Apple Watch SE

About

The Apple Watch SE is a new entry to Apple’s Watch product line, aimed at bringing many features from the Apple Watch Series 6 to users with budget and performance in mind. Announced on 15 September 2020 in conjunction with the Apple Watch Series 6, the Apple Watch SE was officially released on 18 September 2020. It is considered a 6th Generation Apple Watch due to its many similarities with the Apple Watch Series 6, however it is a new entry.

In many regards, the Apple Watch SE is a budget version of the Apple Watch Series 6. Many of its features, such as similar build and dimensions, heart rate notifications, Family Setup on GPS + Cellular options, 32GB of storage, and 50m water resistance make it an affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Series 6 yet a noticeable improvement upon the older Apple Watch Series 3. The Apple Watch SE can also be customised in terms of bands and appearance (cases are available in Gold, Silver, and Space Grey) and boasts excellent functionality, thanks to integration with apps such as Weather, Calendar, Reminders, Walkie-Talkie, Camera Remote, and the App Store.

In terms of sacrifices, the Apple Watch SE foregoes the Apple S6 chip used on its newest Apple Watch Series 6 in favour of a slightly less-powerful Apple S5 chip. Furthermore, the standard Apple Retina LTPO OLED familiar on older models is used instead of the Always-On OLED display found on the Apple Watch Series 6. The Apple Watch SE also lacks the blood oxygen monitoring sensor and ECG sensors used on the Apple Watch Series 6.

All things considered, the Apple Watch SE is a significant upgrade from the now-outdated Apple Watch Series 3 and an excellent alternative to the pricier Apple Watch Series 6, provided that prospective owners are willing to sacrifice some performance and functionality in favour of a lower price tag.

Specifications

• 40mm Display: Retina LTPO OLED
• Resolution: 324×394
• 44mm Display: Retina LTPO OLED
• Resolution: 368×448
• CPU: Apple S5
• Storage capacity: 32GB
• RAM: 1GB
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP, LE

Repairs

Wearable smart tech may have gotten off to a rocky start in the mid 2010s, but it’s now established itself amongst users thanks to the success of the Apple Watch Series 3 and functionality such as fitness apps. The Apple Watch SE is thus a natural progression from this older model, taking what worked so well in previous iterations and improving upon itself, all for a more affordable price.

There’s so much to love about the Apple Watch SE, and many users are expected to purchase this as an entry-level smartwatch. As a result, many problems that smartwatch users have faced in previous models can be expected to arise with the Apple Watch SE. Although the display is made of Ion-X strengthened glass and is quite resilient for everyday use, scratches, dents, and cracked displays are unfortunately quite common as are broken or dislodged buttons that become unresponsive with wear and tear.

These problems are beyond the remit of most traditional watchmakers, since the technology is far different in scope. The good news is that should you encounter problems with your Apple Watch SE, a local iTechnician repair person can effect professional and high-quality repairs to your smartwatch using approved techniques and components to get your Apple Watch SE back in good working order just like when you first unboxed it.

iTechnician repair personnel can pickup your watch and have it sent back to you, or you can drop it off at a local iTechnician shop near you as you prefer. Some of the common problems that iTechnician shops can resolve with Apple Watches include:

• Screen repair (LCD & Glass)
• Battery replacement
• Power button repair
• Water / liquid damage repair
• Microphone repair
• Speaker repair
• Diagnostic service

Prices

Apple Watch SE repair costs vary and are constantly changing. We will keep updating this page so you can get an idea on what you should be paying for repairs in your area.