Apple’s popular watch wearables are available in several models, and the Watch SE (2nd Gen) is still the latest base model watch to hit the market. Despite Apple unveiling the new Watch Series 10 in September 2024, the SE did not get an upgrade as originally rumored. And while it’s not packed with all the features of the Series 9 or 10, it offers great value for those looking to track basic health and fitness metrics, keep in contact with ease, and benefit from connection to the Apple ecosystem. 

Also: The best Apple Watches we’ve tested (and where the Series 10 stands)

The Watch SE (2nd Gen) is the model I own, and it’s been the perfect smartwatch companion to my mostly low-key tech lifestyle. It’s proven great for tracking my workouts, steps, and more health metrics, and it has been a great introduction into sleep tracking. I recommended this model to my mom, who despite being a not tech-saavy Gen Xer, has figured out its features quite well (we’re still working on the computer).  

And right now you can grab my favorite watch model (and Apple’s most up-to-date base model) the Watch SE (2nd Gen), for $80 off its regular price at several major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. 

This isn’t quite as low as I saw the watch drop during Black Friday sales (where it was briefly on sale for $149), but it’s certainly the lowest I’ve seen it in 2025 thus far. After 2024 holiday sales, the Watch SE (2nd Gen) popped back up in price and was selling for around $190-$199 at many retailers, and this is one of the first times it’s dropped below $189 in several months.

If you’re not looking for the advanced features offered in the newer Series 9, 10, or Ultra and Ultra 2 models, the watch SE is a great buy with all the essentials. You’d be surprised how well this model compares to Apple’s other contenders. 

The SE offers users up to 18 hours of battery life and 32GB of internal storage, and it does offer some of the same health and safety features as the Series 9, 10 and the Ultra, though it doesn’t track blood oxygen, do ECG heart checks, or check your temperature.

Also: Apple Watch SE (2023) vs. Apple Watch SE (2020)

During Black Friday sales last year, I upgraded from the Series 3 Apple Watch to the 40mm SE model, and I’ve never been happier with a tech purchase. The SE has all the necessary features without the complicated bells and whistles I didn’t want (or need) — yet it still offers a crisp display, fast response rate, and seamless use. It’s perfect for tracking my workouts and walks, and for quickly answering texts, emails, and more. Plus, with the savings I got from purchasing the more basic SE model, I was able to snag several different watch bands to dress my look up or down. 

Grab the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) now and upgrade your or a loved one’s smartwatch setup.  

How I rated this deal

Based upon the 32% off savings being offered, ZDNET’s rating system gives this a 4/5 Editor’s deal rating. This is not the lowest offer I’ve seen in my time covering Apple Watch deals. The Watch SE (2nd Gen) has been available during select sale periods for as low as $149, or $100 off. However, this $169 offer matches the savings price I saw during Presidents’ Day, and is one of the first discounts of the 2025 season. After the holidays, the Watch SE briefly shot back up in price and was selling for around $190, so this is a much better price for the watch, which launched in 2022.