The Apple Watch SE (2023) 40mm with GPS in Midnight Aluminium and Sport Band (Model Numbers: MR9X3QA/A, MR9Y3QA/A, MR9X3LL/A, MR9Y3LL/A, MR9X3QH/A, MR9Y3ZP/A) arrived on my desk a few weeks ago, promising a blend of Apple’s smartwatch experience at a more accessible price point. I’ve been wearing it daily, putting it through its paces to see how it stacks up against its more expensive siblings and the competition.

The SE boasts a bright and crisp Retina display with up to 1000 nits of brightness, making it easily readable even in direct sunlight. The S8 SiP provides snappy performance for navigating the watchOS interface and using various apps. It offers a comprehensive suite of health and fitness features, including high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notification, fall detection, and crash detection. The Emergency SOS and international emergency calling features are reassuring additions. While cellular connectivity is an option, my review unit was the GPS-only version. One notable omission from previous iterations is the Blood Oxygen sensor – a point to keep in mind.

Day-to-day performance was excellent. The interface was fluid and responsive, and apps loaded quickly. Battery life consistently lasted a full day with moderate use, including tracking workouts and receiving notifications. I found the fitness tracking features accurate and motivating, and the integration with the iPhone seamless. The always-on Retina display is a luxury, although it does impact battery life slightly.

During intense workouts, the GPS performance was reliable, accurately tracking my runs and cycling routes. The heart rate sensor performed well, although I did notice occasional minor discrepancies compared to a chest strap monitor. Overall, the performance exceeded my expectations for a device in its price bracket.

Pros

• Bright and clear Retina display
• Excellent performance for the price
• Comprehensive health and safety features
• Good battery life
• Seamless integration with iPhone

Cons

• No blood oxygen sensor
• Occasional minor inaccuracies with heart rate tracking
• Cellular connectivity is an additional cost

The Apple Watch SE (2023) 40mm GPS model provides a compelling smartwatch experience without breaking the bank. While it lacks some features of the higher-end models like the Apple Watch Series 8, what it *does* offer is a well-rounded, reliable, and stylish device. The excellent performance, comprehensive health features, and long battery life make it a strong contender for anyone looking for a budget-friendly, feature-rich smartwatch. For those who don’t need blood oxygen monitoring and can live without cellular connectivity, this is an outstanding choice. I would wholeheartedly recommend it.