Introduction

The Apple Watch SE (2024) has arrived, and I’ve spent the last few weeks putting the 40mm Silver Aluminium Case with Blue Cloud Sport Loop (Model Numbers: MXEE3QA/A, MXEE3LL/A) through its paces. This review dives deep into its performance, features, and overall user experience, offering a balanced perspective to help you decide if it’s the right smartwatch for you.

Key Features

The Apple Watch SE (2024) boasts a compelling set of features for its price point. While it lacks some of the more advanced sensors found in the higher-end Apple Watch models, it still delivers on the essentials. The always-on Retina display is bright and easily readable, even in direct sunlight. The GPS functionality is accurate and reliable for tracking outdoor workouts. The heart rate sensor and sleep tracking features are particularly useful for those focused on health and fitness.

The water resistance is a significant plus, allowing for swimming and other water activities. Pairing with an iPhone is seamless, and the integration with the Apple ecosystem is flawless. The Blue Cloud Sport Loop is comfortable and breathable, perfect for all-day wear.

Performance & Battery Life

The Apple Watch SE (2024) is surprisingly snappy, even with its more affordable processor. Navigating the interface is smooth and intuitive, and apps load quickly. The battery life is quite impressive; I consistently got more than a day of use on a single charge, even with extensive usage. This is a huge step up from previous generations and makes the watch much more convenient for daily wear.

During rigorous workouts involving GPS tracking, the battery life did decrease, but it still comfortably lasted a full day. I found the quick charging to be exceptionally convenient when I was short on time.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Excellent value for money, accurate GPS, long battery life, comfortable band, water resistance, seamless integration with iPhone, bright display
• Cons: Lacks some advanced features found in higher-end models (e.g., always-on blood oxygen monitoring), limited customization options compared to premium models.

Final Verdict

The Apple Watch SE (2024) 40mm (MXEE3QA/A, MXEE3LL/A) is a fantastic entry-level smartwatch that offers excellent value. While it doesn’t match the feature set of the top-tier Apple Watches, it excels in the areas that matter most: fitness tracking, notifications, and general usability. If you’re looking for a reliable, affordable, and feature-packed smartwatch within the Apple ecosystem, the SE is a hard option to beat. I highly recommend it.