The Apple Watch SE hasn’t seen a refresh since its second generation launched in September 2022. Meanwhile, Apple has updated nearly every other product in its lineup, from iPhones and iPads to MacBooks and AirPods. But the budget-friendly smartwatch? Left untouched. So, how does the Watch SE hold up in 2025? Well, not great.
The Price Gap Is Shrinking
A major factor in the SE’s continued relevance has been its affordability. Apple positioned it as the go-to smartwatch for those who don’t need all the premium bells and whistles. But the pricing landscape has changed.
- The Apple Watch SE costs $249 at retail but has been seen as low as $149.
- The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 but often drops to $329 on sale.
- Competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE and Fitbit Versa 4 offer similar or better features at $200.
This narrowing gap in price makes the SE less compelling. For a little extra, consumers can step up to a flagship model with a better display, a faster chip, and additional features. Apple needs to rethink what the SE offers to keep it relevant.
Display: Bigger Would Be Better
The Watch SE still sports the same 40mm display size as the 2018 Apple Watch Series 4. It’s starting to feel cramped, especially with the increasing amount of information smartwatches now handle. Apple has proven it can shrink bezels and expand screen real estate. So why not give the SE a slight bump?
That said, not every premium display feature needs to trickle down. The SE’s OLED Retina screen is bright enough, and while it lacks the always-on display (AOD), that’s a compromise many budget-conscious buyers can live with. But if Apple sticks with the same 40mm size in its next SE, it’ll feel like a relic.
Performance: It’s Time for a Faster Chip
The SE runs on Apple’s S8 chip, which was decent in 2022 but feels sluggish in 2025. Launching apps, controlling music, and even simple tasks like starting a workout take just a little too long compared to flagship models. A move to the S9 chip from 2023 would solve this.
- The S9 chip would enable on-device Siri processing, making voice commands faster.
- It could allow for Apple’s Double Tap gesture control, though that’s more of a luxury than a necessity.
- Overall, it would make interactions feel smoother and more responsive.
Charging: Seriously, It Needs to Be Faster
Battery life on the SE is solid—it lasts a full day even with workouts and sleep tracking. But the problem is charging speed. The SE takes over two hours to fully charge, which is frustrating when newer models can top up much faster. A budget watch doesn’t need all the latest tech, but at least some speed improvements in charging would be a welcome upgrade.
Materials: Aluminum and Glass Are Fine
Premium materials like titanium and sapphire crystal should remain exclusive to higher-end models. The SE’s aluminum build and Ion-X glass strike a reasonable balance between durability and cost. Many budget-conscious buyers slap a screen protector on their watch anyway, so there’s no need for Apple to over-engineer the materials.
However, rumors suggest Apple might move to a plastic case for the next SE. If this keeps costs low while maintaining durability, it could work—especially if it means a splash of fun colors to appeal to younger buyers.
Health and Fitness Tracking: Keep the Essentials
The SE already covers the basics well:
- It tracks workouts, steps, and calories.
- It includes GPS, an altimeter, a heart rate sensor, and sleep tracking.
- It delivers reliable fitness metrics comparable to flagship models.
What it lacks are more advanced health sensors, like ECG and temperature tracking. While nice to have, these aren’t deal-breakers for most budget buyers. Blood oxygen monitoring is another missing feature, though that may not change anytime soon due to Apple’s ongoing patent disputes.
Missing Features That Don’t Matter Much
Some omissions on the SE don’t feel like a big loss:
- No Ultra Wideband (UWB): While UWB makes finding a lost iPhone more precise, most people just listen for the sound when pinging their phone.
- No Depth Gauge or Water Temperature Sensor: The SE isn’t built for deep-sea diving, and that’s fine.
- No Premium Audio Interactions: Newer flagship watches integrate better with Apple’s HomePod, but this is a niche feature at best.
The Competition Is Catching Up
The Apple Watch SE was once the best budget smartwatch on the market. But now, buyers have more choices:
| Smartwatch | Price | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE | $249 | Core Apple Watch experience, solid fitness tracking |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch FE | $200 | ECG, similar feature set to flagship models |
| Fitbit Versa 4 | $200 | Long battery life, basic tracking, iPhone compatibility |
| Garmin Forerunner 165 | $250 | Excellent for runners, long battery life |
Apple can’t afford to ignore this growing competition. If the next SE doesn’t bring meaningful improvements, buyers will look elsewhere.
What the Next SE Needs to Stay Competitive
To keep the SE relevant, Apple should:
- Increase the display size slightly without making it a flagship clone.
- Upgrade to the S9 chip for smoother performance and on-device Siri.
- Improve charging speeds so users don’t have to wait over two hours for a full charge.
- Maintain its durable aluminum build (or introduce high-quality plastic if cost-effective).
- Keep core fitness tracking features but skip ultra-specialized sensors to keep costs down.
Apple doesn’t need to turn the SE into a flagship killer. But it does need to ensure it remains a compelling option in an increasingly crowded budget smartwatch market. If it fails to do so, the SE risks fading into irrelevance while rivals like Samsung and Garmin continue to push forward.
