Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Apple Watch SE: Which One Should You Choose?

As the Apple Watch grows in popularity, Apple continues to offer more models of the wearable device to consumers.

Two of the most popular include the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE.

We’re comparing both models to help you make the best decision on which Apple Watch version is right for you.

Screen and Design

One of the most notable differences between the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE is the screen size.

The Series 7 model features the largest screen ever on an Apple Watch. Along with a taller case, Apple accomplished the feat by dramatically shrinking the borders around the screen.

A 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 sports 1,143 sq mm of display area while the smaller 41mm model offers 904 sq mm of display area. That’s compared to 977 sq mm and 759 sq mm of display area on the 44mm and 40mm Apple Watch SE, respectively. The SE features the same screen size as the Apple Watch Series 4-6.

Even though that might look like a small improvement, comparing the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE is quite obvious. With the larger screen, every part of the Apple Watch experience is better.

To help showcase the larger screen, Apple has included two new watch faces only on the Series 7. Contour features numbers placed around the edge of the screen. Modular Duo places two large, data-rich complications on a single face.

Starting with watchOS 8, Apple has also made on-screen elements of the Apple Watch 7 even easier to interact with larger menu buttons and other elements in stock apps like Stopwatch, Activity, and Alarms.

Probably the biggest feature only for the Series 7 is a built-in QWERTY keyboard that can be tapped or swiped. Special AI makes sure that what you type appears on the screen.

One final difference between the screen of the two models is that the Series 7 features an Always-On display not found on the Apple Watch SE. As you could probably guess by the name, the screen will always show the time or other information from an app, even when your wrist is down.

Past the screen size, both watch models offer a similar design with the Digital Crown and Side Button located on one side of the watch. The sensors and charging connector are on the rear of both watches.

Available Features

The Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE also differ in the available health tracking features. Both offer a heart rate sensor that can measure your current heart rate and provide high and low heart rate notifications. Either watch will also provide irregular heart rate notifications.

Two tracking features are only found on the Series 7—blood oxygen and ECG.

Just like heart rate tracking, the Apple Watch Series 7 will monitor your body's blood oxygen levels. That’s an important metric measuring the hemoglobin in your red blood cells carrying oxygen.

Using the ECG app, you’ll place your finger on the Digital Crown to take an ECG reading. An ECG measures the electrical impulses from your heart. An abnormal reading can indicate cardiac issues that possibly require medical care.

Unlike blood oxygen, each ECG will need to be taken manually. All of the information is available in Apple’s Health app.

Battery Life and Charging

While there are small differences in the battery sizes of the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE, Apple says that both models can provide up to 18 hours of battery life with normal use.

So that’s more than enough for a full day before needing to be recharged at night.

The Apple Watch Series 7 has an advantage when it comes to charging speed, thanks to improved hardware. Using the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger, included with the Apple Watch Series 7, it can charge the watch up to 33 percent faster.

That allows you to charge a completely drained Apple Watch Series 7 to 80 percent charge in around 45 minutes.

Sizes, Color, and Price

The Apple Watch Series 7 is available in two size options—45mm and 41mm. You can select from a number of case and color options. On the lower end is an aluminum case in five hues: midnight, starlight, green, blue, and (PRODUCT)RED.

A GPS model starts at $399 while a GPS + Cellular model is $100 more.

The special Apple Watch Nike Series 7 is available in the same sizes and prices. You can only select from a midnight or starlight case, but there are special Nike bands available to choose from. The model also offers a number of exclusive watch faces and the Nike Run Club app pre-installed.

Starting at $699, you can choose a silver stainless steel, black stainless steel, or graphite stainless steel version.

A model with a titanium or black titanium case starts at $799.

For fans of the luxury goods company, the Apple Watch Hermès lineup starts at $1,359. That combines a stainless steel Apple Watch Series 7 with a high-quality band.

The Apple Watch SE starts at $279 for a GPS model and $309 for a GPS + Cellular edition. There are only three aluminum case colors to choose from—silver, space gray, and gold.

Apple Watch SE Nike models are available for the same price in a silver or space gray case.

Which Apple Watch Model to Choose?

When deciding between the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE, it’s important to consider what features are most important to you and how you plan to use the wearable device.

If you’re looking for the whole suite of available health tracking options, the Series 7 is the best choice. And if you’d like the largest possible Apple Watch screen, the more expensive model is well worth it.

But if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to jump into the world of wearable devices, the Apple Watch SE is a nice option. You can snag a model with a great screen and a host of nice features for much less.