In September 2021, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 7, featuring larger displays, improved durability, and faster charging. This came one year…
In September 2021, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 7, featuring larger displays, improved durability, and faster charging. This came one year after Apple unveiled the Apple Watch SE, a low-cost Apple Watch option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years. The Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch SE is priced much more competitively at $279. As these two models share many key features, including design, water resistance, and an optical heart sensor, it may not be immediately obvious which model is better for you. Is it worth purchasing the cheaper model with fewer features? Our guide answers the question of how to decide which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you. Many of the features of these two models of Apple Watch are the same, with Apple listing the following identical features: Apple’s breakdown shows that these two models share a majority of features. Even so, there are a number of meaningful differences between the Apple Watch Series 7 and the Apple Watch SE that are worth highlighting, such as display size, ECGs, and blood oxygen monitoring. Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both of the Apple Watch models have to offer. Although the Apple Watch SE and Series 7 share a similar design, the Apple Watch Series 7’s case actually features a new design with softer, more rounded corners. There is only one speaker grille on the left of the device and the overall look has been slightly refined. The casings of the Apple Watch Series 7 are also physically larger, offering 41mm and 45mm models. This is a 1mm increase over the SE’s 40mm and 44mm casing sizes. All of the Apple Watch Series 7 models are also heavier than the SE models. The Apple Watch Series 7 is available in aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium, while the Apple Watch SE is only available in aluminum. Apple Watches with stainless steel or titanium also use a sapphire crystal screen, whereas the aluminum models use Ion-X strengthened glass. The two Apple Watch generations feature a range of different finishes and color options, and the aluminum casings have an almost completely different set of color options. If you were particularly attached to a Space Gray, Silver, or Gold aluminum Apple Watch SE, you will have to consider what different color you would want with the Apple Watch Series 7. While it may not influence which of the two models you would buy as a first Apple Watch or upgrading from an older model, the different color options are still a noteworthy consideration. If you prefer stainless steel or titanium, you should get the Apple Watch Series 7 as it is the only model to offer these finishes options, but if you are content with a light-weight aluminum casing, and basic Silver, Space Gray, or Gold finishes, then the Apple Watch SE will be sufficient. The Apple Watch Series 7 is more durable than the SE, espousing a more crack-resistant front crystal. The new crystal component has a more robust geometry and is over 50 percent thicker than that of the Apple Watch SE. The Apple Watch Series 7 is also certified as IP6X dust-resistant, making it more durable for environments such as the beach or the desert. The Series 7, like the SE, continues to be «swimproof» with water resistance up to 50 meters deep. While the improved durability is unlikely to singularly motivate purchases of the Series 7, it could be an important factor for users who often frequent dusty or sandy environments, or have been prone to cracking their watch in the past. Display size is one of the most significant differences between the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 7. The SE features borders around its display that are 3.0mm thick, but the Series 7 slims these down to just 1.7mm. With the help of larger casing sizes, the Series 7 features larger displays that have almost 20 percent more screen area than on the SE. The larger display of the Apple Watch Series 7 models allows them to show more content and Apple has optimized watchOS 8 to take advantage of the additional space with larger menu titles and buttons in apps.
