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Apple Apple Watch Series 4 vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 4 ($73) vs Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) ($51) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 4 | Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73 | $51 |
| Weight | 36.7g | 36.2g |
| Chip | S4, 64-bit dual-core | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Display | 30% larger Retina OLED vs Series 3 | Retina OLED, not always-on |
| Sensors | Electrical + optical heart sensor, ECG | Optical heart rate, no ECG/SpO2 |
| Safety | Fall detection | Fall detection, emergency calling |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 36.7g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) | 36.2g (Apple published, 44mm GPS) |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 4
- First Apple Watch with an ECG sensor
- Meaningfully larger display in the same case size class
- Fall detection, a safety feature that debuted here
- Digital Crown haptic feedback, still felt today
- No always-on display
- watchOS support window is closing
- Speaker and mic are a generation behind current models
- Battery health on a used unit is unverifiable before buying
Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
- Series 5-class performance at a genuine discount over Series 5/6
- Fall detection and emergency calling carried over from flagship models
- Same 44mm case size as the numbered Series watches that generation
- Lighter than most Series models it's priced against
- No always-on display
- No ECG or blood oxygen sensor
- No compass
- watchOS support window is closing like every watch in this group
Apple Apple Watch SE (1st generation) is the better value at $51. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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