Apple Announces Second-Generation Apple Watch SE With S8 Chip and Crash Detection for $249

[MacRumors]

Apple today unveiled the second-generation Apple Watch SE, featuring the S8 chip, Crash Detection, and new color options at a lower $249 price point.

The second-generation Apple Watch SE offers the core Apple Watch experience at a more affordable price. The Apple Watch SE is now 20 percent faster thanks to the S8 chip, the same chip from the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra. The S8 chip allows the Apple Watch SE to deliver Crash Detection, international roaming, and Low Power Mode.

The back case has been redesigned with a new, color-matched nylon composite material to reduce its weight. The second-generation Apple Watch SE is available in a refreshed series of color options, including Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

The second-generation Apple Watch SE starts at $249 for the GPS model and $299 for the cellular model. Orders open today and it will become available on September 16.

The second-generation Apple Watch SE follows the now-discontinued first-generation model released in September 2020, which started at $279.

Article Link: Apple Announces Second-Generation Apple Watch SE With S8 Chip and Crash Detection for $249

 

[apocalyarts]

No always on display?

 

[JPack]

This is honestly the more important announcement as it's a mainstream Watch that everyone can afford, especially with an S8.

 

[DJTaurus]

Is it build on same body as watch 7 ?

 

[bodonnell202]

No always on display?

I doubt it, if they included AOD there wouldn't be enough to differentiate it from the S8 (slightly bigger screen and temperature sensor wouldn't be enough to justify the extra cost for most people).

 

[infinitedreams]

So only thing new about this watch is car crash detection. Will stick with my SE 1.

 

[bodonnell202]

Is it build on same body as watch 7 ?

Pretty sure it's the same body as the S4, S5, S6 (and 1st gen SE). I think it's basically the same SE with the latest chip (not unlike what they did with the 2nd to 3rd gen iPhone SE).

 

[Cromulent]

I think I'm going to get this!

 

[ekuLoN]

S8 chip means S7 chip. Which means S6 chip based on a13 cores. That was the last real upgrade with SiP aspect

 

[JPack]

So only thing new about this watch is car crash detection. Will stick with my SE 1.

SE1 is slow as heck.

 

[erikkfi]

So back to a composite back from ceramic. That's disappointing. My S0's composite back became scuffed over time just from going on the charger.

 

[eilavid]

so the big differential with the series 8 is still the always on display

 

[ChrisMoBro]

SE1 is slow as heck.

Really? Doesn’t it use the same chip as the S5? I have that model and it’s lightning fast

 

[johannnn]

so the big differential with the series 8 is still the always on display

Is that the main difference? What about the screen size? Series 6 and earlier have huge bezels, while Series 7 have much slimmer bezels. What about the new SE? A bit annoying that the screenshots only have black background, makes it impossible to see the bezels.

 

[Boisv]

I want to buy my wife an Apple Watch today, and I'm trying to figure out the differences between the Series 8 and the new SE. This is what I put together, but what am I missing?

-SE has no Always On Display
-SE has a smaller display?
-SE has no temperature sensor, but has most of the health features found in other Apple Watches
-SE has no fast charging?

 

[Jmausmuc]

I want to buy my wife an Apple Watch today, and I'm trying to figure out the differences between the Series 8 and the new SE. This is what I put together, but what am I missing?

-SE has no Always On Display
-SE has a smaller display?
-SE has no temperature sensor, but has most of the health features found in other Apple Watches
-SE has no fast charging?

No ECG

 

[bodonnell202]

I want to buy my wife an Apple Watch today, and I'm trying to figure out the differences between the Series 8 and the new SE. This is what I put together, but what am I missing?

-SE has no Always On Display
Correct
-SE has a smaller display?
Yes, the SE displays are ~1mm smaller in roughly the same side enclosure
-SE has no temperature sensor, but has most of the health features found in other Apple Watches
Correct, minus the temperature sensor, it does have most of the other health features (the other feature I suspect it will omit is the ECG, but that hasn't been confirmed one way or the other yet).
-SE has no fast charging?
Also unknown at this time, but I'd be surprised if the new SE doesn't get fast(er) charging

 

[zach-coleman]

No blue is such a shame.

 

[D-ConYT]

SE1 is slow as heck.

It's barely any slower than the SE2! It would only be considered "slow as heck" if the S7 and S8 weren't just reskins of the S6, and the SE1 uses an S5, so yeah it's really only 1 generation slower. That's a difference of about 20% but it's still really snappy.

 

[randolorian]

Is "starlight" a pinkish color? Hard to tell from the photos.

 

[zach-coleman]

Does the AoD on the S8 not dim anymore...?

 

[crispswish]

It would only be considered "slow as heck" if the S7 and S8 weren't just reskins of the S6, and the SE1 uses an S5, so yeah it's really only 1 generation slower.

S8 chip means S7 chip. Which means S6 chip based on a13 cores. That was the last real upgrade with SiP aspect

The S8 chip doesn't seem to be a just a reskin of the S7 and S6 chips from Series 6 and 7. According to Apple, the up to 20% increase in speed is comparing the new SE with the S8 chip to the Series 7 with the S7 chip, not the old SE with the S5 chip:

"S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
Up to 20% faster than previous generation24"

"Results based on the performance of common user tasks. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2021 using preproduction Apple Watch Series 7, and shipping Apple Watch SE, each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Results reflect the approximate performance of Apple Watch."

So the old SE would be 2 generations slower?

 

[crispswish]

Does the new SE still not have on-screen keyboard?

 

[infinitejest]

The S8 chip doesn't seem to be a just a reskin of the S7 and S6 chips from Series 6 and 7. According to Apple, the up to 20% increase in speed is comparing the new SE with the S8 chip to the Series 7 with the S7 chip, not the old SE with the S5 chip:

"S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
Up to 20% faster than previous generation24"

"Results based on the performance of common user tasks. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2021 using preproduction Apple Watch Series 7, and shipping Apple Watch SE, each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Results reflect the approximate performance of Apple Watch."

So the old SE would be 2 generations slower?

On the SE2 site it says the following:

1. Results based on the performance of common user tasks. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2022 using preproduction Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and shipping Apple Watch SE (1st generation), each paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with prerelease software. Results reflect the approximate performance of Apple Watch.

Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE has powerful connectivity, fitness, health, and safety features and is available in three case colors. It’s a better value than ever.

www.apple.com

So it's only 20% faster than the first SE.

 

[nymphe]

SE1 is slow as heck.

It's barely any slower than the SE2! It would only be considered "slow as heck" if the S7 and S8 weren't just reskins of the S6, and the SE1 uses an S5, so yeah it's really only 1 generation slower. That's a difference of about 20% but it's still really snappy.

I think he is mixing it with Series 1. Apple Watch SE 1 is quite new and fast.