Best cheap Apple Watch deals for October 2021

Thinking about picking up a new Apple Watch? It might be tempting to preorder one of the recently announced 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.

Each Apple Watch model offers ample functionality and has seen more than 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?

There are currently four Apple Watch models to choose from, all of which support watchOS 8. The latest model — and 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, there aren’t deals available on the 38mm Series 3, which is only available for its standard price of $199 at Best Buy and Target. For that price, you might as well spring for the larger, 42mm configuration; both Amazon and Walmart have knocked the price down from $229 to $199.

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.

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.

Right now, you can pick up the 40mm, GPS-equipped version in white at Walmart for $275 — a minor $4 discount — or for full price at Amazon and Best Buy. If you’re looking for the larger 44mm model with GPS, Amazon and Sam’s Club are offering it at a slight discount of $299, though, the latter is only exclusive to Sam’s Club members.

Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS)

The 44mm Apple Watch SE is the largest version of Apple’s midrange wearable, and shares some specs with the top-end Series 6 model.

The Apple Watch comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, which start at $399 and $429, respectively. The Apple Watch 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 current flagship 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. That said, the red and blue models are both seeing a steep discount at Amazon right now, with both retailing for $349.

If the larger, 44mm Series 6 is your fancy, it’s available in red at Walmart and Amazon for $379, slightly more than its best-ever price and evidence of the major discounts the red versions can sometimes see. Other colorways, including the pink (Walmart, Amazon) and white models (Walmart, Amazon), are available for $415 at the same retailers.

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.

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.