Apple Watch Series 8 vs Apple Watch SE

There are plenty of smartwatches on the market, from the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra to the Google Pixel Watch 2 and the Fitbit Versa 4. Despite all these options, Apple Watches still dominate the smartwatch market. Apple releases updates and new versions of its watches quite often, and they all vary greatly in terms of price – especially on Prime Day when there are plenty of deals.

While the Apple Watch Series 8 ($399) and Apple Watch SE ($249) are quite similar, there are some key differences between the two. If you do your research before you buy this Prime Day, good for you! Based on my colleagues’ and my experience with both models, here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch Series 8 comparison. (One note: The Apple Watch Series 8 is an older model and has limited availability. It may only be available as a refurbished model or through a third-party retailer.)

Battery life and detection

Most Apple Watches have similar battery life, and the Apple Watch Series 8 and SE each have around 18 hours of battery life. Both watches support Low Power Mode, but the Series 8 charges faster. Both have access to 32GB of storage.

The Series 8 has impact detection, temperature sensors, accelerometer, GPS and a heart rate monitor. The SE, on the other hand, is only equipped with a second-generation optical heart.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 8

Health characteristics

I use my Apple Watch almost exclusively for fitness tracking. I need to complete my circles, I need to track my runs, and I simply need to hit 10,000 steps a day. The Apple Watch SE has everything I need for that: notifications when your heart rate is high, low, or irregular, cardio fitness levels, cycle tracking, and sleep tracking. For me, that’s enough. But if you’re really into tracking, the Apple Watch 8 offers more, like blood oxygen, nighttime wrist temperature variations, and post-ovulation estimates.

For me, the Apple Watch SE wins this round, but for those more obsessed with health data, the Series 8 might come out on top because it simply has more to offer.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 8

Screens

Both watches come in two sizes. The Apple Watch Series 8 has a display area of ​​904mm² or 1,143mm², while the SE has either a display area of ​​759mm² or 977mm². Put more simply, Series 8 watches can be much, much larger if that’s what you’re after.

Personally, I have excellent vision (20/20) and prefer the look of a smaller watch on my wrist, so I prefer the less expensive SE. However, others with poor vision and different fashion preferences may disagree.

Winner: Apple Watch SE