Memorial Day 2025 has arrived, and with it comes a wave of significant deals across various tech products. Among the most compelling offers is the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), which has returned to its best price of the year. This popular smartwatch is now available for just $169, marking a notable opportunity for those looking to acquire an Apple wearable without the premium cost of higher-end models.
This price point for the 40mm GPS version of the Apple Watch SE is the lowest it has reached in recent months. The deal includes various case and band combinations, giving buyers options to match their style. Retailers, including Amazon, are featuring this discounted price, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Why This Price Matters
The Apple Watch SE occupies a unique position in Apple’s smartwatch lineup. It provides many core functionalities found in its more expensive counterparts, such as activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and safety features, at a more affordable price point. For many consumers, the added features of the premium Apple Watch Series or Ultra models are not essential, making the SE a practical and budget-friendly choice.
Experts often praise the Apple Watch SE for its balance of performance and cost. This Memorial Day deal amplifies that value. Getting a capable Apple smartwatch for under $200 is a rare occurrence, drawing considerable interest from potential buyers.
Key Features of the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), released in 2022, carries a range of features that make it a compelling device for daily use.
- S8 SiP Processor: The same chip found in the Apple Watch Series 8, ensuring smooth performance and responsiveness for apps and tasks. This processor is a significant upgrade from the first-generation SE, offering a noticeable speed improvement.
- Health and Fitness Tracking:
- Activity Rings: Encourages daily movement with Move, Exercise, and Stand rings.
- Workout App: Tracks a wide range of workouts, from running and cycling to swimming. It provides detailed metrics like distance, pace, and calories burned.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Features a second-generation optical heart sensor, providing high and low heart rate notifications and irregular rhythm alerts.
- Sleep Tracking: Monitors sleep stages to offer insights into sleep patterns.
- Safety Features:
- Crash Detection: Utilizes an updated high-g accelerometer and gyroscope to detect severe car crashes and automatically connect the user with emergency services if unresponsive. This feature provides a sense of security for commuters and drivers.
- Fall Detection: Identifies hard falls and can initiate an emergency call if the user remains motionless.
- Emergency SOS: Allows users to quickly call for help by pressing and holding the side button.
- Connectivity:
- GPS: For accurate location tracking during outdoor activities.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3: Connects to iPhones and other accessories.
- Cellular Option: Available in a GPS + Cellular model, allowing calls, texts, and music streaming without an iPhone nearby. This feature, though typically more expensive, expands the watch’s standalone utility.
- Display:
- Retina LTPO OLED Display: Bright and clear, with up to 1,000 nits of maximum brightness, ensuring visibility in various lighting conditions.
- Ion-X Front Glass: Provides durability and resistance against scratches.
- Water Resistance: Rated for 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming and shallow water activities.
What the Apple Watch SE Lacks (Compared to Higher-End Models)
While feature-rich, the Apple Watch SE does not include some of the advanced health sensors and display technologies found in the Apple Watch Series 10 or Ultra 2. These differences contribute to its lower price.
- Always-On Display: The SE’s screen does not remain constantly lit, requiring a wrist raise to view the time or notifications. This helps battery life but is a difference from premium models.
- ECG App: It does not have the ability to take an electrocardiogram to check for signs of atrial fibrillation.
- Blood Oxygen App: The SE lacks the sensor to measure blood oxygen levels.
- Temperature Sensing: This feature, available in newer Series models, is not on the SE.
- Precision Dual-Frequency GPS: The SE uses standard GPS, while Ultra models offer more precise tracking.
For many users, these omissions are not deal-breakers. The core functionalities of the Apple Watch SE meet everyday needs for fitness tracking, notifications, and safety.
The Landscape of Memorial Day Tech Deals
Beyond the Apple Watch SE, Memorial Day sales offer opportunities across various tech categories. Laptops, headphones, smart home devices, and other smartwatches are also seeing price reductions. The Apple Watch Series 10, for example, is available at a discounted price, though still higher than the SE.
This period proves to be a competitive time for retailers, leading to discounts on popular items. Consumers looking for Apple products have several options, from AirPods to iPads, all available at reduced prices.
The current deal on the Apple Watch SE provides an excellent entry point into the Apple Watch ecosystem. Its combination of performance, safety features, and a budget-friendly price makes it a solid choice for Memorial Day shoppers. This offer may not last long, given its standing as the best price of 2025 so far for this model.
