The Apple Watch Series 12 Is on Sale for the First Time During Fall’s Amazon Prime Day

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Apple2 min readWhile Apple’s most recent keynote might have made headlines for the iPhone Duo and post-keynote has focused heavily on the iPhone 18 Pro, it also ushered in new generations of smartwatches with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Given that the new watches dropped in September, we didn’t think they’d be included in Amazon’s October Prime Day—but in a surprising twist, the Series 12 watch is on sale for the first time.Commerce editor Luke Guillory argued that compared to other fitness trackers on the market, Apple was lagging behind with its lack of readiness score functionality—until now. The Apple Watch Series 12 marks the debut of the brand’s very own readiness score thanks to a revamped tracking system. Plus, the watch now measures your heart rate more frequently to deliver Heart Rate Variability (HRV) readings every five minutes. If you’re trying to pay closer attention to your health this year, it’s a smart buy, made all the sweeter with this surprise Prime Day discount.That said, if you’re not someone who needs the shiny new gadget immediately or who won’t take advantage of these souped-up health features—you’re not going to miss out on much if you score an older model on discount.Right now, you can take advantage of a record-high 22 percent discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Associate commerce editor Bryn Gelbart went so far as to call it the “best Apple Watch ever” when it was released last fall.“I was never tempted to upgrade to the premium option, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3 changed my mind,” Gelbart said. “It turns out I didn't quite know what I was missing.” It has souped-up fitness and health tracking technology, a bright 49mm display, satellite messaging features, a durable titanium case, and Apple’s longest-lasting watch battery (an impressive 42 hours under normal use and 72 hours on Low Power Mode). Gelbart recommends it for cyclists, runners, or the adventure-prone.And if you’re looking for a sub-$200 watch, we suggest turning your attention to the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3. It was actually the watch that converted Gelbart to Apple wearables in the first place, arguing that its beauty is in its simplicity.“It's an accurate and predictive workout tracker. It counts my steps and activity and connects to my phone to play music and receive messages and calls,” he says. “If you’re new to the Apple Watch and want to dip your toes, this is where I recommend you start.” It has the same sleep tracking features, like nightly sleep score and sleep apnea notifications, but lacks the ECG app or hypertension notifications of its newer siblings. It also has an 18-hour battery life so you’ll need to charge most nights.Our philosophy when it comes to shopping for Apple tech during October Prime Day? If you find the watch with the features you need at a price you can stomach, it’s worth grabbing quickly. Stock is fluctuating and will likely sell out fast, so time is of the essence.