The Apple Watch SE 2 was released in 2022 as an updated version of the 2020 original. Despite being aimed at customers who can’t stretch their budgets to the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch SE 2 actually shares many features with the Apple Watch Series 8.

Design-wise, there are no discernable differences between the first-generation and second-generation Apple Watch SE, the only true differences being a negligible weight reduction and different colors.
The display is also the same: a 1.78” screen on a 44mm model with 448 x 368 pixels at 326 ppi, which is more than capable of producing clear and visible images. There’s no Always-On display on SE 2 models, which isn’t a dealbreaker for an entry-level device.

Things are a bit different when it comes to internals; the SE 2 has a newer Apple S8 chipset with a dual-core processor — which it shares with Series 8 — running watchOS 9.0, which is fully upgradeable to watchOS 10. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware within the watch has also been updated to allow for more stable connectivity.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the new generation of Apple Watch SE products is the GPS + Cellular models, which allow you to use the Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby. Of course, carrier-specific restrictions apply in this case.