Early in release cycle
Best for: iPhone users who want Apple Watch's core experience — activity tracking, notifications, crash detection, and Apple Pay — at a lower price point. Ideal for kids, teens, or anyone upgrading from a much older watch without needing the advanced health sensors.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Trail runners, ultramarathon athletes, and multisport competitors who want full maps and long GPS battery without paying $900 for the Vertix. A strong alternative to Garmin Forerunner 965 for users who prioritise battery over display quality.
Full details →| Apple Watch SE | COROS Apex | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 18h | 45 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hr, irregular rhythm, crash detection, fall detection | hr, spo2, hrv, training load, skin temp |
| Released | Sep 19, 2025 | Sep 14, 2022 |
| Cycle length | 1098 days | 1047 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Apple Watch SE 4 (Expected fall 2027) | — |
Access the entire watchOS app ecosystem, Apple Pay, Siri, and Family Setup — for $150 less than the Series 11.
Emergency SOS, fall detection, and Crash Detection give real safety value even without premium health sensors.
Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED with a wide range of Apple Watch-compatible bands.
Enough for 3-day mountain stages without charging — a critical advantage for ultra-distance racing.
Breadcrumb + full TopoActive-style maps for turn-by-turn navigation on trails, mountains, and roads.
Lightweight yet scratch-resistant materials that hold up better than most competitor watches at this price.