Apple Watch SE 2 vs Apple Watch Series 8
Same lineup, different priorities: the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 8 share a family name but not every spec. If you only read one line, make it this: the Apple Watch Series 8 takes 2 of 4 compared areas, and the health & fitness sensors gap is the one to look at first. That $150 launch price gap between the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch SE 2 will shape the verdict as much as any spec.
At a glance
- Display Apple Watch Series 8 wins
- Health & Fitness Sensors Apple Watch Series 8 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 Sensors7.1
- 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 SE 2 has a 0.21 oz lighter case
Among all the differences on this page, 1.16 oz against 1.37 oz is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the Apple Watch SE 2. The Apple Watch SE 2 puts less weight on your wrist, which you’ll appreciate if you wear it around the clock.
-
The Apple Watch Series 8 has an always-on display
The Apple Watch Series 8 checks this box; the Apple Watch SE 2 doesn’t. With the Apple Watch Series 8, a glance is enough; with the Apple Watch SE 2, the screen has to wake up first.
-
The Apple Watch Series 8 has an ECG app
Whether it matters depends on your habits, but only one of these two gives you an ECG app: the Apple Watch Series 8. An ECG reading on a watch isn’t a diagnosis, but it can be a useful record to discuss with a professional.
-
The Apple Watch Series 8 has blood-oxygen readings
Missing features are easy to overlook when you buy and hard to live without later. The Apple Watch SE 2 skips this one. The Apple Watch Series 8 can take blood-oxygen readings; the Apple Watch SE 2 can’t.
-
The Apple Watch Series 8 has skin-temperature sensing
The Apple Watch Series 8 has it; the Apple Watch SE 2 doesn’t. No percentages needed. The Apple Watch Series 8 includes a temperature sensor, which feeds into its health trends; the Apple Watch SE 2 does without.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch SE 2 44 mm × 0.42 in
- Apple Watch Series 8 45 mm × 0.42 in
Physically, these two aren’t the same size: the Apple Watch Series 8 is larger in overall dimensions. Weight-conscious buyers will note the Apple Watch SE 2’s 0.21 oz advantage.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 45 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 41 mm, 45 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, stainless steel |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz (winner) | 1.37 oz |
Display
Apple Watch Series 8 leads
This section belongs to the Apple Watch Series 8. In display, it leads the Apple Watch SE 2 by a margin that’s hard to ignore. The Apple Watch Series 8 stands out with 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. The display verdict goes to the Apple Watch Series 8.
Always-on display
Apple Watch SE 2: no Apple Watch Series 8: yes Always-on modes use some battery, but for many people the convenience is worth it.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Apple Watch Series 8 leads
The Apple Watch Series 8 clearly takes the health & fitness sensors round. The Apple Watch Series 8 wins here with an ECG app. An ECG app can record a single-lead reading that you can share with your doctor, where regional approval allows it. So if health & fitness sensors tops your list, lean toward the Apple Watch Series 8.
ECG
Apple Watch SE 2: no Apple Watch Series 8: yes The Apple Watch Series 8 offers ECG; the Apple Watch SE 2 doesn’t. That’s a meaningful gap if heart health is a concern for you.
Blood oxygen
Apple Watch SE 2: no Apple Watch Series 8: yes Blood-oxygen readings can add context to sleep tracking and to training at altitude.
Battery Life
Too close to call
This area ends level; whatever separates these two, it isn’t battery life. Neither watch gives you a reason to choose it on battery life.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Too close to call
Neither the Apple Watch SE 2 nor the Apple Watch Series 8 has a real advantage in the smart features & connectivity category. So smart features & connectivity is a non-factor here; move on to the areas where they actually differ.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Retina LTPO OLED (not always-on) | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED |
| Resolution (largest) | 368 x 448 | 396 x 484 |
| 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 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes (winner) |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes (winner) |
| Skin temperature | No | Yes (winner) |
| GPS | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS) | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) |
| Dual-frequency GPS | No | No |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 18 h | 18 h |
| Rated life in low-power modeManufacturer rating | N/A (not specified) | 36 h |
| Charging | 0 to 80% in about 1.5 h | USB-C magnetic fast charging, 0 to 80% in about 45 min |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S8 | S8 |
| 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 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 45 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 41 mm, 45 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum, stainless steel |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz (winner) | 1.37 oz |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple Watch Series 8 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Going by launch prices, choosing the Apple Watch SE 2 keeps $150 in your pocket: 60% of difference. The Apple Watch Series 8 justifies part of its $150 premium with an always-on display and an ECG app.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked September 2022. Actual prices at stores may differ.
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 1.37 oz)
- you don’t need the extras that cost $150 more
- you want the more compact watch
Choose the Apple Watch Series 8 if…
- you like reading the time without raising your wrist
- you want an ECG app on your wrist
- you like tracking blood oxygen during sleep or at altitude
- you track sleep and recovery trends closely
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8?
The Apple Watch Series 8 makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if you need a 0.21 oz lighter case, which only the Apple Watch SE 2 offers.
Does the Apple Watch SE 2 last longer on a charge than the Apple Watch Series 8?
Neither has a meaningful advantage. The Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 8 are rated close enough that your usage will matter more than the spec sheet.
Which is larger, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8?
It’s the Apple Watch Series 8 that is larger: 0.42 in, versus 0.42 in for the Apple Watch SE 2.
Which has the better screen, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8?
On display specs, the Apple Watch Series 8 leads thanks to an always-on display.
Which costs less, the Apple Watch SE 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8?
At launch, the Apple Watch SE 2 undercut the Apple Watch Series 8 by $150. These figures are as of September 2022, and street prices can change.
Is the Apple Watch SE 2 lighter than the Apple Watch Series 8?
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the heavier of the two; the Apple Watch SE 2 saves 0.21 oz.
Executive Summary
When a brand offers the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Series 8 side by side, I always ask what you give up by picking one over the other. What tips it for me is that the Apple Watch Series 8 has an always-on display. Nor should you ignore that the Apple Watch Series 8 has an ECG app. The Apple Watch SE 2’s strongest argument is a 0.21 oz lighter case.
For portability, the Apple Watch SE 2 fits better. For display, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the better match.
My pick: the Apple Watch Series 8, unless your top priority is a 0.21 oz lighter case.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.