One Of The Best Apple Watches You Can Buy Isn't Apple's Newest (but It's 30% Off)

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Back successful September, Apple unveiled a caller guidelines exemplary Series 11, nan affordable SE 3, and a luxurious and rugged Ultra 3. While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 received standout features including Hypertension Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, accrued artillery life, and Sleep Scores, older smartwatches besides sewage a facelift pursuing nan caller merchandise debut. 

Thanks to WatchOS 26, Apple Watches Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later sewage nan aforesaid package arsenic nan latest lineup. 

Also: Our favourite early Black Friday deals  

So, what does that mean for you? It intends that if you are eyeing a caller Apple smartwatch this Black Friday, you mightiness not really person to bargain nan latest 1 astatine nan highest price. In fact, Apple Watch Series 10, nan one-year-old guidelines exemplary smartwatch is equally, if not amended a bargain than nan SE 3 (or possibly moreover nan Series 11). As early vacation deals statesman to rotation in, Amazon and different retailers mightiness trim nan value of nan Series 10 down moreover further (it's on waste for $280 correct now, down $120 from its original price), making an moreover greater lawsuit for buying this smartwatch complete its newer siblings. 

Let's get into why. 

The Series 11 and Series 10 are built pinch nan aforesaid nonstop shape factor. Apple told maine that successful creating nan caller Series 11, it utilized nan aforesaid build arsenic nan Series 10. It's conscionable arsenic bladed and light, and nan lawsuit is precisely nan same. 

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

The Series 11 besides has nan aforesaid S10 spot arsenic nan Series 10, truthful you aren't getting immoderate much precocious spot hardware erstwhile you opt for nan newer device. The only existent quality successful hardware is nan artillery life -- nan Series 11 gets six much hours than nan Series 10, acknowledgment to artillery reconfiguration nan Apple Watch squad performed connected nan device.

That quality successful artillery life is nan only existent differentiator, successful my eyes, betwixt nan Series 10 and Series 11. Of course, it's a awesome upgrade that Apple decided to make pinch its device, and group will surely bargain nan Series 11 complete nan 10 because of that. In fact, I've been loving my Series 11 because of really agelong its artillery lasts (I deterioration it to slumber and passim nan day). But if you aren't personification who plans to deterioration their smartwatch 24/7 aliases if you are ever connected apical of instrumentality charging, you mightiness not request a 24-hour artillery life. So, you should bargain nan Series 10. 100%. 

Also: Which Apple Watch should you buy? I tested each model

Here are a fewer caller features nan Series 10 gets, acknowledgment to its package update (that nan Series 11 already has). Apple's caller FDA-cleared Hypertension Detection (that nan caller Apple Watch SE 3 doesn't have), Sleep Scores, Wrist Flick Gesture for declining messages aliases calls, and Workout Buddy connected nan Fitness app. 

The Watch Series 10. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

When nan 3 caller watches came out, I wrote that I was impressed by nan SE 3 simply because of its affordable existence. At $200 on waste correct now, nan SE 3 gets nan S10 chip, Sleep Scores, and an 18-hour artillery life. I besides added that this spec lineup mirrored nan Series 10 heavily. The quality betwixt nan Series 10, which is presently discounted astatine $280 and nan SE 3 that's going for $200 retired nan gate, is that nan Series 10 gets Hypertension Detection and nan afloat suite of wellness features, including humor oxygen monitoring and ECG. The SE 3 doesn't. 

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

So if you are buying a smartwatch for its slate of health-tracking features, particularly if you are an older personification looking to support a observant oculus connected your wellness stats, I'm going to urge nan Series 10 complete nan SE 3, and nan Series 11 complete nan Series 10 (only if you want much artillery life). 

The watch is besides connected waste at Walmart for $299. Best Buy's prices don't compete pinch either Amazon aliases Walmart astatine nan moment. 

Looking for nan adjacent champion product? Get master reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

How I rated this deal 

The Apple Watch Series 10 is 30% disconnected correct now. It's becoming a rarer deal, truthful I'm standing this 1 a 5/5. Plus, arsenic banal dwindles of this older model, it's a awesome clip to scoop up this smart wearable pinch decent savings.