Apple Watch SE Drops To $149 For Black Friday

Apple‘s cheapest smartwatch just got a whole lot cheaper. Who do we have to thank? Well, that would be the almighty Black Friday. Also, Amazon. At $149 flat, this little beast, now costs less than a pair of AirPods on an average Tuesday. In case you happen to be on the fence about going for this deal, we’re about to break down everything you need to know about the Apple Watch SE.

For starters, the brains of the SE, Apple’s S8 processor, happens to be the exact same chip powering their Series 8. This works out great because it means your apps open a lot quicker and the animations stay smooth, even with multiple apps running. Not exactly a shocker for Apple watches, but definitely a bonus in this price bracket.

Apple Watch SE: The Mini Boss Of Smartwatches

Display-wise, the Retina LTPO OLED display is crystal clear, hitting 1,000 nits of brightness, which churns out bright enough images even when you’re out and about. Quick side note about the display: the screen does wake up instantly when you raise your wrist, but unlike the pricier models, it doesn’t stay on all the time.

Now, for all you fitness-buffs in our comments section, you’ll be pleased to know that we also have the second-gen optical heart sensor, which provides continuous heart rate monitoring throughout the day.

The watch also tracks different workout types, from running and cycling to swimming, and no, you don’t need to worry too much about water-sports because, thankfully, we have the almighty water-resistance that works well up to 50 meters. The built-in GPS accurately maps your outdoor activities, while the always-on altimeter keeps track of elevation changes during hikes (or even stairs climbed) throughout the day.

Durability And Software

The watch handles temperatures from freezing to 95°F, which covers most daily scenarios except extreme weather. It works reliably up to 10,000 feet elevation, meaning it’ll keep tracking accurately even on high-altitude hikes. The Ion-X glass isn’t quite as scratch-resistant as the premium models’ sapphire crystal, but it still holds up well against daily bumps and brushes against doorframes.

Moving on to the software side of things, the watch currently runs on watchOS 9 and is upgradeable to watchOS 11.1, ensuring access to Apple’s latest features and security updates. The latest Bluetooth 5.3 maintains a solid connection to your phone from about 30 feet away indoors, and the connection stays stable even through walls.

Storage And Battery Life

On the storage front, there’s a nice little 32GB memory inside, which is more than enough to load anything you’d need on a smartwatch. The battery life typically runs 18 hours with normal use, but from personal experience, you can drag that sucker all the way up to two days by just turning off features that the average user wouldn’t necessarily use, like the background heart rate monitoring or GPS.

Speaking of batteries, the magnetic charger takes about 1.5 hours to reach 80 percent charge, and the magnets are strong enough that you can’t accidentally misalign it, and then freak out about not having your watch charged when you have to step out.

Apple Watch SE’s Smart Features

The Apple Watch SE also includes crash detection through its advanced accelerometer and gyroscope, which is capable of identifying severe car accidents and automatically contacting emergency services if needed. The fall detection feature serves as an additional safety net, and that comes in super-handy for older users, or even those with mobility concerns. For instance, if you fall and don’t move for a minute, the watch taps your wrist, sounds an alarm, and then, if you don’t respond, immediately rings up emergency services. How thoughtful is that?

Accessibility And More

Moving on, we have the incredibly useful Sleep Tracking which breaks your night into four stages: Awake, REM, Core, and Deep Sleep, showing you exactly when you transition between them. The watch uses its accelerometer and heart rate sensor to detect subtle changes in movement and heart rhythm that signal these transitions.

Taking a small side-step from that, the Medications app helps users stay on top of their daily medication schedules, while the Noise app monitors ambient sound levels to protect hearing health. And if you’re into or trail running, the Compass app includes a clever backtrack feature that helps you retrace your steps if you wander off course.Again, I’m really loving how Apple has been integrating all these smart features to make everyday life just a little bit easier for users of all demographics.

Now, is there absolutely nothing missing here? I wouldn’t say so. There’s no ECG function for detecting irregular heart rhythms, no blood oxygen monitoring, and no always-on display. And naturally, the aluminum case is going to scratch a little more easily than the stainless steel on the higher-end models. But these omissions make sense when you consider the price point.

At $149, this package delivers the core Apple Watch experience without the premium price tag. You’re getting the same processor as Apple’s flagship model, proven fitness tracking capabilities, and potentially life-saving safety features. For most users, these are the features that matter daily, making this Black Friday price point particularly compelling for anyone who’s been waiting to enter the Apple Watch ecosystem.