The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) pictured with the Spigen Crystal Liquid Professional Apple Watch band.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Apple’s widespread watch gadgets can be found in several models, and the Watch SE (2nd Gen) remains 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 Sequence 9 or 10 options, it gives nice worth for these trying to monitor fundamental well being and health metrics, maintain in touch 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 proper smartwatch companion to my principally low-key tech way of life. It is confirmed nice for monitoring my exercises, steps, and different well being metrics, and it has been a terrific introduction to sleep monitoring. Proper now, you may seize my favourite watch mannequin (and Apple’s newest 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.
In case you’re not searching for the superior options supplied within the newer Sequence 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 effectively this mannequin compares to Apple’s different contenders.
The SE gives customers as much as 18 hours of battery life and 32GB of inside storage. It does supply among the identical well being and security options because the Sequence 9, 10, and Extremely, although it would not monitor blood oxygen, carry out ECG coronary heart checks, or test 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 yr, I upgraded from the Sequence 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 sophisticated bells and whistles I did not need (or want) — but it nonetheless gives a crisp show, quick response price, and seamless use. It is excellent for monitoring my exercises and walks and for rapidly answering texts, emails, and extra. Plus, with the financial savings I obtained from buying the extra fundamental SE mannequin, I used to be capable of snag a number of totally different watch bands to decorate my lookup or down.
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How I rated this deal
Primarily based on the 32% off financial savings being supplied, ZDNET’s ranking system offers this a 4/5 Editor’s deal ranking. 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 supplied throughout Amazon’s Huge Spring Sale and Memorial Day weekend, and is the second-lowest worth I’ve seen it discounted.
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