Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch 5 in Comparison

Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch 5 comparison

For many people, their smartwatch has become an indispensable companion in their everyday life. Whether it`s simply to have a handsome watch, to track one`s athletic performance, or to read news and take calls without having the smartphone at hand, high-end smartwatches offer all that and more. With the Apple Watch, Apple is once again the benchmark for all manufacturers who want to play in the top segment.
With the [url="https://amzn.to/3kkhsj7",name="Apple Watch SE",title=""] and the [url="https://amzn.to/3kmcOBi",name="Apple Watch 5",title=""] we compare two very similar models with each other at this point.

Technical comparison Apple Watch SE vs. 5

Model	Apple Watch Series 5	Apple Watch SE
Size	40mm or 44mm high, 10.7 mm deep	40mm or 44mm high, 10.7 mm deep
Display	Retina LTPO OLED display 324 x 394 or 368 x 448 pixels	Retina LTPO OLED display 324 x 394 or 368 x 448 pixels
Chip	S5 64 bit dual core	S5 SiP 64 bit dual core
Connections	WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, optional LTE/UMTS	WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, optional LTE/UMTS
Storage space	32 GB	32 GB
Heart sensor	electrical and optical 2nd generation	optical 2nd generation
Sensors	GPS, compass, altimeter, gyroscope	GPS, compass, altimeter, gyroscope
Battery	approx. 18 hours	approx. 18 hours
Scope of delivery	Charging cable, USB power adapter	Charging cable, USB Power Adapter
Offers	[url="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07XLF1K8V?tag=produck-21",name="Go to offer",title=""]	[url="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08J6MN72N?tag=produck-21",name="To the offer",title=""]

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Design and material Apple Watch SE vs. 5

The usual Apple Watch design, which has hardly been revised for quite some time, was also used for these two models. The aesthetic design with the rounded corners looks calm and balanced. In terms of color selection, both model lines are also very similar. They are each available in silver, space gray and gold. The Apple Watch SE is additionally available in sand pink.

As usual, you are completely free to choose the wristbands. A wide range of original and third-party wristband variants fit both models equally well. Both models are dust and water resistant up to 1 meter. Furthermore, both variants feature shatter- and scratch-resistant glass. The first real difference can be seen in the display. While the Apple Watch 5 has a so-called Allways On Display display, the SE model does not have it.

The case material used is colored aluminum. The display surface is also identical.

Key data

In terms of size and weight, the two Apple Watches do not differ from each other. The case is 10.4 mm thick and weighs around 30 g. The two Watches are available in two different calibers, the 40mm case and the somewhat bulkier 44mm case.

Sensors Apple Watch SE vs. 5

The sensor technology in particular is one of the most important differentiating criteria for smartwatches. What is measured and how reliable the measurements are is an essential criterion for deciding which smartwatch is suitable for individual needs and which is not.
Meanwhile, a heart rate monitor and GPS belong to the standard. Other standard sensors of both smartwatches are an accelerometer, a compass, a barometer and a gyroscope. All these sensors are primarily used to determine the position. In the meantime, temperature sensors and state-of-the-art sensors for blood oxygen measurement are also installed in the current high-end devices. However, neither the Apple Watch SE nor the Apple Watch 5 have this form of sensor technology.
As far as the quality of the sensors is concerned, the two smartwatches hardly differ. The usual high-quality sensors from Apple are installed in both. The Apple Watch SE only scores better than the Series 5 in terms of altitude measurement and the installed heart sensor. The Apple Watch 5 is equipped with an ECG, which raises the tracking to another level compared with the SE.

Activity Tracking

Of course, it does not only depend on whether a sensor is installed or not, but also on what can be measured with the installed sensors.
Both models perform almost identically in this area as well. Both the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch 5 track sleep, distance traveled, steps, calories, speed and altitude. The two smartwatches then generate sleep and activity logs from the collected data, which provide the wearer with a relatively accurate overview. Activities are also recognized independently and the measurement is adjusted to sporty activities. Manual input of workouts and exercise histories is also possible. It also automatically detects whether the wearer is sleeping.

Battery life Apple Watch SE vs. 5

The Apple Watch SE has an average battery life of 18 hours. The same applies to the Series 5. Both figures are strongly dependent on the intensity of use. If you use apps or other energy-intensive processes permanently, the runtime can easily shrink to half.

Price-performance

Due to the only very minor differences in features, a very similar price is to be expected. The Apple Watch SE is available for around EUR 2070. The Series 5 is also in a very similar range.[asin="B09G91KMWV",type="standard"][asin="B07XLF1K8V",type="standard"]

Conclusion of the Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch 5 comparison

In conclusion. Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch SE hardly differ at all.. Nevertheless, it`s the features where differences can be found that are decisive for buying. Those who are after an Always On Display will have to go for the Apple Watch Series 5. The same applies to people who consider an ECG in their smartwatch indispensable. All in all, the two models are confusingly similar. Therefore, a real purchase recommendation cannot be made at this point.