Collection 3 Apple Watch to the 40mm SE mannequin, and I’ve by no means been happier with a tech buy. The SE has all the required options with out the difficult bells and whistles I did not need (or want) — but it nonetheless provides a crisp show, quick response charge, and seamless use. It is excellent for monitoring my exercises and walks and for shortly answering texts, emails, and extra. Plus, with the financial savings I obtained from buying the extra primary SE mannequin, I used to be capable of snag a number of completely different watch bands to decorate my search for or down.
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How I rated this deal
Primarily based on the 32% off financial savings being provided, ZDNET’s score system offers this a 4/5 Editor’s deal score. This isn’t the bottom supply I’ve seen in my time protecting Apple Watch offers. The Watch SE (2nd Gen) has been obtainable throughout choose sale intervals for as little as $149 or $100 off. Nonetheless, this $169 supply matches the financial savings worth I noticed provided throughout Amazon’s Large Spring Sale and Memorial Day weekend, and is the second-lowest worth I’ve seen it discounted.
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