Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Senior Editor
In today’s post, we’re comparing two fantastic smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE – which is a better Apple smartwatch for you, and which should you buy? This post compares the differences between these two to help you make the right choice. Recall that Watch SE which is an entirely new model was released alongside Watch 6 which is now succeeded by Apple Watch Series 7. The Watch SE is a lower-end version lacking an always-on display, blood oxygen measurement, and ECG tracking. And the Watch SE is only available in aluminum material. Compare Watch SE to the now discontinued and a little pricey Watch 5 that was released in 2019 and features an always-on display and ECG tracking, but also lacks blood oxygen measurement.
Please note that the Apple Watch Series 4, 5 and 6 are discontinued. Apple currently sells the Apple Watch 3, 7 and Watch SE. However, you might still find the discontinued Apple watches in certain stores.
The Watch SE seems to be the mid point between the pricey Watch 7 and the cheaper Watch 3. The Watch 7 is available in aluminum, stainless steel and titanium materials just like Watch 6, while the Watch SE and Watch 3 are only available in aluminum materials. The aluminum units are the cheapest of all Apple Watches.
The Watch 7 comes in 41mm and 45mm while the Watch SE is available in 44mm and 40mm just like the Watch 4, 5 and 6. Meanwhile, the Watch 3 is available in 38mm and 42mm.
All the sizes are available in Cellular and GPS-only models except for the Watch 3 which is only available in GPS-only model.
Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE: Specifications Compared
| Product Info |
 Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications, Features and Price |
 Apple Watch SE (44mm) (Cellular) Specifications-Features and Price |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | - |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | (Cellular), (Discontinued), Apple Watch Series 5 | (44mm), (Cellular), Apple Watch SE |
| Device type | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | September, 2019 | September, 2020 |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch Series 4 | — |
| Successor | Apple Watch Series 6 | — |
| Versions | Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+ | Apple Watch Hermès, Apple Watch Nike+ |
| BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm | 44 x 38 x 10.4mm |
| Weight | 47.8g (GPS + Cellular) | 36.36g |
| Shape | Rectangular | Rectangular |
| Case material | Aluminum, Ceramic/Sapphire crystal back, Stainless steel, Titanium | Aluminum |
| Strap material | Elastomer | Polyester, Silicone |
| Bezel material | Bezeless, Sapphire glass | Bezeless, Sapphire glass |
| Strap size | 24mm | 24mm |
| Interchangeable strap | 24mm, Yes | 24mm, Yes |
| Screen protection | Sapphire glass | Sapphire glass |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | — | — |
| Swim-proof | Yes | Yes |
| Color | Gold, Gray, Silver | Gold, Gray, Silver |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.78 inch | 1.78 inch |
| Display type | 1000nit, OLED | 1000nit, LTPO OLED |
| Display resolution | 448 x 368 pixels | 448 x 368 pixels |
| Pixel density | — | — |
| Always on | Yes | No |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen | 1 Physical button, Digital crown, Touchscreen |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.0 | Bluetooth v5.0 |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | GLONASS, GPS | GLONASS, GPS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 0.768GB | 1GB |
| ROM | 32GB | 32GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| SIM type | e-SIM | e-SIM |
| Band | — | — |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Sensor(s) | — | — |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | Yes | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | (Third-party app), Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | No | — |
| On-screen workout | No | No |
| Sport modes | Yes | Yes |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | — | — |
| Battery life | Regular: up to 18hrs | Regular: up to 18hrs |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | Apple S5 chip (64bits) | Apple S5 chip (64bits) |
| CPU | Dual core | Dual core |
| GPU | — | — |
| Operating system | WatchOS 6 | WatchOS 7 |
| MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Apple Watch App | Apple Watch App |
| Compatibility | iOS 12.0+ | iOS 12.0+ |
| Payment system | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Voice command | Yes, Siri | Yes, Siri |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Apple Watch Series 5, Charger, Manual, Straps | Apple Watch SE, Charger, Manual, Straps |
Apple Watch Series 5 vs Watch SE Features Compared
| FEATURES | Watch Series 5 | Watch SE (Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| DESIGN | ||
| Case Sizes | 44mm and 40mm | 44mm and 40mm |
| Thickness | 10.7mm thin | 10.4mm thin |
| Always-on-display | Yes | No |
| Digital crown with haptic feedback | Digital crown with haptic feedback | |
| Available Materials and Finishes | Aluminum Stainless steel Titanium | Aluminum |
| Back Material | Ceramic and sapphire crystal back | Ceramic and sapphire crystal back |
| HEALTH AND ACTIVITY TRACKING | ||
| Family Setup Allows you to use your iPhone to pair watches for your children or older adults who don’t have their own iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Protection Protects your ear against high decibels that can be harmful to hearing, also alerts you when you reach your hearing dose for the week according to recommendations from global health authorities. | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Tracking Tracks your blood oxygen to determine the amount of oxygen your blood. | No | No |
| ECG Tracking Allows you to take ECG test directly from your wrist which can help you detect atrial fibrillations. | Yes | No |
| Heart rate sensor Tracks your heart rate with high, low, and irregular heart rhythm notifications. | Yes Second-generation optical heart sensor | Yes Second-generation optical heart sensor |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| Incidental Fall Detection Can help you get help real quick when the watch detects a fall, it calls a preset emergency number. | Yes | Yes |
| International Emergency Calling Allows you to call international emergency contacts almost anywhere in the world. | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | Always-on altimeter | Always-on altimeter |
| Accelerometer | Yes up to 32 g-forces | Yes up to 32 g-forces |
| MEDIA/STORAGE | ||
| Loudspeaker | 50% Louder speaker | 50% Louder speaker |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| Calls Call and Text From Wrist | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay Make a secured payment from your watch. | Yes | Yes |
| Siri Get help with just about anything, simply by asking with your voice. Including translations. | Yes | Yes |
| PLATFORM | ||
| CPU | S5 with 64-bit dual-core processor Up to 2x faster processor | S5 with 64-bit dual-core processor Up to 2x faster processor |
| Chip | W3 Apple wireless chip | W3 Apple wireless chip |
Which is Right For You?
The Watch SE and Watch 5 share a whole lot of features in common, both are available in two sizes, and its same display size. These two also have the same health tracking features except that Watch 5 features ECG which is now a big business in the smartwatch industry going by the increasing number of high-end smartwatches that have this feature.
It’s also the same battery life, same storage capcity and Apple’s S5 chip powering both smartwatches.
The difference between Watch 5 and Watch SE is that the latter lacks an always-on display which is present on Watch 5. Watch SE also lacks ECG and is only available in aluminum material. Meanwhile, Watch 5 comes in three different materials; aluminum, stainless steel and titanium which certainly gives you more options to choose from, but the stainlees steel cost more money, while the Titanium model will cost you even more.
In all, both smartwatches are fantastic choices except for the slight differences.
So which is right for you? If always-on display and ECG tracking mean so much to you, then you should go for Watch 5 which is priced higher anyway. However, if you can do without always-on display and ECG tracking, then the Watch SE is a fine choice.
Apple Watch SE Review