Introduction

The Apple Watch SE (2023) 40mm with its Storm Blue Sport Band arrived on my wrist 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 with workouts, everyday notifications, and even a few accidental bumps and scrapes (it’s surprisingly durable!). This review details my in-depth experience with the MRE13QA/A, MRE23QA/A, MRE23QH/A, MRE13SE/A, MRE23LL/A, MRE13LL/A models.

Key Features

The standout feature for me is the bright, crisp Retina display. Even in direct sunlight, readability is excellent. The always-on functionality, while impacting battery life slightly, adds a significant convenience factor. The heart rate monitoring is accurate and reliable, providing consistent data for my workouts and daily activity tracking. The inclusion of features like fall detection and emergency SOS adds peace of mind, particularly for active individuals.

Cellular connectivity (on applicable models) offers a level of independence from my iPhone that I genuinely appreciated. I could leave my phone at home on a run and still receive calls and messages – a huge plus.

Family Setup also works seamlessly, making it easy to manage my family members’ Apple Watches from a single iPhone.

Performance and Battery Life

The performance of the Apple Watch SE (2023) is smooth and responsive. I experienced no lag or noticeable slowdown during daily use. App loading times are quick, and switching between different apps and features is effortless. The battery life is impressive, comfortably lasting a full day with moderate to heavy use (including workouts and cellular connectivity).

I did find that heavy use of GPS during long runs slightly reduced battery life, requiring a charge before bedtime. However, this is consistent with other smartwatches in this category.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Bright Retina display, accurate health tracking, smooth performance, long battery life (for most users), affordable price point, convenient features like fall detection and emergency SOS, cellular connectivity (on applicable models), Family Setup.
• Cons: GPS battery drain during extensive use, lack of some advanced features found in higher-end Apple Watches (such as blood oxygen monitoring).

Final Verdict

The Apple Watch SE (2023) GPS 40mm Silver Aluminium Case With Storm Blue Sport Band provides an exceptional smartwatch experience at a price that makes it accessible to a broader audience. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of its more expensive siblings, the key features are all present and function flawlessly. The combination of performance, features, and affordability makes this a strong recommendation for anyone looking for a reliable and capable smartwatch. I highly recommend it.