Can You Use Apple Watch SE for Swimming?

The Apple Watch SE, while not the flagship model of Apple’s smartwatch lineup, offers a range of features that make it a viable option for various activities, including swimming. It’s essential to understand its capabilities and limitations to determine how well it performs in the water.

Water Resistance: The Apple Watch SE has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means it can withstand submersion in water up to 50 meters deep, making it suitable for shallow water activities such as swimming in a pool or ocean.

Swim Tracking Features: The watch comes with built-in swim tracking capabilities. When you start a swim workout, the Apple Watch SE can track various metrics, including lap count, distance, and stroke count. It also monitors the duration of your swim and estimates calories burned.

Heart Rate Monitoring: While swimming, the Apple Watch SE can track your heart rate, although this might be less accurate due to the water’s interference. It provides heart rate data that can be valuable for monitoring your fitness levels over time.

Data Accuracy and Syncing: The accuracy of swim tracking data can be affected by factors such as the type of strokes you use and the water’s movement. The watch syncs this data to the Health app on your iPhone, where you can review detailed swim metrics and overall fitness progress.

Durability and Maintenance: After swimming, it's advisable to rinse the Apple Watch SE with fresh water to remove chlorine or salt residue. Regularly check the watch’s seals and ensure that the charging port and other openings remain dry to maintain its water resistance over time.

Limitations: Although the Apple Watch SE is suitable for casual swimming, it may not have the advanced swim metrics and detailed analytics offered by higher-end models like the Apple Watch Ultra. For professional swimmers or those requiring more precise measurements, upgrading to a higher model might be beneficial.

Conclusion: The Apple Watch SE can be a practical and effective tool for tracking swim workouts and monitoring fitness metrics. Its water resistance and swim tracking features make it suitable for most swimming activities, though users with specific needs may find more advanced models preferable.