Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE – Which is a Better Apple Smartwatch? –

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In today’s post, we’re comparing two fantastic smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE – which is a better Apple smartwatch for you, and which should you buy? This post compares the differences between these two to help you make the right choice. Recall that Watch SE which is an entirely new model was released alongside Watch 6 which is now succeeded by Apple Watch Series 7. The Watch SE is a lower-end version lacking an always-on display, blood oxygen measurement, and ECG tracking. And the Watch SE is only available in aluminum material. Compare Watch SE to the now discontinued and a little pricey Watch 5 that was released in 2019 and features an always-on display and ECG tracking, but also lacks blood oxygen measurement.

Please note that the Apple Watch Series 4, 5 and 6 are discontinued. Apple currently sells the Apple Watch 3, 7 and Watch SE. However, you might still find the discontinued Apple watches in certain stores.

The Watch SE seems to be the mid point between the pricey Watch 7 and the cheaper Watch 3. The Watch 7 is available in aluminum, stainless steel and titanium materials just like Watch 6, while the Watch SE and Watch 3 are only available in aluminum materials. The aluminum units are the cheapest of all Apple Watches.

The Watch 7 comes in 41mm and 45mm while the Watch SE is available in 44mm and 40mm just like the Watch 4, 5 and 6. Meanwhile, the Watch 3 is available in 38mm and 42mm.

All the sizes are available in Cellular and GPS-only models except for the Watch 3 which is only available in GPS-only model.

Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE: Specifications Compared

  
Product Info

Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications, Features and Price

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Apple Watch SE (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications-Features and Price

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Price
–

$

256.78
ABOUT DEVICE
ABOUT DEVICE
ABOUT DEVICE
Device name
(Cellular), (Discontinued), Apple Watch Series 5
(44mm), (Cellular), Apple Watch SE
Device type
Standalone/Fitness smartwatch
Standalone/Fitness smartwatch
Gender
Unisex
Unisex
Predecessor
Apple Watch Series 4
—
Successor
Apple Watch Series 6
—
Versions
Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+
Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+
BODY
BODY
BODY
Dimension
44 x 38 x 10.7 mm
44 x 38 x 10.4mm
Weight
47.8g (GPS + Cellular)
36.36g
Shape
Rectangular
Rectangular
Case material
Aluminum, Ceramic/Sapphire crystal back, Stainless steel, Titanium
Aluminum
Strap material
Elastomer
Polyester, Silicone
Bezel material
Bezeless, Sapphire glass
Bezeless, Sapphire glass
Strap size
24mm
24mm
Interchangeable strap
24mm, Yes
24mm, Yes
Screen protection
Sapphire glass
Sapphire glass
Water resistance
Yes, 5ATM
Yes, 5ATM
Durability test
—
—
Swim-proof
Yes
Yes
Color
Gold, Gray, Silver
Gold, Gray, Silver
DISPLAY
DISPLAY
DISPLAY
Display size
1.78 inch
1.78 inch
Display type
1000nit, OLED
1000nit, LTPO OLED
Display resolution
448 x 368 pixels
448 x 368 pixels
Pixel density
—
—
Always on
Yes
No
Custom watch face
Yes
Yes
Input type
1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen
1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen
CONNECTIVITY
CONNECTIVITY
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth
Bluetooth v5.0
Bluetooth v5.0
Bluetooth calling
Yes
Yes
GPS
GLONASS, GPS
GLONASS, GPS
NFC
Yes
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
MEMORY
MEMORY
MEMORY
RAM
0.768GB
1GB
ROM
32GB
32GB
Memory card slot
No
No
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY
Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
GSM / HSPA / LTE
SIM type
e-SIM
e-SIM
Band
—
—
NOTIFICATIONS
NOTIFICATIONS
NOTIFICATIONS
SMS alert
Yes
Yes
Calls alert
Yes
Yes
Email alert
Yes
Yes
Event reminder
Yes
Yes
Third-party apps alert
Yes
Yes
Reply to Notifications
–
–
MEDIA
MEDIA
MEDIA
Audio
mp3/mp4
mp3/mp4
Bluetooth music
Yes
Yes
Loudspeaker
Yes
Yes
Microphone
Yes
Yes
Camera
No
No
Radio
No
No
SENSORS
SENSORS
SENSORS
Accelerometer
Yes
Yes
Altimeter
Yes
Yes
Ambient light
Yes
Yes
Barometer
Yes
Yes
Compass
Yes
Yes
ECG
Yes
Yes
Gyroscope
Yes
Yes
HRM
Yes
Yes
Pulse oximeter (SpO2)
No
No
1
–
–
Other sensors
—
—
ACTIVITY TRACKING
ACTIVITY TRACKING
ACTIVITY TRACKING
Blood oxygen
No
No
Blood Pressure
No
No
Calories
Yes
Yes
Distance
Yes
Yes
ECG tracking
Yes
No
Heart rate monitoring
Yes
Yes
Sleep tracking
(Third-party app), Yes
Yes
Steps
Yes
Yes
Floors climbed
Yes
Yes
Stress
Yes
Yes
1
–
–
Menstrual cycle
Yes
Yes
VO2 Max
Yes
Yes
Swim-tracking
Yes
Yes
Underwater heart rate tracking
No
—
On-screen workout
No
No
Sport modes
Yes
Yes
BATTERY
BATTERY
BATTERY
Battery type
Non-removable Li-ion battery
Non-removable Li-ion battery
Battery capacity
—
—
Battery life
Regular: up to 18hrs
Regular: up to 18hrs
Charging type
Charging dock
Charging dock
Charging time
1-2 hours
1-2 hours
Solar charging
No
No
PLATFORM
PLATFORM
PLATFORM
Chipset
Apple S5 chip (64bits)
Apple S5 chip (64bits)
CPU
Dual core
Dual core
GPU
—
—
Operating system
WatchOS 6
WatchOS 7
MISC
MISC
MISC
Companion app
Apple Watch App
Apple Watch App
Compatibility
iOS 12.0+
iOS 12.0+
Voice command
Yes, Siri
Yes, Siri
Find my phone
Yes
Yes
Box content
Apple Watch Series 5, Charger, Manual, Straps
Apple Watch SE, Charger, Manual, Straps

Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE Features Compared

FEATURESWatch Series 5Watch SE (Cellular)DESIGNCase Sizes44mm and 40mm44mm and 40mmThickness10.7mm thin10.4mm thinAlways-on-displayYesNoDigital crown with haptic feedbackDigital crown with haptic feedbackAvailable Materials and FinishesAluminum
Stainless steel
TitaniumAluminumBack MaterialCeramic and sapphire crystal backCeramic and sapphire crystal backHEALTH AND ACTIVITY TRACKINGFamily Setup
Allows you to use your iPhone to pair watches for your children or older adults who don’t have their own iPhoneYesYesNoise Protection
Protects your ear against high decibels that can be harmful to hearing, also alerts you when you reach your hearing dose for the week according to recommendations from global health authorities.YesYesBlood Oxygen Tracking
Tracks your blood oxygen to determine the amount of oxygen your blood.NoNoECG Tracking
Allows you to take ECG test directly from your wrist which can help you detect atrial fibrillations.YesNoHeart rate sensor
Tracks your heart rate with high, low, and irregular heart rhythm notifications.Yes
Second-generation optical heart sensorYes
Second-generation optical heart sensorCompassYesYesIncidental Fall Detection
Can help you get help real quick when the watch detects a fall, it calls a preset emergency number.YesYesInternational Emergency Calling
Allows you to call international emergency contacts almost anywhere in the world.YesYesAltimeterAlways-on altimeterAlways-on altimeterAccelerometerYes
up to 32 g-forcesYes
up to 32 g-forcesMEDIA/STORAGELoudspeaker50% Louder speaker50% Louder speakerStorage32GB32GBCalls
Call and Text From WristYesYesApple Pay
Make a secured payment from your watch.YesYesSiri
Get help with just about anything, simply by asking with your voice. Including translations.YesYesPLATFORMCPUS5 with 64-bit dual-core processor
Up to 2x faster processorS5 with 64-bit dual-core processor
Up to 2x faster processorChipW3
Apple wireless chipW3
Apple wireless chip

Which is Right For You?

The Watch SE and Watch 5 share a whole lot of features in common, both are available in two sizes, and its same display size. These two also have the same health tracking features except that Watch 5 features ECG which is now a big business in the smartwatch industry going by the increasing number of high-end smartwatches that have this feature.

It’s also the same battery life, same storage capcity and Apple’s S5 chip powering both smartwatches.

The difference between Watch 5 and Watch SE is that the latter lacks an always-on display which is present on Watch 5. Watch SE also lacks ECG and is only available in aluminum material. Meanwhile, Watch 5 comes in three different materials; aluminum, stainless steel and titanium which certainly gives you more options to choose from, but the stainlees steel cost more money, while the Titanium model will cost you even more.

In all, both smartwatches are fantastic choices except for the slight differences.

So which is right for you? If always-on display and ECG tracking mean so much to you, then you should go for Watch 5 which is priced higher anyway. However, if you can do without always-on display and ECG tracking, then the Watch SE is a fine choice.

Apple Watch SE Review

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