The Apple Watch SE (2022) replaces the original Apple Watch SE with an updated processor, redesigned bottom casing, and lower price. Pricing starts at $249, down from $279 for the previous SE, easing concerns about affordability after the Apple Watch Series 3 was discontinued.

Even though it is $150 cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 8, it is powered by the same S8 chipset found in both Apple's latest flagship model and the all-new Apple Watch Ultra. So while it may not have all the features of the two additions to this year's Apple Watch lineup, the Apple Watch SE (2022) offers an attractive compromise.

That compromise may not be for everyone. I would have liked to see the Apple Watch SE come with Always-On Display. However, for the price, there is much to like in the first impressions. Here is a full rundown of what to expect from the Apple Watch SE (2022).

The Apple Watch SE (2022) starts at $249 for the 40mm, GPS-only size; the 44mm GPS-only model starts at $279; for Cellular compatibility, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is available in two sizes for $299 or $329 respectively. In each configuration, this year's Apple Watch SE is $30 cheaper than the 2020 Apple Watch SE.

As for availability, pre-orders for the Apple Watch SE (2022) are now open. If you have an older Apple Watch, see how you can trade in your Apple Watch for a new device at an even better price. Otherwise, the Apple Watch SE (2022) will be available on September 16.

The Apple Watch SE (2022) once again looks like a revival of the Apple Watch Series 4, with a thicker bezel than the Apple Watch Series 7. One can't help but hope that it will instead take over the Apple Series 5 design and include an Always-On Display. Still, the display size is 30% larger than the Apple Watch Series 3 of yesteryear.

Elsewhere, the Apple Watch SE (2022) features an aluminum case in three colors: silver, midnight, and starlight, three of the four colors available on the Apple Watch Series 8. Additionally, the bottom casing is now made of a nylon composite material in the same color as the bezel. Although not visible when worn on the wrist, this is a subtle change that is also environmentally friendly.

The biggest feature that will probably be missed in the Apple Watch SE (2022) is the health sensor. While it can monitor heart rate, it does not have an electrocardiogram, blood oxygen analyzer, or the new skin temperature sensor found on the Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra. The skin temperature sensor is probably the sensor I will miss the most as it can be applied to cycle tracking and sleep tracking. However, ECG and SpO2 readings are easy to live without if there is no existing need to view these indicators.

Elsewhere, the Apple Watch SE (2022) includes a standard collection of workout features, text and call, support for the best workout apps, and sleep stages, multi-sport workouts, and new watch faces available in watchOS 9, including Most of the upgrades are there. That said, the traditional Apple Watch SE is also one of the watchOS 9-enabled devices, so it gets many of the latest software features; one of the only exclusive features of the Apple Watch SE (2022) is crash detection.

The performance of the Apple Watch SE (2022) should feel noticeably better than the previous Apple Watch SE; the update from the S5 chipset to the S8 chipset should help with responsiveness and reliable connectivity.

And like the SE before it, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is the smartwatch most closely associated by Apple with Family Setup. Family Setup allows users to manage Apple Watch devices for family members who do not have their own iPhones, such as older parents or children.

The Apple Watch SE (2022) has a battery life of 18 hours, which is the same as the previous SE, but the new low power mode should extend battery life by disabling features that drain power until the watch is returned to the charger. We'll have to test it to see how well it works, but I'm optimistic.

The Apple Watch SE (2022) makes perfect sense as a "starter" Apple Watch, as a managed Apple Watch in a family setup, or for a cheaper Apple Watch experience. With features that are important to many people, it offers a way to connect with the Apple Watch with less strain on the wallet, and now that the $199 Series 3 has been discontinued, the further discount on the Apple Watch SE is an added bonus, albeit definitely necessary In.

Whether or not both the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch SE (2022) are really cut corners in the right places remains to be seen, as we'll have to try them out for ourselves.