Best cheap Apple Watch deals for November 2021

Thinking about picking up a new Apple Watch? It might be tempting to order one of the new Series 7 models, but new Apple hardware always comes at a premium. The latest version of the Apple wearable offers a slightly larger display and some improvements to durability but 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 — and we’re bound to see far more as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach. So which ones should you consider if you’re in the market for Apple’s popular smartwatch while trying to shop smarter?

There are currently 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. Last year’s model, the Series 6, has received a modest discount at some retailers since its release but is still usually found starting at $399. If either of those models is a little too rich for your blood, however, you can save about $120 by opting for an Apple Watch SE, which will set you back $279.

Finally, there’s the four-year-old Series 3, the most affordable Apple Watch to date. It has a starting retail price of $199, but it frequently goes on sale. However, if you want something more future-proof, you may want to consider Apple’s newer watches, as it’s not clear how much longer Apple will issue software updates to the Series 3 beyond watchOS 8 and the current update process for the Series 3 has become a bit of a pain point. Regardless of which model you prefer, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Watch deals below.

The regular price for the 38mm Series 3 is $199. It’s a good entry-level Apple Watch if you are looking for a smartwatch with reliable battery life and excellent build quality, especially if the SE, Series 6, and Series 7 seem out of your price range.

Right now, Walmart is discounting the 38mm, GPS-enabled Series 3 by $30, bringing the price down to $169. If you prefer the bigger, 42mm configuration with GPS, it’s on sale at Walmart for $199 instead of $229. Like the 38mm model, it’s also available at Best Buy and Target, though, not at a discount.

Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS)

The 42mm Apple Watch Series 3 offers the same functionality as the 38mm model, but it’s aimed at those with thicker wrists and a tighter budget.

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.

Right now, you can pick up the 40mm, GPS-equipped version with a silver aluminum case and an abyss blue sport band for $270 instead of $279 at Amazon and Walmart. Other configurations — as well as the larger, 44mm model with GPS — are currently only available at full price.

Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS)

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 flagship Series 6.

While it’s no longer officially a part of Apple’s wearable lineup, you can still 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.

Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS)

Apple’s wearable features an always-on display and new sensors that provide the ability to monitor your blood oxygen levels.

Deals often come and go quickly on the Series 6. If you don’t mind a bit of vibrancy on your wrist, however, the 40mm, GPS-enabled red configuration usually sees the biggest discounts with the most frequency. Right now, for instance, you can pick up the red variant at Amazon right now for $349, one of the better prices we’ve seen on the Series 6.

If the larger, 44mm model with GPS is your fancy, it’s available in white, navy, and red at Walmart for $379, slightly more than its best-ever price. The red configuration is also available at Amazon for the same price, as is the black model at Target.

Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, GPS)

The bigger Apple Watch Series 6 will be better suited to people with larger wrists or those who would prefer to have a larger display than what’s on the 40mm Series 6.

With a slightly altered design and larger display, the new Series 7 comes in either a 41mm configuration starting at $399 or a 45mm configuration starting at $429. There are very few deals to speak of right now, however, you can pick up the 41mm, GPS-equipped model with a green Sport Band and green aluminum casing for $390 at Amazon, a $10 discount. The 45mm model with GPS is also available at Amazon in red for $420.

Although both deals are slight, it is possible that we’ll see bigger discounts as we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday, especially given Amazon has taken between $30 and $40 off a number of different sizes and configurations of the Series 7 in recent months.

Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS)

The smaller, 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 comes in a range of colors with either GPS or GPS and LTE. Amazon’s current discount only applies to the all-green configuration, however.

Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS)

The larger, 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 comes in a number of styles with either GPS or GPS and LTE. The current Amazon discount only applies to the red edition at the moment, however.

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, 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. Overall, the upmarket stainless, titanium, and Hermès edition Apple Watches don’t usually get the discounts and sales as the aluminum models, where the deals are often to be had.