Best Apple Watch Prime Day deals October 2026: Series 12, Ultra 4 and SE 3

Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 is the model we’d recommend to most buyers. It starts at $399/£369 and adds Apple’s new Health Sensing System, more frequent heart-rate and heart-rate variability measurements, a Readiness score and a tougher display. Battery life remains rated at 24 hours.

Because the Series 12 only went on sale in September, any meaningful Prime Day discount is worth paying attention to. However, don’t automatically assume it’s the best deal: remaining Series 11 stock could be considerably cheaper, and the older watch has the same quoted 24-hour battery life.

Prime Day price: There’s already $10 off the Apple Watch Series 12, but we expect that prices will fall further.

Get Apple Watch Series 12 (42mm) for $389

U.K. Prime Day price: None of the new Apple Watches are discounted yet.

Watch Amazon’s Apple Watch Series 12 page

Apple Watch Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is Apple’s most capable watch and remains priced from $799/£749. Its biggest upgrade over the Ultra 3 is battery life, which increases from 42 hours to up to 50 hours of normal use. It also has Apple’s new Health Sensing System, while retaining satellite communication, precision dual-frequency GPS, diving features and its rugged 49mm titanium design.

A substantial Ultra 4 discount would be particularly notable this soon after launch. However, we’d also compare every Ultra 4 deal with the price of the outgoing Ultra 3. The Ultra 3 still has satellite communication and precision GPS, and could be the better value if the discount is large enough and you don’t need the Ultra 4’s longer battery life or newer health sensing.

U.S. Prime Day price: The price of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 has dropped by $20.

Get Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $779

U.K. Prime Day price: None of the new Apple Watches are discounted yet.

Watch Amazon’s Apple Watch Ultra 4 page

Apple Watch SE3

Apple / Amazon

The Apple Watch SE 3 is still part of Apple’s current lineup, despite launching in 2025. It starts at $249/£219 and remains the least expensive Apple Watch. It has an always-on display, S10 chip, temperature sensing and fast charging, but lacks ECG, blood oxygen monitoring and the new Health Sensing System found in the Series 12. We’ve previously seen the SE 3 fall to $199 during major sales, so that is the price to watch for during October Prime Day.

U.S. Prime Day price: There’s $10 off the Apple Watch SE 3, but we’d wait for that price to drop further.

Get Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm) for $269

U.K. Prime Day price: Apple’s not yet dropped the price of the SE3 in the U.K. this Prime Day.

Watch Amazon’s Apple Watch SE 3 page

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Apple

The Ultra 3 has also been replaced, but remains worth considering at a substantial discount. It offers satellite communication, dual-frequency GPS and most of the features that make the Ultra appealing. Battery life is rated at 42 hours rather than 50 hours on the Ultra 4, and it misses the newer Health Sensing System.

U.S. Prime Day price: We’re only seeing used models currently.

U.K. Prime Day price: None of the new Apple Watches are discounted yet, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for £100 less than the Ultra 4.

Get Apple Watch Ultra 3 for £649

Apple Watch Series 11

Apple Watch Series 11

The Series 11 has now been replaced by the Series 12, which means remaining stock is likely to be heavily discounted. It could be an excellent Prime Day buy if the difference is large enough. You give up the Series 12’s new Health Sensing System and newer Audio Intelligence features, but the Series 11 has the same 24-hour quoted battery life.

We’re only seeing used models currently in the U.S. and U.K.

Which Apple Watch should you buy this Prime Day

David Price / Foundry

Choosing the right Apple Watch depends on your specific needs, whether you are looking for a rugged outdoor companion, a feature-rich flagship, or a budget-friendly entry point into the ecosystem. Our top recommendation for this Prime Day is the Apple Watch Series 12.

Apple Watch Series 12: Best for most users

Buy the Series 12 if you want Apple’s latest health features without the size and expense of the Ultra. It combines the new Health Sensing System with a 24-hour battery rating and starts at $399/£369.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Best for endurance and outdoor use

Choose the Ultra 4 if you need 50-hour battery life, satellite connectivity, precision GPS, diving support or extended workout tracking.

Apple Watch SE 3: Best budget option

The SE 3 is the cheapest current Apple Watch and provides most of the core smartwatch, fitness and safety experience. Its main omissions are Apple’s more advanced health sensors.

Series 11 and Ultra 3: Best clearance opportunities

Don’t automatically dismiss last year’s watches. If retailers heavily discount remaining stock, Series 11 and Ultra 3 could offer better value than the new models.

For more advice read our Best Apple Watch guide.

Is an older Apple Watch a good Prime Day deal?

David Price / Foundry

Don’t assume an older Apple Watch is a bad buy. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 are only one generation old and can make excellent buys if they’re substantially cheaper than the Series 12 or Ultra 4.

Be much more cautious with the Series 8, SE 2 and original Ultra, however. Those models cannot run watchOS 27. The Series 9 is the oldest standard Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 27, while the Ultra 2 is the oldest supported Ultra.

Also compare the sale price with the newest equivalent. A $50 Series 11 saving, for example, may not be enough to justify giving up the Series 12’s new health features, whereas a substantially larger saving could change the calculation.

Should you buy GPS or Cellular?

Don’t automatically pay extra for cellular. The Series 12 costs $100/£100 more with cellular, while the SE 3 premium is $50/£70. Cellular is included with every Ultra 4. For many users, GPS is sufficient because the Watch can still track workouts, use Apple Pay and play downloaded music without an iPhone. Cellular becomes most useful if you regularly leave your iPhone behind but still want calls, messages and online services. Read: Do I need a cellular Apple Watch?

Should you buy an Apple Watch during Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon’s October Prime Day sale is unusually well timed for Apple Watch buyers because Apple’s 2026 models have only just arrived. If the Series 12 or Ultra 4 is discounted, you can buy the newest generation without paying Apple’s full launch price.

It’s also an excellent time to look at previous-generation stock. Series 11 and Ultra 3 are still relatively recent watches, and retailers may discount them aggressively now that their replacements are available.

The other option is to wait until Black Friday in November. If an October deal is modest and you aren’t in a hurry, Black Friday may bring another opportunity – but there’s no guarantee that a particular configuration or older model will remain in stock. Read: When is the best time to buy an Apple Watch?

Before you buy, keep the following in mind:

• Prime Membership Requirement: Many of the best deals are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you’re not a Prime subscriber, you can take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free trial or sign up for a month and cancel afterward. Prime membership costs $139 / £95 / AUD$59 annually, or $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$6.99 on a monthly basis. As well as getting free two-day shipping, Prime customers also get access to Prime Video and Music.
• Compare Prices: Amazon isn’t always the cheapest retailer. Stores such as Walmart and Best Buy often run competing promotions during Prime Day, so it’s worth checking prices elsewhere before making a purchase.
• Alternative Sales: Missed Prime Day? Similar discounts often return during the Black Friday sales in November.
• Student Savings: Students may find better value through Apple’s Education Store.

Prime Day deals are available in multiple countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.

Why you can trust Macworld’s recommendations

We have decades of experience with Apple devices and have tested and reviewed every Apple Watch since the original model. Everything we recommend has been thoroughly tested and weighed against its contemporaries and previous models.

We don’t recommend products we wouldn’t buy, and we don’t point out a deal unless it’s actually a deal—a product that can always be found at the “sale” price really isn’t on sale. Macworld checks Prime Day deals, comparing against MSRP, price history, model relevance and deal quality before we give our recommendation.