Apple has never really addressed what “SE” means on the Apple Watch, even though it’s already in its third generation. However, in 2016, when the company introduced the first iPhone SE, which resembled an iPhone 5S, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told Fortune that SE was short for “Special Edition.” This was the only time the company addressed the meaning of the SE brand, and could probably be the last, because while Apple is generally consistent with its product line, it can also be confusing.
Currently, here are some of the ranges it has: Neo, Air, Plus, E, Pro, Max and Ultra. In the past, there was S, R (for the iPhone XR), C (for the iPhone 5c), and mini (for the long-defunct iPhone mini models). These brands can be linked to products, processors or even the size of a gadget, while sometimes the brand is just a name. For example, at one point the iPad Air was called Air because it was thinner and lighter than any other iPad. This is now the role of the iPad Pro. However, the iPhone Air remains thinner than the bulky iPhone Pro.
Sometimes Apple gives explanations, like the “S” on the iPhone 3GS meant Speed and the “S” on the iPhone 4S meant Siri. On the other hand, the “c” on the iPhone 5c meant cheap or colorful, it’s up to you. That said, sometimes the brand name doesn’t mean much. But we still have to thank Apple for not using WH-1000XM6 or QN70H to describe its products.
What makes the Apple Watch SE a special edition
If we compare the latest Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3, there are several aspects that set them apart. The SE model has a lower price ($249 vs. $399), it has smaller 40mm and 44mm bezels, a less bright OLED screen, and it lacks features like hypertension notifications, the ECG app, the Blood Oxygen app, a water temperature sensor, or a depth gauge.
Still, this device shares features like high and low heart rate notifications, sleep apnea notifications, sleep tracking, temperature detection, emergency SOS, S10 chip, and a 5G option with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. That said, what might make the Apple Watch SE a “special edition” isn’t that it offers anything extraordinary, or that it’s truly exclusive, but the fact that it offers most of the features of the Apple Watch at a more affordable price.
It’s also worth noting that once Apple introduced the first Apple Watch SE, it began positioning this smartwatch for children and seniors as a way for parents or guardians to give them a gadget that might not be as invasive or addictive as an iPhone. While the Family Setup is still a thing for the Apple Watch, it seems the company has moved on from that idea to a more affordable option for someone who wants an Apple Watch for the first time or wants to upgrade from an older model, but doesn’t want to pay more than $399 for the privilege.
Could Apple abandon the Apple Watch SE for another brand?
Of course, Apple can always rebrand its products. If you think the company has been phasing out the iPhone SE in favor of the iPhone E, it’s still possible that the company will follow the same path with the Apple Watch as well. After all, an iPhone 17e, for example, should look like an entry-level iPhone 17, but, starting this generation, it no longer has the same design or cameras, but shares the same processor (with one fewer GPU core).
While one could point out that the iPhone 17e is not strictly speaking an iPhone 17, the same could be said about the Apple Watch SE, even if it is not trying to be the Apple Watch Series 11. In other words, sometimes Apple’s strategy is strange and no reasonable answer can be found, because currently the “SE”, “E” and “Neo” brands are the most affordable (besides products without a letter suffix, like the AirPods 4 or the base iPad).
If the “E” brand becomes successful enough, it’s possible that Apple will rename the Apple Watch SE to the Apple Watch E. Perhaps a product redesign could even turn into the Neo, as Apple has had a lot of sales with this affordable Mac. One thing is for sure, the “special edition” Apple Watch seems more and more special as more and more customers can afford it, and at a time when the memory crisis is driving up industry prices, this watch is very acceptably priced compared to many other Apple products.
