Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Apple Watch SE: Key Differences Explained

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch, Apple's smart watches— the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch SE — are likely on your radar. Both watches bring exciting features to the table, but which one is the better fit for your needs? This guide compares their most essential aspects, helping you decide whether the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Apple Watch SE suits you best.

1. Display

One of the most noticeable differences between the two models is their displays. Both offer sharp, vibrant screens, but there are some subtle differences that might sway your decision.

• Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm): 430 x 352 pixels, up to 2,000 nits brightness
• Apple Watch SE (40mm): 394 x 324 pixels, up to 1,000 nits brightness

The Apple Watch Series 9 delivers sharper visuals and twice the brightness compared to the Watch SE. This is especially handy for outdoor use, but the Watch SE still performs well enough for most situations. The Series 9 also offers an Always-On Display feature, which allows you to view essential information like time, notifications, and more without having to lift your wrist. The Watch SE lacks this feature, which could be a dealbreaker for some users.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

2. Design

In terms of design, both watches feature the iconic "squircle" shape, with a digital crown and a side button. The key difference lies in the color and band options.

• The Apple Watch Series 9 comes in a striking Product (Red) finish, among other colours, which gives it a bold, stylish look. It also features a sports band with an adjustable strap for a snug fit.
• The Apple Watch SE, on the other hand, offers a more understated design, with fewer colour options and a solo loop band. While the solo loop is convenient, it’s not adjustable and may stretch over time.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

3. Texting and Calling

Both watches allow you to send texts and make calls, but the experience is slightly different:

• Apple Watch Series 9: Features a QWERTY keyboard, making texting more convenient. While typing on such a small screen may not be ideal, it gets the job done if you don’t mind a bit of patience.
• Apple Watch SE: Instead of a keyboard, you can scribble letters or words, which the watch converts to text. It works well, but it's not as efficient as the Series 9 keyboard.

Both watches have voice Dictation capabilities, which is probably the easiest way to send texts. When it comes to calling, sound quality is similar, though in some tests, the Watch SE performed better in terms of voice clarity.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

4. Double Tap Feature

Both watches support the Double Tap feature, allowing you to perform simple tasks like answering calls or controlling music with a double tap of your fingers.

• Apple Watch Series 9: Allows more flexibility with Double Tap, including controlling the camera app or scrolling through widgets.
• Apple Watch SE: While it supports Double Tap, it's more limited and mainly triggers when a prompt appears on the screen.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

5. Siri Integration

A significant difference between the two models lies in how they use Siri:

• Apple Watch Series 9: Siri can now access your health data directly. For example, you can ask Siri about how much sleep you got last night, and it will respond with a direct answer.
• Apple Watch SE: Siri will redirect you to the appropriate app instead of giving you a direct answer when asking about your health data.

The Series 9 also has a faster S9 chip, making Siri faster and more responsive.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

6. Health Tracking

When it comes to health tracking, the Apple Watch Series 9 pulls ahead, offering more advanced features.

• Apple Watch Series 9 includes temperature sensing, ECG readings, and more comprehensive cycle tracking with ovulation estimates.
• Apple Watch SE offers basic health-tracking features like high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, and basic cycle tracking, but it lacks advanced sensors like ECG and temperature sensing.

If advanced health monitoring is important to you, the Series 9 is the better choice.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

7. Fitness Tracking

Both watches are equipped with fitness tracking features, including step counting, heart rate monitoring, and activity rings. For everyday fitness tracking, both watches perform equally well.

• Apple Watch Series 9: Offers more accurate measurements and additional sensors, but for most users, the differences are minimal.
• Apple Watch SE: Perfect for general fitness tracking, like steps and workouts, without the added bells and whistles.

Winner: Draw

8. Battery Life

Surprisingly, both watches are quite similar in terms of battery life. Apple claims around 18 hours of battery life for both models, and in real-world tests, they are quite close:

• Apple Watch SE: Lasts about 1 day and 3 hours with normal usage.
• Apple Watch Series 9: Lasts slightly longer, with around 1 day and 4 hours.

One key advantage of the Series 9 is that it supports fast charging, which allows you to go from 0% to 80% in just 45 minutes. The Watch SE does not offer this feature.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

9. Price

While the Apple Watch Series 9 offers more advanced features, it comes at a higher price. The Apple Watch SE