Apple Watch SE deal price on Amazon starts at Rs 23,900: should you buy it over Watch SE 2?

Apple Watch SE 2 is the latest entry-level smartwatch from Apple. It features the same chip as the flagship Watch 8 series and the premium Watch Ultra. You also get all new features that came with Apple Watch 8 series: Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and more. But before you go ahead and add the Watch SE 2 to your cart, you should know that the original Apple Watch SE is available at a discounted price during the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale.

In this article, we’ll look at what’re the differences between the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch SE 2 – and which one you should buy if you’re a first-time Apple Watch user. This should also help with the purchase decision for those looking to upgrade their first-gen Apple Watch SE to the second-gen Apple Watch SE.

Apple Watch SE price in India during Amazon sale

When Apple launched the Watch SE 2, it discontinued the Watch 3 series and the Watch SE first-gen, making it the most affordable Apple Watch you can buy. However, the Watch SE first-gen is still available via Amazon at a discounted price.

You can get the Apple Watch SE 40mm GPS + Cellular model for as low as Rs 23,900 on Amazon. This offer is available across all three colourways: silver, gold, and space grey – with abyss blue, starlight, and midnight band, respectively.

On the other hand, the Apple Watch SE 2 40nm GPS + Cellular model retails at Rs 34,900 in India. It comes in three colour options: Silver, Starlight, and Midnight – with similar colour bands.

Buying the Apple Watch SE over the Apple Watch SE 2 will save you Rs 11,000. But is that worth it? Let’s find out.

Apple Watch SE vs Apple Watch SE 2

To make this comparison Apples-to-Apples, we’ll look at each aspect of both smartwatches. Let’s dive into it.

Design

The design of both smartwatches – Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch SE 2 – are identical. The only difference between the two smartwatches is the newer Apple Watch SE 2 gets a new bottom casing made of a nylon compound that matches the bezel’s colour. This new Apple Watch SE 2 also comes with new colour options. However, the overall case made of aluminium is as sturdy and robust as before.

Display

Things aren’t much different here, either. Both 40mm Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch SE 2 flaunt a 1.57-inch Retina LTPO OLED panel that supports a 324×394 pixels resolution and up to 1,000 nits brightness. Both displays sport relatively large bezels and the glass used on them aren’t as durable as the more premium Apple Watch Series 8 or Watch Ultra. Of course, this doesn’t mean they can break easily or won’t prevent minimal scratches from regular wear and tear, but they aren’t fully “Crack resistant”, either. Applying a protective case is always a good option.

Processor, RAM, storage

Here’s where things get interesting. A new Apple S8 chip runs the show on the new Apple Watch SE 2, the same that powers Apple Watch 8 series and Watch Ultra. Apple claims the S8 chip is 20 per cent faster than the S5 chip (the Apple Watch SE first-gen packs an S5 chip), which should result in – at least on paper – an overall smoother performance.

While you get a new chip on the newer Apple Watch SE 2, the RAM and storage is a different story. Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch SE 2 ship with 1GB RAM and 32GB storage.

Battery

The plot thickens. Apple Watch SE first-gen didn’t come with fast charging support, nor does the new Apple Watch SE 2. Well done, Apple. Guess what else didn’t change? The battery capacity. Both smartwatches house a 245mAh battery. Thus the battery life is also the same – “Up to 18 hours.” However, the Apple Watch SE 2 runs on the watchOS 9, which in theory should enable the Watch SE 2 to be more efficient, and the new low-power mode might also come in handy in enhancing the battery life on the new Watch SE 2.

Conclusion

If you already own the Apple Watch SE first-gen, there’s not much worth upgrading to the Apple Watch SE 2. You’d stick to the Apple Watch SE first-gen or upgrade to Apple Watch 8 series or Watch Ultra. Unless you really want that new chip and features like Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Fall Detection.

If you’re new to the Apple Watch section and want to get your first Apple Watch, go for the Apple Watch SE first-gen. It’s cheaper and does the same things, almost! But again, if you want better hardware and features, Apple Watch SE 2 is for you.