Apple today announced the Watch Series 8 and the new Watch Ultra model. Watch SE 2 introduced with faster processor and lower starting price. Apple’s cheapest watch picks up the design of the original Watch SE, launched two years ago.
TL; DR
- The Apple Watch SE 2022 gets a new processor with the same design.
- Car collision detection debuts on Watch SE and Series 8.
- The Watch SE 2022 starts at $249.
See SE 2 is 20 percent faster.
The display of the Watch SE (2022) is the same as its predecessor’s Retina OLED screen. It still doesn’t feature an always-on mode, but you do get 40mm or 44mm size options made from 100 percent recycled materials. This translates to a bigger difference to the 1.78-inch display while reducing overall weight by a few grams. The protection includes 50 meters of water resistance and tempered glass.
Apple claims the S8 SiP (System-in-Chip) is 20 percent faster than the old Apple Watch. Interestingly, this is the same chip that powers the rugged Watch Ultra, which has a dual-core processor and PowerVR graphics. Other internals include 1 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage.
SOS features on the 2nd-gen Watch SE
Additionally, there are improved gyroscope and accelerometer sensors that enable crash detection functionality. When the smartwatch detects a car accident, it connects the user to emergency hotlines (international mobile model). This works with Emergency SOS which is also a tap on the fall detection feature.
In terms of health and fitness tracking, users will benefit from the heart rate sensor with irregular rhythm notifications. Unfortunately, both the Blood Oxygen and ECG apps are still missing, as well as the temperature sensor feature that debuted on the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra today. Instead, a cycle tracker app is available to track women’s health alongside the new Compass app.
Low power mode and the price of the Apple Watch SE 2
Apple’s Watch SE (2022) GPS-only retails for $249 and is available for pre-order in many countries. It ships on September 16 with a free 3-month Fitness+ subscription and is available in silver, gold and black.
Apple has kept mum about the new Watch SE’s battery life. In contrast, the first generation budget smartwatch came with a rating of 18 hours per charge. It’s safe to say we’re getting decent numbers on the new wearable. Apple has also introduced a low power mode that offers extended usage. Apple Watch Series 4 and later models will receive the update later this year.