Thinking about picking up a new Apple Watch? It might be tempting to order one of the Series 7 models, but newer hardware always comes at a premium. And while Apple’s latest wearable offers a slightly larger display and some improvements to durability, it is largely the same Apple Watch we’re familiar with.
Thankfully, each Apple Watch model offers ample functionality and has seen its fair share of discounts over the last year. So which ones should you consider if you’re in the market for Apple’s popular smartwatch while trying to shop smarter?
Most of the time, there are four Apple Watch models to choose from, all of which support watchOS 8. The highest-end is the Apple Watch Series 7, which starts at $399 but is often discounted. The last-gen model, the Series 6, has received a modest discount at some retailers since its release but is still usually found starting at $399, at least when it’s available. If either of those models seems too expensive, however, you can save about $120 by opting for an Apple Watch SE, which will set you back $279 when it’s not on sale.
Finally, there’s the aging Series 3, the most affordable Apple Watch to date. It has a starting retail price of $199, but it frequently goes on sale for far less. We don’t consider it to be a good buy, however, especially now that we know watchOS 9 will not support the Series 3 when it launches in the fall. So if you want something more future-proof — which we highly recommend — you’ll want to consider one of Apple’s newer watches. Luckily, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Watch deals below, regardless of which model you prefer.
With a slightly altered design and larger display, the new Series 7 comes in either a 41mm configuration starting at $399 or a 45mm model starting at $429. Right now, you can pick up the 41mm, GPS-equipped model in select color configurations at Walmart for $279. If you prefer the 41mm with a dash of cellular compatibility added, that model is also on sale at Amazon and Walmart for as low as $429 ($70 off).
If you’re trying to pick up the larger, 45mm variant with GPS, it’s currently available in select colors at Amazon, Target, and Walmart for as low as $359, matching its steepest price cut to date. All three retailers (Target, Amazon, and Walmart) are also selling the 45mm model with LTE for around $459 instead of $529 — its lowest price to date — in several colors.
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Starting at $279 for a 40mm version or $309 for the 44mm, the Apple Watch SE is a good midrange wearable that shares some features found on the like-minded Series 6 and Series 7, including a built-in accelerometer and hand-washing detection. However, it doesn’t have the always-on display found on Apple’s latest flagships, nor does it feature blood oxygen monitoring.
At the moment, the 40mm, GPS-equipped configuration is available at Best Buy and Walmart for $219, which is $60 less than the MSRP. If you’re keen on the cellular model, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart are all selling the 40mm, LTE version in an assortment of colors and configurations for $269 instead of $329. Lastly, if you have a larger wrist and want the 44mm-sized Apple Watch SE with GPS, the same three retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy) are offering it in multiple colors for $249, down from its usual price of $309.
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Apple’s midrange wearable, the Apple Watch SE, serves as a step up from the Series 3, with features and a design similar to the last-gen Series 6.
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Apple’s midrange wearable, the Apple Watch SE, serves as a step up from the Series 3, with features and a design similar to the last-gen Series 6.
While it’s no longer officially a part of Apple’s wearable lineup, you can still routinely buy the Apple Watch Series 6 at several retailers. The Apple Watch comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, which start at $399 and $429, respectively. The Series 6 features built-in sleep tracking, a great ecosystem of third-party complications, and more sensors than previous models, including one that allows the device to detect your body’s blood oxygen levels.
Deals often come and go quickly on the Series 6, however, there are currently no great deals happening on the last-gen smartwatch, unless you prefer a refurbished model.
A note on the more premium models
While all of the Apple Watch models and colorways covered here are encased in aluminum, Apple does make a more premium range built out of stainless steel and titanium. These offerings have similar designs to their aluminum counterparts, with slightly refined colors and finishings — polished for the stainless steel and brushed for the titanium. However, they start at much steeper prices of $749 and above, and they are functionally the same, save for some exclusive digital watch faces Apple reserves for these premium models. They, too, can often be found on sale, but they’re never discounted as low as the standard base models.
