Best Black Friday Apple Watch deals: Black Friday savings on Series 12, 11, SE, and Ultra

Apple Watch Series 12 – Our best overall choice

The Series 12 is the Apple Watch we recommend for most people. It combines Apple’s new Health Sensing System, more frequent heart-rate measurements, a Readiness score, and a tougher display with up to 24 hours of battery life.

A worthwhile Black Friday discount could make it an attractive purchase, but compare it with remaining Series 11 stock. The older model has the same quoted battery life, so a substantial saving may outweigh the newer health features.

U.S. Black Friday price: During October Prime Day, the 42mm GPS Series 12 fell to $349, while the 46mm version reached $399 – $50 off each. Last Black Friday, its predecessor, the Series 11, received discounts of up to $70. So far this Black Friday month we’ve seen prices drop by $9, but we expect they will drop further.

U.K. Black Friday price: We didn’t see Series 12 discounts during October Prime Day and so far this November there have been no price drops, but we are hopeful.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 – Best for battery life and outdoor adventures

The Ultra 4 is our choice for endurance athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and buyers who prioritize battery life. It offers up to 50 hours of normal use, satellite communication, precision dual-frequency GPS, diving features, and Apple’s new Health Sensing System.

It’s more watch than most people need, but the current $699.99 offer is substantially below October Prime Day’s $774 price, making it worth considering if you want the latest Ultra. Compare it with the Ultra 3, though, which retains many of its outdoor features but has a shorter 42-hour battery-life rating.

U.S. Black Friday price: October Prime Day brought the Ultra 4 down to $774, a $25 saving. This November we’ve already seen the Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $699.99 on Amazon: that’s $99 off.

U.K. Black Friday price: The Ultra 4 remained at its full £749 price during October Prime Day, but we’ve already seen it drop by £20 to £729 at Amazon.

Apple Watch SE 3 – Our best budget choice

Apple / Amazon

The SE 3 is the best-value option for buyers who want the core Apple Watch experience. It includes an always-on display, temperature sensing, fast charging, and the S10 chip, but lacks ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and the newer Health Sensing System.

It remains part of Apple’s current lineup despite launching in 2025. A strong Black Friday offer could make it an excellent affordable purchase, although its previous discounts mean there’s little reason to settle for a token reduction.

U.S. Black Friday price: Both last Black Friday and October Prime Day brought the 40mm GPS model to $199 and the 44mm version to $229—$50 below their regular prices. So far, the U.S. price drop is just $9 at Amazon, so we’d hold out for bigger savings.

U.K. Black Friday price: Black Friday 2025 and October Prime Day brought the 40mm GPS model to £199 and the 44mm version to £229, saving £20. So far we haven’t seen any price drops for Black Friday 2026.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 – Best clearance option for outdoor enthusiasts

Apple

The Ultra 3 is worth considering if you want a rugged Apple Watch without paying for the latest model. It offers satellite communication, dual-frequency GPS, diving features, and up to 42 hours of battery life.

You give up the Ultra 4’s longer battery life and newer Health Sensing System. Compare their actual selling prices: the Ultra 3 needs to be sufficiently cheaper to justify choosing the older generation.

U.S. Black Friday price: Last Black Friday, the Ultra 3 fell to $699, a $100 saving. Our October Prime Day coverage found only used models, so it didn’t identify a comparable new-stock offer. So far this November we’ve seen the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $649, but that’s only $51 cheaper than the Ultra 4, so we’d favor the newer model.

U.K. Black Friday price: Last Black Friday, the Ultra 3 was £719, or £30 off. October Prime Day listed it at £569. The price is even lower this November – you can get it for £519 at Amazon, £230 less than the usual Apple Watch Ultra 4 price.

Apple Watch Series 11 – Best clearance option for everyday use

Apple Watch Series 11

The Series 11 could be a better-value everyday watch than the Series 12 if the price gap is large enough. It has the same quoted 24-hour battery life, although it misses the newer Health Sensing System and Audio Intelligence features.

For buyers who don’t need those additions, a substantial clearance discount could be more useful than a small saving on the latest model.

U.S. Black Friday price: Last Black Friday, the 42mm GPS Series 11 reached $339, while the 46mm version was $359 – savings of $60 and $70, respectively. Our October Prime Day coverage found only used models in the U.S. and so far that’s all we are seeing this November.

U.K. Black Friday price: October Prime Day brought the 42mm Series 11 to £259 and the 46mm version to £299. Last Black Friday’s bigger clearance offers were on the preceding Series 10, which was available for £279 in 42mm and £299 in 46mm. In November 2026 you can get a Series 11 for £299, £120 less than the equivalent Series 12.

Should you buy an Apple Watch now or wait for a better deal?

With Black Friday approaching, we’d avoid paying full price unless you need an Apple Watch immediately. But sales stretch across much of November, so you don’t necessarily need to wait for Black Friday itself. If an early offer matches or comes close to a previous low for the same model and configuration, it can be worth taking – particularly if you want a specific size, color, or band combination.

October Prime Day prices provide useful benchmarks. In the U.S., the Series 12 fell to $349 for the 42mm GPS model and $399 for the 46mm version, while the Ultra 4 reached $774. The SE 3 was $199 in 40mm and $229 in 44mm. Those SE prices also appeared last Black Friday, so we’d look for offers matching or beating them. In the U.K., October highlights included the 40mm SE 3 at £199 and the older 42mm Series 11 at £259.

The Series 12 and Ultra 4 only arrived in September, so finding a better price is the main reason to wait. If you don’t need a watch immediately, those previous offers give you a useful starting point for deciding whether to buy now or hold out.

Compare retailers, too. Last Black Friday, Walmart offered $150 off the Series 10, while U.K. shoppers could find up to £130 off at Currys and £200 off the Ultra 2’s original price at Argos. Our guide to the best time to buy an Apple Watch has more advice on choosing when to purchase.

Should you buy an older Apple Watch?

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 purchases if they’re substantially cheaper than the Series 12 or Ultra 4. Both retain many of their replacements’ core features, although you miss the newer Health Sensing System and, with the Ultra 3, the Ultra 4’s longer battery life.

Compare actual selling prices, matching case size, material, connectivity, and band where possible. A $50 difference between a Series 11 and Series 12 may not be enough to justify giving up the newer model’s health features, whereas a substantially larger saving could change the calculation. A discounted Series 11 could also be worth considering alongside the SE 3 if a small premium gets you features you’ll use.

Be much more cautious with the Series 8, SE 2, and original Ultra: those models cannot run watchOS 27. The Series 9 is the oldest standard Apple Watch compatible with the latest software, while the Ultra 2 is the oldest supported Ultra and the SE 3 is the only supported SE. Missing the latest software doesn’t make an older watch unusable, but it makes it harder to recommend as a purchase today.

The Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 can still be worth considering at sufficiently low prices. However, compatibility with today’s software doesn’t guarantee how many future upgrades they’ll receive. Weigh the savings against the watch’s age and features, rather than assuming every supported generation offers equally good value.

Apple Watch deals to avoid

David Price / Foundry

Don’t let a bigger advertised discount tempt you into paying more for a cellular Apple Watch you won’t use. If your iPhone is usually nearby, a GPS model can already handle calls, messages, and notifications through your phone. It can also track runs, use Apple Pay, and play downloaded music without your iPhone. As our experience testing a cellular Apple Watch showed, the extra connectivity may add little to everyday use.

Cellular is worth considering if you regularly leave your iPhone behind and want to remain contactable without Wi-Fi, or you’re setting up a watch for a child without an iPhone. Otherwise, you could pay extra for the hardware and then add an ongoing mobile-plan charge for a feature you rarely need. You don’t have to activate a plan on a cellular model, so it can still be a good buy if its sale price matches or beats the GPS version. Our GPS versus cellular Apple Watch guide explains the trade-offs.

Check the rest of the configuration, too. A premium case material or expensive band can make a heavily discounted watch cost more than a simpler version that meets your needs. Judge offers against previous selling prices as well as the advertised reduction: a large saving from the original launch price doesn’t necessarily mean exceptional value. Check any spending requirements, contracts, trade-ins, or rebates attached to offers advertising a “free” Apple Watch.

Finally, check whether you’re buying a new, refurbished, or used watch, who is selling it, and what warranty and returns policy apply. For a used or refurbished model, check the stated battery condition and confirm that it has been removed from the previous owner’s account and Activation Lock. Make sure the watch is compatible with your iPhone before ordering.

How we choose Apple Watch deals

Macworld’s editors have decades of experience with Apple devices, and our recommendations draw on hands-on Apple Watch reviews and everyday wear. We consider comfort, performance, battery life, charging, health and fitness features, and value – not just the specifications or advertised saving.

Our testing helps us explain which features are worth paying for. For example, our Series 12 review assessed battery life and charging performance alongside its newer health features. We also draw on everyday experience: our cellular Apple Watch testing examines whether staying connected without an iPhone justified the extra hardware and subscription costs.

We combine those findings with current prices and previous lows to judge whether an offer represents good value. We check the generation, case size, material, connectivity, and included band so that comparisons reflect what you’re actually buying. Older models can be worthwhile clearance purchases, but only when their prices make sense alongside discounted replacements.

Our Best Apple Watch guide explains why the most expensive model isn’t necessarily the right choice: your budget, wrist size, activities, and the features you need all matter.

For more offers, visit our Black Friday coverage and our roundups of the best Mac deals, iPad deals, and AirPods deals.