A cheaper Apple Watch is right here.
Screenshot/CNET
This story is part of Apple Event, our full coverage of the latest news from Apple headquarters.
Ever since Apple launched its first smartwatch, again in 2015, the Apple Watch has been a extremely prized wearable throughout many alternative demographics — despite the fact that the value tag made it unaffordable for some. That modified on Tuesday, when the corporate introduced the Watch SE, a extra reasonably priced look ahead to these whose budgets beforehand did not stretch to Apple smartwatch possession.
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With the product beginning at $279, Apple is trying to attraction to a brand new viewers of smartwatch wearers — together with kids. The brand new Apple Watch Family Setup feature lets individuals join a number of watches to at least one iPhone, and Apple is clearly hoping dad and mom may be satisfied to spend money on a smartwatch for his or her beloved offspring.
Although it is very similar to the present Collection 3 watch in look, the Watch SE comprises a extra highly effective processor than Apple’s older timepiece. The Collection 3 dates again to 2017, so prospects might be reassured to know Apple is doing greater than rebadging an outdated product; the corporate has given the gadget a much-needed inside refresh to make it related in 2020 and past.
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Apple unveils lower-priced Apple Watch SE
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As you might expect from a less expensive model, the SE doesn’t have all the advanced features of Apple’s higher-end watches, such as fall detection or an ECG monitor, but it still has a number of fitness tracking capabilities. These include the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter as the new Apple Watch Series 6. The company also promises larger and easier to read metrics on its “most advanced” watch display, which is actually 30 percent bigger than the screen on the Series 3.
Apple’s September event is usually an opportunity for the company to show off its latest iPhones, but with no phones making an appearance Tuesday, watches were able to take center stage. We’re expecting to see Apple unveil the iPhone 12 in just a few weeks, but until then, the company has offered up some things to get excited about.
Among the announcements Apple made at Tuesday’s event, the unveiling of the Apple Watch SE stands out for potentially bringing a much-loved (and lusted-after) product to a fresh audience. Though seasoned smartwatch owners or those who require deeper insights into their health metrics still may be drawn to the more expensive, top-of-the-range Apple Watch, the SE may do a fine job of serving the majority of people looking for an attractive and capable smartwatch.
The Watch SE could also benefit Apple by allowing it to hold onto to its position as market leader in global sales of wearables. A less expensive smart watch might allow the company to lure in buyers who might otherwise have opted for a budget fitness tracker from rivals such as Fitbit.
