For weeks, I’ve been wearing the Apple Watch SE (2024) GPS 44mm Starlight Aluminium Case with Lake Green Sport Loop (MXEW3QA/A), putting it through its paces in my daily life. This review aims to provide a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses, based on my personal experience.

The Apple Watch SE boasts a compelling feature set. Beyond the expected timekeeping and notification capabilities, this smartwatch shines in its health and fitness tracking. The sleep tracking is surprisingly accurate, giving detailed breakdowns of sleep stages. Heart rate monitoring is consistent and reliable, even during intense workouts. The water resistance is a bonus, allowing for swimming tracking without worry.

The GPS functionality is accurate and quick to lock onto a signal, making outdoor workouts more informative. The bright display is easily readable even in direct sunlight. The Lake Green Sport Loop band is comfortable and breathable, perfect for all-day wear.

In terms of performance, the Apple Watch SE (MXEW3QA/A) is surprisingly snappy. Navigating the interface is smooth, and apps load quickly. Battery life is decent, lasting around a day and a half with moderate use, including sleep tracking and GPS workouts. This performance exceeded my initial expectations given its pricing.

I found the workout tracking features comprehensive and motivating. The ability to automatically detect workouts is a handy feature, ensuring I don’t miss any tracking opportunities. The integration with the Apple ecosystem is seamless, making data syncing and app management effortless.

While the always-on display is absent, I found the raised-to-wake feature sufficient for most needs.

Pros:

• Accurate fitness and sleep tracking
• Comfortable and durable design
• Excellent GPS functionality
• Good battery life
• Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• No always-on display
• Limited third-party app support compared to higher-end models
• Some features may be limited compared to Apple Watch Series 8.

Overall, the Apple Watch SE (2024) GPS 44mm (MXEW3QA/A) provides excellent value for money. It’s a fantastic option for those seeking a reliable and affordable smartwatch with comprehensive health and fitness features. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of its more premium counterparts, it more than delivers on its core promises. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entry-level or budget-friendly Apple Watch.