The Apple Watch SE was announced in September 2020 and has been a popular Apple Watch model for customers looking for their first smartwatch or an affordable Apple Watch. ‌Apple Watch SE‌ customers may be wondering, however, what’s in store for them with the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 and what new features they can expect. Continue reading to find out.

apple watch se

Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 8

  • Significantly larger displays: Apple increased the size of the display by shrinking the bezels and rounding the corners with the Apple Watch Series 7. The standard ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ model will continue to adopt the Series 7 display, which features a 20% larger screen than the ‌Apple Watch SE‌.
  • Always-on Retina display: Introduced with the Apple Watch Series 5 and present on every flagship Apple Watch since, the ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ will feature an always-on display that allows the display to remain dimly lit at all times, providing easy access to quick information like the time and complications.
  • More durable hardware: Alongside a rumored “rugged” Apple Watch set to launch this fall, the standard ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ will feature the same durable hardware as the Series 7, such as a stronger front glass and more durable aluminum models compared to the ‌Apple Watch SE‌.
  • Ability to measure Blood Oxygen: The ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ will feature a Blood Oxygen sensor, introduced with the Series 6 in 2020 and unavailable on the ‌Apple Watch SE‌. The sensor allows wearers to measure the amount of oxygen in their blood.
  • ECG capabilities: The ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ will be able to take an ECG, or an electrocardiogram, right on your wrist. This high-end health and wellness feature is not available on the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ and has been present on Apple Watch Series models since the Series 4.
  • Built-in temperature sensor: One new health sensor coming to the ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ is the ability to measure body temperature. Rumors suggest the new sensor will not, at least at first, provide wearers a direct temperature reading of their body but may simply advise them if they may have a fever and seek medical attention.
  • Fast charging: The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ does not support fast charging, and with the Series 8, customers can look forward to up to 30% faster charging alongside all-day 18 hours of battery life.
  • Improved optical heart sensor: The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ features a second-generation optical heart sensor, compared to the third-generation model in the Series 7, and we expect the fourth-generation model in the upcoming Series 8. The improvements in heart sensors are likely to offer more reliable and accurate readings.
  • Faster performance: The ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ is likely to feature a dual-core S8 SiP (system in a package), which would be faster than the dual-core S5 chip in the ‌Apple Watch SE‌. Customers can expect faster performance and more fluid animations as a result.

If the ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ is not an attractive option for current ‌Apple Watch SE‌ customers, it’s worth noting that we are expecting an updated ‌Apple Watch SE‌ alongside the Series 8 that may offer more moderate upgrades, though there have been few rumors about specs for the new SE model.

Popular Stories

Everything Rumored for Apple’s September Event: iPhone 14, Apple Watch Pro and More

There’s just about a month to go until Apple holds its annual September event focusing on new iPhone and Apple Watch models. We thought we’d take a quick look at everything that’s rumored for Apple’s September event to give MacRumors readers a rundown on what to expect when the first fall event rolls around. iPhone 14 The iPhone 14 can probably be described more as an “iPhone 13S” because…

Hands-On With Samsung’s Latest Foldable Smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip

Samsung this week launched its fourth-generation foldable devices, the $1,000 Galaxy Z Flip and the $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold. Though there’s no sign of a comparable Apple foldable device on the horizon, rumors suggest prototypes are in the works, so we thought we’d take a look at Samsung’s newest smartphones to see what Apple needs to measure up to when a foldable iPhone does come out. Subscribe …

iPhone 14 Is Just a Few Weeks Away: Three Tips to Prepare for the New iPhone

Wednesday August 10, 2022 4:08 am PDT by Sami Fathi

The launch of the new iPhone 14 is just a few weeks away, meaning millions of iPhone customers will soon upgrade their existing iPhone or perhaps get an iPhone for the first time. Exclusive MacRumors iPhone 14 Pro renders by graphic designer Ian Zelbo Whether upgrading from an older model or this is your first iPhone, we’ve rounded up a few tips to help you prepare for the next flagship…

Kuo: Apple to Increase Prices of iPhone 14 Pro Models

Apple plans to increase the prices of iPhone 14 Pro models compared to iPhone 13 Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo did not reveal exact pricing for the iPhone 14 Pro models. However, in a tweet today, he estimated that the average selling price of the iPhone 14 lineup as a whole will increase by about 15% compared to the iPhone 13 lineup. In the United States, the iPhone…

Top Stories: New Battery Percentage Icon in iOS 16, USB-C AirPods Rumor, and More

This week brought some shocking news for iOS 16 beta testers, with Apple bringing back the iPhone battery percentage to the status bar after a number of years. Other news and rumors this week included word that Apple has started recording portions of its media event planned for next month to introduce the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8, claims about iPhone 14 Pro pricing and Apple’s…