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The latest Apple Watch SE and Family Setup

In the ‘Time Flies’ event held on Tuesday, Apple talked about taking steps to make itself available to even more people. For this purpose, it has come up with another product called the Apple Watch SE and a new feature called the Family Setup.

Apple Watch SE

Heavy on features.

Light on Price.

Apple’s tagline for Watch SE

The all new Apple Watch SE is more of an affordable version of the Apple Watch Series 6. The base model of the Apple Watch SE is $280, which is $120 less than the entry-level Series 6.

Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 3 – A comparison


APPLE WATCH SE VS. SERIES 3 SPECS

Apple Watch SEApple Watch Series 3
Display size, resolution40mm, 44mm Retina OLED 368×448 pixels38mm, 42mm Retina OLED 312×390 pixels
Always-onNoNo
Dimensions (millimeters)40mm: 40mm (height), 34mm (width), 10.4mm (depth); 44mm: 44mm (height) 38mm (width) 10.4mm (depth)38mm: 38.6mm (height), 33.3mm (width), 11.4mm (depth); 42mm: 42.5mm (height) 36.4mm (width) 11.4mm (depth)
Weight (grams)40mm Wi-Fi: 30.49g, Wi-Fi + Cellular: 30.68g; 44mm Wi-Fi: 36.2g Wi-Fi + Cellular: 36.36g38mm Wi-Fi: 26.7g, Wi-Fi + Cellular: 28.7g; 42mm Wi-Fi: 32.3g Wi-Fi + Cellular: 34.9g
Materials/ finishesAluminumAluminum
ColorsSilver, grey, goldSilver and grey
Interchangeable bandsYesYes
GPSBuilt-inBuilt-in
Automatic workout detectionYesYes
CompassYesNo
AltimeterYesYes
Water resistanceYes, up to 50mYes, up to 50m
CallsYesYes
NotificationsText repliesText replies
MicrophoneYesYes
SpeakerYesYes
Voice assistantSiriSiri
MusicOnboard, playback and streaming (with Cellular model)Onboard, playback and streaming (with Cellular model)
Mobile PaymentsApple PayApple Pay
Sleep trackingYesYes (with update to Watch OS 7)
Period trackingYesYes
Emergency featuresHeart rate notifications, emergency SOS calling (international, 911 and emergency contacts), fall detection, hearing alertsHeart rate notifications 
CompatibilityiOS/iPhone onlyiOS/iPhone only
SoftwareWatchOS 7Can update to WatchOS 7
ProcessorS5 chip dual-core processor and W3 wireless chipS3 chip dual-core processor and W2 wireless chip
ConnectivityWi-Fi and Cellular option ($100 more)Wi-Fi (Apple discontinued Cellular option)
Storage32GB8GB
Bluetooth5.04.2
PowerMagnetic Apple charging cable and USB connector (backward compatible)Magnetic Apple charging cable and USB connector (backward compatible)
Battery lifeAll day (18 hrs.)All day (18 hrs.)
Price (USD)Starting at $279 (40mm aluminum)Starting at $199 (40mm aluminum)
Price (GBP)£269£199
Price (AUD)AU$429AU$399
Source: cnet.com

Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6 – A comparison

The Similarities

  • The accelerometer, gyroscope, always-on altimeter, etc are the exact same as the ones on the Series 6.
  • Both of them have the same second-generation optical heart rate sensor.
  • Built-in GPS and the cellular option are available in both.
  • Apple watch SE has the same advanced and large (largest in Apple Watches) display just like that in Apple Watch Series 6.
  • New features like the handwashing timer and the sleep tracking sensor are present.
  • It will have all the other updates that come with Watch OS 7, like Apple Fitness+.

The Differences

  • There is no ECG sensor in the Apple Watch SE.
  • It does not have an always-on display.
  • It has the S5 chip (Series 6 has S6).
  • No blood oxygen level sensor in SE.

You’re clearly not losing out on much by going $120 cheaper with the Apple Watch SE. This more affordable version has a great potential to fulfil Apple’s purpose of reaching out to more people this time.

The Family Setup

Though the new affordable Watch SE will seemingly work wonders in making more people own an Apple Watch, the company introduced an even more interesting feature that would serve the purpose. Family Setup is an entirely new way for families to use Apple Watch.

  • Generally, an Apple Watch needs an iPhone to be paired with. But with The Family Setup feature, you can use your iPhone to pair watches of other members who do not have an iPhone.
  • For kids you can:
    • specify which contacts they can communicate with when using messages and more
    • set up an automatic location notification.
  • Kids can:
    • create their own memoji on their watch.
    • enable the school-time mode that helps kids stay focused with Do Not Disturb, restricted interaction and distraction. This mode has a distinct look to help teachers and parents recognise it at a glance.
  • It can also be connected to the watches of older family members and keep a track of their health.

The Family Setup requires a cellular model of Apple Watch Series 4 and later. Currently, it is available at launch with the following career partners: China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland, Spain Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States.

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