Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 8: New Features to Expect If You've Waited to Upgrade
The Apple Watch SE was announced in September 2020 and has been a popular Apple Watch model for customers looking for their first smartwatch or an affordable Apple Watch. Apple Watch SE customers may be wondering, however, what's in store for them with the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 and what new features they can expect. Continue reading to find out.
Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 8
- Significantly larger displays: Apple increased the size of the display by shrinking the bezels and rounding the corners with the Apple Watch Series 7. The standard Apple Watch Series 8 model will continue to adopt the Series 7 display, which features a 20% larger screen than the Apple Watch SE.
- Always-on Retina display: Introduced with the Apple Watch Series 5 and present on every flagship Apple Watch since, the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature an always-on display that allows the display to remain dimly lit at all times, providing easy access to quick information like the time and complications.
- More durable hardware: Alongside a rumored "rugged" Apple Watch set to launch this fall, the standard Apple Watch Series 8 will feature the same durable hardware as the Series 7, such as a stronger front glass and more durable aluminum models compared to the Apple Watch SE.
- Ability to measure Blood Oxygen: The Apple Watch Series 8 will feature a Blood Oxygen sensor, introduced with the Series 6 in 2020 and unavailable on the Apple Watch SE. The sensor allows wearers to measure the amount of oxygen in their blood.
- ECG capabilities: The Apple Watch Series 8 will be able to take an ECG, or an electrocardiogram, right on your wrist. This high-end health and wellness feature is not available on the Apple Watch SE and has been present on Apple Watch Series models since the Series 4.
- Built-in temperature sensor: One new health sensor coming to the Apple Watch Series 8 is the ability to measure body temperature. Rumors suggest the new sensor will not, at least at first, provide wearers a direct temperature reading of their body but may simply advise them if they may have a fever and seek medical attention.
- Fast charging: The Apple Watch SE does not support fast charging, and with the Series 8, customers can look forward to up to 30% faster charging alongside all-day 18 hours of battery life.
- Improved optical heart sensor: The Apple Watch SE features a second-generation optical heart sensor, compared to the third-generation model in the Series 7, and we expect the fourth-generation model in the upcoming Series 8. The improvements in heart sensors are likely to offer more reliable and accurate readings.
- Faster performance: The Apple Watch Series 8 is likely to feature a dual-core S8 SiP (system in a package), which would be faster than the dual-core S5 chip in the Apple Watch SE. Customers can expect faster performance and more fluid animations as a result.
If the Apple Watch Series 8 is not an attractive option for current Apple Watch SE customers, it's worth noting that we are expecting an updated Apple Watch SE alongside the Series 8 that may offer more moderate upgrades, though there have been few rumors about specs for the new SE model.
Popular Stories
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year.
In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July.
Transparency
In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors.
Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each.
iPhone 17 Series
iPho...
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year.
As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further.
Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Image via Majin Bu.
Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side.
...
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Latest Rumors
These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes.
With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID.
If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past.
The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
