This Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE face-off will obliterate all the questions you have about the popular smartwatches — well, that’s the plan at least.
I’ve always been a smartwatch skeptic. Whether it’s the Google Pixel Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch, or the Apple Watch, all seemed superfluous for anyone who has a phone. When people tried to persuade me to join the smartwatch squad, they always brought up fitness as a use case, which has never been a priority for me — until now.
After hearing my doctor tell me that my blood pressure is too high, I decided to take exercise more seriously. What really drew me to consider an Apple Watch, however, is that I want to make sure I’m hitting — and maintaining — a target heart rate while running on the treadmill, ensuring effective calorie burning.
And of course, one of the best ways to track heart rate is to use an Apple Watch. But I’ve been faced with a dilemma. Should I get the SE (second generation) or spend a little more for the Watch Series 9? I decided to get both to determine their differences.
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Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: price and specs
I got the cheapest model for both variants. This means I spent $249 for the Apple Watch SE (second generation), which I purchased from Apple’s official website.
Apple Watch SE (second generation)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
The model I have comes with the following specs:
40mm case size
Silver finish
Aluminum chassis
GPS (no cellular)
Ocean Blue solo loop
Some features require you to shell out a little more. For example, a stainless steel chassis is an extra $50 and a bigger case size (i.e., 44mm) is an extra $30. If you want GPS and cellular support, that will set you back $50.
The Apple Watch Series 9 costs $399 on Apple’s official website (again, this is the cheapest you can get in this model).
![Apple Watch Series 9 on a woman's wrist](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714709454.jpg)
Apple Watch Series 9
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Here’s my configuration:
41mm case size
(Product) Red finish
Aluminum chassis
GPS (no cellular)
Product (Red) sport band
As with the Watch Series 9, you can spend an extra $50 to get a stainless-steel chassis. If you want cellular support, that will set you back another $100.
With the Watch SE being the cheaper of the two, it’s the obvious winner in this round.
Winner: Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Display
The first thing I noticed about the Watch SE is that it has thicker bezels, which reduces its screen real estate — and the display is minimal to begin with.
![Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE on woman's wrist](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-11.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714710031.png)
Apple Watch SE (left) and Apple Watch Series 9 (right)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
The Watch Series 9’s bezels are a lot less obstructive, but either way, I still found display navigation to be fine on both screens. Thicker bezels, in my opinion, aren’t a big deal.
It’s also worth nothing that the resolution is different for the watches:
Watch Series 9 (41mm) – 430 x 352 pixels
Watch SE (40mm) – 394 x 324 pixels
Looking at them side by side, the Watch Series 9 definitely delivers a sharper, clearer visuals. But if I were looking at the Watch SE independently, I would think that the display quality is sufficient enough.
Now, let’s talk brightness:
Watch Series 9 (41mm) – up to 2,000 nits
Watch SE (40mm) – up to 1,000 nits
The Watch Series 9 is supposedly brighter than Series 9, delivering a max of 2,000 nits over the SE’s 1,000-nit screen. However, while comparing both watches in the sun, I could see both of them just fine, even with the rays shining bright on them like a spotlight.
![Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 9 on woman's wrist](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714709564.jpg)
Apple Watch SE (left) and Apple Watch Series 9 (right)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
You can tell the Watch SE is slightly dimmer, but the difference is negligible to the naked eye.
The main difference between the two screens, however, is the always-on display. I thought I wouldn’t care about the Watch SE not having an always-on display (AOD). (For the uninitiated, AOD means that the screen is always feeding you visual information.)
However, I found myself getting frustrated that I had to keep either touching the Watch SE’s screen or flick my wrist toward myself to check the time. Meanwhile, the Watch Series 9, well, stays on. As you can see in the photo below, the Watch SE’s screen is completely dark, but the Series 9’s display is still “active” (though it is dimmed).
![Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 9 on woman's wrist](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-23.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714713798.jpg)
Apple Watch SE (left) and Apple Watch Series 9 (right)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Also, from a fashion standpoint, an always-on display looks more attractive.
Winner: Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Design
I decided to go with two color choices to determine whether I’d prefer the more sophisticated, subtle design of the Watch SE — or the conspicuous, striking presence of the Watch Series 9.
![Apple Watch SE](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714709454.jpg)
Apple Watch SE
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
To my surprise, I prefer the Watch Series 9’s gorgeous (Product)Red look. I feared that it would be too red — like the eyesore of a hue that drapes the blindingly orange Rabbit R1. However, the Product (Red) has the perfect balance of vividness and elegeance. It’s such an eye-catching ruby red.
![Apple Watch Series 9 on woman's wrist](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-24.fill.size_2000x1500.v1714713798.jpg)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
I went with the Silver finish for the Watch SE along with the Ocean Blue solo loop — and I regret it. Oddly, the solo loop collects dirt easily. And unlike the sports band that’s featured on the Watch Series 9, the solo loop requires custom sizing. Mine is a size 3, which fits OK, but it could stand to be a smidge tighter.
![Apple Watch SE with solo loop](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/041zHV4nuEy4RO8CDB4dhK0/images-12.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714710031.jpg)
Apple Watch SE with solo loop
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
The sports band has an adjustable strap, allowing me to make it as tight or loose as I need it to be. The solo loop, on the other hand, is just a stretchy bracelet band. I also don’t expect it to have good durability. As you take it off and on over time, I foresee it getting too stretched out.
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