Buying An Apple Watch? Don't Check Out Until You Consider This

The Apple Watch SE 3 (left), Apple Watch Ultra 3 (middle), Apple Watch Series 11 (right).

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

An Apple Watch is 1 of those iPhone accessories that, situation I say, is underrated. Before I tested them out, I had nan aforesaid thought that galore of my phone-obsessed peers did: why do I request a 2nd surface astir my wrist? I'm already addicted to nan large surface successful my pocket. 

Then, I began running, search my weight-lifting sessions astatine nan gym, and learning astir each of nan wellness features nan smartwatch has to offer. I besides utilized my Apple Watch during nan workday and recovered it adjuvant for receiving messages while I was distant from my laptop. I besides learned astir a caller activity to move those mini smartwatches into afloat functional dumb phones, leaving nan existent telephone astatine home. It became clear: I yet understood why personification would want a 2nd surface astir their wrist. 

Also: The champion Apple Watch deals to shop correct now

That didn't reside nan other, much pressing question: do I person nan money to walk $300 connected a smartwatch? The reply to that is: You don't request to walk $300. 

If you shop income and support a year-long oculus retired for deals (which astir companies almost ever participate in), you tin bargain a discounted Apple Watch -- yes, moreover a newer exemplary -- for less. 

In fact, up of Black Friday, I've been monitoring nan income connected Apple's newest Apple Watch models. Already, nan tech elephantine has discounted nan rugged (and expensive) Ultra 3 by $100, bringing it down to $699, and nan affordable SE 3 by $49, which was my sleeper prime for nan champion Apple Watch this year. 

Also: The Apple Watch SE 3 conscionable sewage its first discount - here's wherever to bargain one.

When do Apple Watches spell connected sale? 

I've been covering income events for almost 2 and a half years now, and I've noticed a shape successful erstwhile large retailers discount their astir celebrated devices. During income events for illustration Prime Day, Black Friday, aliases Cyber Monday, we often spot steep discounts connected nan astir celebrated tech products. Leading up to those events, retailers will statesman to little prices, but nan champion discounts are mostly disposable during nan woody arena days. That's because location is nan astir liking successful buying that merchandise during these events, compared to a random Tuesday in, say, April. 

The Apple Watch Series 11. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

It's besides basal to facet deals into erstwhile a retailer debuts its newest merchandise. Once Apple unveils its latest lineup of Apple Watches, nan worth of its one-year aliases two-year-old models depreciates. Apple's 2024 Series 10 smartwatch had consistently been disposable for astir $70 disconnected its original value for respective months this year, and it conscionable dropped moreover cheaper to $280. That smartwatch has almost each azygous characteristic nan 2025 Series 11 does (except a longer artillery life). 

The Series 10 is still a worthy buy, and it's cheaper. You see, folks? That's depreciation successful action. That mightiness not beryllium beneficial for Apple, but it's perfect for budget-conscious individuals seeking to acquisition a fittingness locator astatine a little value point. Always support an oculus retired for nan prices of older models aft Apple releases a caller product. Retailers for illustration Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are typically nan first to commencement slashing prices connected those older models. Remember that Apple itself seldom does.

Also: Which Apple Watch should you bargain successful 2025? My verdict connected nan astir disputed model

But let's opportunity you want to drawback a discount connected a brand-new instrumentality that was unveiled this year, for illustration nan Watch SE 3 aliases Watch Series 11 (or moreover nan pricier Ultra 3). Deals events for illustration Black Friday, Cyber Week, and Prime Day are your champion bets for uncovering a decent woody connected precocious released products, specified arsenic Apple Watches. Apple's caller watch lineup is simply a fewer months aged astatine this point, having been released successful September, truthful it's astir clip for Apple to commencement dropping prices arsenic we get person to six months aft their release. Remember that tech brands are up successful their improvement and are already gearing up for nan adjacent motorboat months successful advance. 

Last year's Apple Watch Series 10. 

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Last year, nan first discounts connected nan then-new Watch Series 10 popped up during Black Friday sales, and immoderate of nan amended $50-$70 offers started rolling successful astir Presidents' Day successful February. If this twelvemonth follows nan aforesaid trends, we whitethorn spot immoderate insignificant discounts connected nan Watch Series 11 successful nan adjacent fewer weeks, pinch much important drops expected aft nan caller year. 

Lucky for you, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for every viable woody connected Apple Watches starring up to Black Friday. If there's a woody worthy buying, you'll find maine penning it up first. 

So, should you bargain an Apple Watch during Black Friday?

If you person been successful nan marketplace for an Apple Watch and don't want to salary afloat value for one, I tin astir guarantee that retailers will trim nan prices connected Apple's oldest (and moreover newest) wearable devices during Black Friday (as they person already begun to do). You tin find these discounts crossed retailers for illustration Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and more. 

The older devices will person steeper discounts, but I expect that, for illustration successful years past, you'll beryllium capable to snag newer devices for a small cheaper during nan deals arena itself. If you tin clasp retired to upgrade until aft nan caller year, though, that's erstwhile immoderate of nan amended deals connected Apple's 2025 watch lineup whitethorn commencement to harvest up. Here's a basal overview that whitethorn thief you pinch vacation purchases, particularly during nan early shopping season. 

Note: All value information was gathered connected Nov. 7 from CamelCamelCamel utilizing nan respective Apple Watch merchandise links from Amazon. 

Apple Watch Series 10

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

The Apple Watch Series 10 was released successful September 2024. It's been steadily trading for $70 disconnected for nan past fewer months, and conscionable dropped again. You tin now scoop it up for $100 disconnected astatine prime retailers, highly adjacent to its lowest value ever. The GPS 46mm model is connected waste for $310, astir $10 much than its lowest-ever price. Here's nan afloat value look-back connected nan Watch Series 10 GPS 42 mm exemplary according to CamelCamelCamel: 

• Lowest ever: $279 connected July 8, 2025
• Highest ever: $400 connected Sept. 14, 2024
• Average: $337.54
• Current: $280

Our master advice: This is simply a bully deal. If you're getting aliases gifting nan Watch Series 10 (42mm aliases 46mm), I'd see purchasing now. Retailers will beryllium offloading banal of this model, and it whitethorn go harder to find caller in-box successful nan colors, set styles, and sizes you need. 

Apple Watch Series 11

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

The Apple Watch Series 11 was released successful September 2025. It's first discount conscionable deed nan market, a slim $10 disconnected astatine prime retailers. The GPS 46mm model is connected waste for $420, besides $10 off. Here's nan afloat value look-back connected nan Watch Series 11 GPS 42mm exemplary according to CamelCamelCamel: 

• Lowest ever: $389 connected Sept. 26, 2025
• Highest ever: $399 connected Sept. 10, 2025
• Average: $393.13
• Current: $389 
  

Our master advice: This isn't a deal. Unless you're not concerned pinch redeeming much money, aliases are purchasing an Apple Watch Series 11 sloppy of discounts this vacation season, there's nary logic to bargain this. A ten-dollar discount is poor, and overmuch amended deals are judge to travel around, either person to Cyber Week aliases into nan caller year, if you're not intending to gift this watch nether nan tree. 

Apple Watch SE 3

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

The Apple Watch SE 3 was released successful September 2025. Its first discount besides conscionable deed nan market, a decent $49 disconnected astatine prime retailers. This discount only applies to nan Starlight color. The GPS 44mm model is connected waste for $279, besides $429 off. Here's nan afloat value look-back connected nan Watch SE 3 GPS 40mm exemplary according to CamelCamelCamel: 

• Lowest ever: $200 connected Nov. 3, 2025
• Highest ever: $249 connected Sept. 11, 2025
• Average: $233.59
• Current: $200

Our master advice: This is an fantabulous first-time discount that makes a compelling lawsuit for astir casual Apple Watch customers. The Watch SE 3 was already my sleeper prime for champion Apple Watch retired of nan newest lineup, and these $49 savings sweeten nan sentiment. I would scoop this up if you want to get aliases gift an Apple Watch SE 3 for nan vacation season. 

It will yet spot prices nether $200, truthful if you tin hold it retired a fewer much months, you will apt beryllium capable to prevention more, but this $200 connection is stellar for a watch exemplary that's future-proofed for nan adjacent fewer years and gives nan Series 10 and Series 11 a decent tally for their money. Keep successful mind that it could spot different value trim during Black Friday (the Watch SE 2 sold for $149 past twelvemonth then), but because it's overmuch newer than nan SE 2 was astatine this constituent past year, I would beryllium amazed if it is those $100 savings again. 

Apple Watch SE 2

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

The Apple Watch SE 2 was released successful September 2022. This watch has been comfortably trading for astir $189 for nan past fewer months, though it's dipped little during income complete nan past fewer years. Right now, it's connected waste for $89 off, only $11 much than its lowest value ever. The GPS 44mm model is connected waste for $190, besides $89 off. Here's nan afloat value look-back connected nan Watch SE 3 GPS 40mm exemplary according to CamelCamelCamel: 

• Lowest ever: $149 connected Nov. 24, 2024
• Highest ever: $249 connected May 18, 2025
• Average: $202.76
• Current: $160

Our master advice: This is simply a bully discount, but it's still not nan lowest we've ever seen. I'd counsel spending nan $40 other and getting nan newer Watch SE 3 connected waste instead, since it's future-proofed for nan adjacent fewer years. The SE 2 is heading towards 4 years old, and while it's still awesome for a child, aged individual, aliases no-fuss user, I'd expect it to driblet successful value to $149 (or moreover below) fixed its property and spot successful Apple's lineup. If you group connected picking this exemplary up, I'd hold until Black Friday, aliases see a different exemplary connected sale. 

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 was released successful September 2025. This watch is besides seeing a first-time discount of $99 disconnected astatine prime retailers. The GPS + Cellular 49mm model is connected waste for $700, a $99 savings. Here's nan full-price look-back connected nan Watch Ultra 3 exemplary according to CamelCamelCamel: 

• Highest ever: $799 connected Sept. 10, 2025
• Lowest ever: $700 connected Nov. 1, 2025
• Average: $767.59
• Current: $700

Our master advice: The Ultra models of these watches spot nan astir infrequent discounts, and are connected nan pricier side, trading upwards of $650 moreover erstwhile connected waste successful astir cases. The Ultra 3 is connected waste for $700, only astir $50 much than nan Ultra 2 successful caller condition. If you are looking to bargain nan Ultra 3, I'd purpose for it complete nan Ultra 2 based connected nan existent waste prices. 

It's imaginable that some nan Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 could spot much value cuts during Black Friday (I'd expect amended deals connected nan Ultra 2), but it's not a guarantee, fixed that this is Apple's astir premium smartwatch, and it depends connected nan nonstop color, set style, and size. Last year, nan Ultra 2 hovered astir $680 during Cyber Week. 

Looking for reviews?

We've covered the best Apple watch models connected nan marketplace and put them to nan test. Read much to find nan exemplary for you. 

• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 2