Still shopping for a smartwatch after Cyber Monday? Good news: some of the headline Apple Watch discounts are sticking around — but not for long. Whether you want a capable daily driver, a near‑flagship that won’t cost as much, or the toughest Apple wrist computer for outdoor trips, there are solid price cuts right now.
What’s actually on sale
- The Apple Watch SE 3 — now as low as $199 for the 40mm GPS model at major retailers — matches its Cyber Monday low and is the best value pick for most iPhone owners who don’t need advanced medical sensors. The SE 3 brings an always‑on display, the S10 chip for on‑device Siri, better durability, retrospective temperature sensing and sleep/breathing disturbance detection. If you want to check the current offer, the Apple Watch SE 3 is available on Amazon.
- Apple Watch Series 11 is dropping to its lowest prices yet, starting around $329 for GPS models and about $429 for cellular variants. Series 11 adds ECG, blood oxygen and Apple’s newer hypertension detection and a meaningful battery bump over last year’s Series 10. If you want the extra health features without stepping up to Ultra, the Apple Watch Series 11 is the sweet spot.
- The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 is showing at its lowest price ever — roughly $599 at some retailers — while the Ultra 3 is also discounted modestly in places to about $699. The Ultra line is the pick for long outings and multisport adventures: titanium cases, sapphire glass, and the longest batteries in Apple’s lineup.
- Buy the SE 3 if you mainly want notifications, accurate step and workout tracking, decent sleep tracking, and a modern Apple‑watch experience without paying for ECG or blood‑oxygen readings.
- Opt for Series 11 if you want medical‑grade sensors (ECG, enhanced SpO2), hypertension detection and longer battery life — it’s the sensible upgrade for users who track health metrics closely.
- Choose Ultra 2/3 if you need extreme durability, long battery days, and features built for outdoor navigation and extended activities.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (and earlier Galaxy Watch 7 models) are discounted, with the Watch 8 often $100 off — a strong pick for Android users.
- Fitbit models (Versa 4, Sense 2 and kids’ LTE options) saw double‑digit markdowns and remain budget‑friendly fitness trackers.
- Garmin’s running and multisport watches — like the Forerunner 265 or Fenix 8 family — had steep cuts for higher‑end GPS hardware.
- Confirm model numbers and sizes: the 40/42/42mm naming can vary between generations; make sure the listing says Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 2, etc. Colors and band styles sometimes change the price.
- Use price trackers or check historical lows (some retailers are matching Cyber Monday but aren’t necessarily below prior sale prices). NBC Select, ZDNET and deal sites tracked many of these offers during Cyber Week and flagged lowest‑ever prices for several Apple models.
- If you’re buying cellular models, check carrier compatibility and return policies before activating service.
Retailers reporting these prices include Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and other big sellers; inventory and exact color/size availability will vary.
Which model should you buy?
It comes down to two simple tradeoffs: health sensors vs. price, and battery life vs. comfort.
A quick note about variants: GPS vs GPS+Cellular matters if you frequently leave your phone behind. Cellular typically adds $80–$100 to the price, so weigh how often you’ll actually use standalone connectivity.
Deals beyond Apple
If you’re open to alternatives, Cyber Week still surfaced worthwhile discounts across the wearables market:
If brand and ecosystem matter to you, factor that into the decision: deep Apple integrations make Watch the obvious choice for iPhone users, while Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch suits Android people better.
Shopping tips so you don’t get burned
Why these deals matter this year
Apple’s fall lineup pushed a lot of health and battery improvements across the range; that means older models and the newly launched SE 3/Series 11 cycle through discounts faster as retailers clear inventory or match promotions. This also makes the current window a good chance to get more advanced sensors or better battery life for less.
If you follow Apple’s ecosystem developments, those software and cloud service changes affect watch functionality over time — for instance, Apple’s work on Siri and other services is evolving rapidly, which can change everyday watch interactions. (For context on Apple’s AI and services roadmap, see Apple’s work with Gemini models.)(/news/apple-google-gemini-siri) And policy changes occasionally affect device behavior in regions — an upcoming EU change will alter some iPhone–Apple Watch sync behavior, which could be worth reading if you live in Europe.(/news/apple-eu-wifi-sync-removed)
Shop smart: if you want an Apple Watch and the current prices match your budget, these lingering Cyber Monday deals are a rare chance to upgrade without paying full price. But if you can wait a week or two and have flexibility on color/size, some retailers shuffle stock and offer short flash sales — so keep an eye on the listings and your preferred store’s return policy.