Apple Watch SE 2 vs Apple Watch Series 5
Brand loyalty only gets you halfway here: Apple offers both the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5, and they aren’t interchangeable. Here the verdict on paper is fairly clear. The Apple Watch Series 5 takes 2 of 4 areas against the Apple Watch SE 2, starting with display. That $150 launch price gap between the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2 will shape the verdict as much as any spec.
At a glance
- Display Apple Watch Series 5 wins
- Health & Fitness Sensors Apple Watch Series 5 wins
- Battery Life Tie
- Smart Features & Connectivity Tie
- Price Apple Watch SE 2 wins
- Display0.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors1.4
- Smart Features & Connectivity8.2
- Display5.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors4.3
- Smart Features & Connectivity8.2
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Apple Watch Series 5 has an always-on display
This is a feature gap rather than a spec gap: the Apple Watch SE 2 simply lacks it. With the Apple Watch Series 5, a glance is enough; with the Apple Watch SE 2, the screen has to wake up first.
-
The Apple Watch Series 5 has an ECG app
If you’ve come to rely on an ECG app, note that the Apple Watch SE 2 leaves it out. The Apple Watch Series 5 offers ECG; the Apple Watch SE 2 doesn’t. That’s a meaningful gap if heart health is a concern for you.
-
The Apple Watch SE 2 has a 0.13 oz lighter case
It’s a small lead (1.16 oz versus 1.29 oz), but it’s real, and it goes to the Apple Watch SE 2. A lighter watch is easier to forget about, especially overnight and during workouts.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch SE 2 44 mm × 0.42 in
- Apple Watch Series 5 44 mm × 0.42 in
In overall size, the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5 are close enough that you’d struggle to tell them apart by dimensions alone. The Apple Watch SE 2 weighs 0.13 oz less than the Apple Watch Series 5.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 44 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 40 mm, 44 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz (winner) | 1.29 oz |
Display
Apple Watch Series 5 leads
The Apple Watch Series 5 dominates the display section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Apple Watch Series 5 delivers an always-on display. An always-on display lets you read the time without raising your wrist or tapping the screen, the way a traditional watch works. Anyone shopping mainly on display should start with the Apple Watch Series 5.
Always-on display
Apple Watch SE 2: no Apple Watch Series 5: yes Always-on modes use some battery, but for many people the convenience is worth it.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Apple Watch Series 5 leads
On health & fitness sensors, the gap between these two is wide, and it favors the Apple Watch Series 5. The Apple Watch Series 5 wins here with an ECG app. An ECG reading on a watch isn’t a diagnosis, but it can be a useful record to discuss with a professional. Prioritize health & fitness sensors, and the Apple Watch Series 5 is where you should land.
ECG
Apple Watch SE 2: no Apple Watch Series 5: yes An ECG app can record a single-lead reading that you can share with your doctor, where regional approval allows it.
Battery Life
Too close to call
On battery life, the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5 are effectively level. For battery life, pick whichever you prefer for other reasons.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Too close to call
This is a tie in all but name. On smart features & connectivity, both deliver about the same. In short, smart features & connectivity is a draw; the decision lies elsewhere.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Retina LTPO OLED (not always-on) | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED |
| Resolution (largest) | 368 x 448 | 368 x 448 |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 1,000 nits |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Health & Fitness Sensors
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes (winner) |
| Blood oxygen | No | No |
| Skin temperature | No | No |
| GPS | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS) | Built-in GPS/GNSS |
| Dual-frequency GPS | No | No |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 18 h | 18 h |
| Charging | 0 to 80% in about 1.5 h | Magnetic charging cable |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S8 | S5 |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Cellular option | Yes | Yes |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iPhone only |
| Software | watchOS | watchOS |
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 44 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 40 mm, 44 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz (winner) | 1.29 oz |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $249 (winner) | $399 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
In launch price, the Apple Watch SE 2 is the clear budget pick, coming in $150 (60%) below the Apple Watch Series 5. Paying $150 extra for the Apple Watch Series 5 means getting an always-on display and an ECG app.
Launch prices (US) as of September 2022. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Apple Watch SE 2 if…
- you wear your watch to sleep and barely want to feel it (1.16 oz vs 1.29 oz)
- you’d put the $150 saving toward something else
- you’re buying fresh and prefer the more recent model
Choose the Apple Watch Series 5 if…
- you want an always-on display
- you want an ECG app on your wrist
- you’re fine skipping this generation’s changes
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 5?
We’d point most buyers to the Apple Watch Series 5. The main exception is if what you want most is a 0.13 oz lighter case.
Is the Apple Watch SE 2 worth it over the Apple Watch Series 5?
It depends on what you need. The Apple Watch SE 2 brings a 0.13 oz lighter case, but if your Apple Watch Series 5 still does the job, there’s no urgency.
Which has better battery life, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 5?
It’s effectively a tie. The battery figures for the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5 are too close to call.
Which is larger, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 5?
Size is essentially a tie. The official dimensions of the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5 differ only marginally.
Is the Apple Watch SE 2’s display better than the Apple Watch Series 5’s?
The Apple Watch Series 5 has the stronger display on paper, with an always-on display.
Is the Apple Watch SE 2 cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 5?
The Apple Watch Series 5 launched at $150 more than the Apple Watch SE 2, based on prices as of September 2022.
Executive Summary
The Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 5 are relatives, and relatives can be surprisingly different once you read the fine print. What I like most about the Apple Watch Series 5 here is an always-on display. On top of that, the Apple Watch Series 5 adds an ECG app. The Apple Watch SE 2 isn’t without merit: a 0.13 oz lighter case is a real advantage.
I think of the Apple Watch SE 2 as the one for portability and the Apple Watch Series 5 as the one for display.
My pick: the Apple Watch Series 5; the one scenario where I’d reach for the Apple Watch SE 2 is if your top priority is a 0.13 oz lighter case.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.