A Tech-Obsessed Editor’s Two Cents on Early Black Friday Apple Watch Deals

They say that good things come to those who wait—and when it comes to Apple Watch deals, I certainly hope that’s true. Ahead of Black Friday 2026, the brand-new Apple Watch Ultra 4 and the Ultra 3 are at their lowest prices ever. But when it comes to other popular models, it’s more of a slow burn; the Series 12 and SE 3 are still full price.Shop our fave early Black Friday apple dealsSo, should you shop a record-low deal now or wait until Black Friday? As a tech-obsessed editor who tracks these prices all year long, I’m sharing everything you need to know below.The steepest Apple watch discount I’m seeing right now? $250 off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (2025). This S10 chip-powered model offer health insights like heart rhythm reports, blood oxygen scoring, and sleep score tracking, as well as safety features like crash detection and emergency SOS. Plus, it boasts an impressive 42-hour battery life to boot.Prefer a 2026 launch? The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is at its record-low price of $700. It’s the largest and most premium model in Apple’s lineup, with a 49mm case size and S11 chip. Most impressive of all, it has the longest battery life of any Apple Watch—50 hours, to be exact—which is more than double the life of the SE 3 or Series 12.That said, Apple Watch Ultras are the most expensive models on the market, even with their current discounts. Personally, I’m holding out hope for deals on more affordable models like the Apple Watch SE 3 and Watch Series 12, which both dropped to record-low prices during October Prime Day.The Apple watch deal I’m manifesting for Black Friday? The Apple Watch SE 3, which was on sale for under $200 during October Prime Day. It’s the most budget-friendly smartwatch in Apple’s lineup, but the S10 chip-powered device doesn’t skimp on premium features. There are tons of handy health insights to help you reach your fitness goals, from workout monitors that’ll count those 10,000 steps to sleep scores and even period cycle tracking.This watch is available in 40mm or 44mm sizes, making it a great option if you prefer a sleeker look that won’t compete with your outfits. It also boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, with a fast-charging mode that’ll get you from 0 percent to 80 percent battery in just 45 minutes. Basically, this is your best option for a no-frills, entry-level smartwatch that won’t break the bank.If you’re looking for more in-depth fitness insights and faster processing, the brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 is also worth keeping an eye on—it was on sale for $350 during October Prime Day, but we’re hoping the deal gets even steeper for Black Friday. This S11 chip-powered model boasts a longer battery life than the SE 3 at up to 24 hours, and a slightly larger screen size at 42mm or 46mm. It boasts the same safety features and fitness trackers as the SE 3, plus upgraded insights like a Blood Oxygen app and hypertension notifications.My two cents? Even though the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Ultra 3 are already on sale, I wouldn’t be surprised to even steeper discounts during Black Friday. What’s more, I predict that we’ll see Apple Watch SE 3 and Series 12 deals comparable to October Prime Day (perhaps even better) in the coming weeks, so it’s worth waiting if you want a more affordable model.Shop our fave early Black Friday apple dealsLauren Gruber is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines with more than five years of professional writing experience. She specializes in fragrance, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content for Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, and more. Before her time at Hearst, Lauren graduated from New York University and wrote for Shop TODAY, Entertainment Tonight, Self, V Magazine, L’Officiel, and more. When she’s not researching Prime Day deals or testing the latest perfume launches, you can find Lauren hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater.