Best cheap Apple Watch deals September 2023

Nearly a year ago, Apple launched its latest batch of smartwatches, introducing the first-ever Ultra ($799) alongside the Series 8 ($399) and a new Apple Watch SE ($249). Each wearable has its own pros and cons, but the introduction of the high-end Ultra also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market before than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had.

But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch you can afford so that it continues to receive software updates from Apple. The latest update, watchOS 9, launched on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer models last year, and watchOS 10 will offer the same compatibility when it arrives in the fall, likely on the heels of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 event. Apple is also expected to introduce incremental updates across the Apple Watch line next week in the form of updated processors and colors, though how these improvements will impact the current deals remains to be seen.

Thankfully, even if you spring for one of the models below and forgo Apple’s forthcoming wearables, you’ll be getting a smartwatch with a newer design, a robust number of features, and plenty of sensors.

Now, let’s get into the deals.

The Apple Watch Series 8 represents the latest wearable in Apple’s flagship Series lineup. It brings a new chipset (that our colleague Victoria Song says isn’t faster than the previous iteration), new temperature sensors that enable menstrual tracking, Crash Detection, and a host of other enhancements. While the subtle improvements are welcome, the Series 8 isn’t all that different from the prior model, the Apple Watch Series 7.

We recently saw the starting price of the base Apple Watch Series 8 drop to $309.99 ($89 off), which is the current price for the 41mm model with GPS at Amazon and Walmart. As for the larger, 45mm model with GPS, it’s on sale at Amazon and Walmart starting at $339.99, which is also $89 off and matches the watch’s all-time low.

If you’re looking to snag an LTE-equipped model, the 41mm configuration is available in select styles at Amazon and Walmart for $429 ($70 off). Both Amazon and Walmart are also selling the 45mm variant for $459 ($70 off), matching its lowest price to date.

Read our Apple Watch Series 8 review.

The Apple Watch SE received a refresh in late 2022. It has the same chipset as the Series 8, which is great, but with fewer sensors, no always-on display, and a slightly outdated design compared to the Series 7 and Series 8. Those omissions might take this out of the running for some people, but it still may be exactly what you’re after. Best of all, it starts at $249 for the 40mm Wi-Fi / GPS model, which is $30 less than the previous generation’s baseline cost. Opting for cellular connectivity bumps up the starting price to $299 for the 40mm size (44mm adds $20 to each configuration).

Right now, the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS is available at Amazon and Best Buy for $219 ($30 off), which remains the watch’s all-time low. The GPS-only model is also available at Amazon and Best Buy in the 44mm sizing for $249 ($30 off) or in the LTE configuration at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $269 (also $30 off).

If you’re cool with getting the last-gen model, which lacks an always-on display and some of the more advanced bells and whistles found on the newer Apple Watch models, Walmart is still selling it in the 44mm base configuration for $159, a total of $150 off.

Read our Apple Watch SE (second-gen) review.

Apple’s big, thick, and capable Watch Ultra launched at $799 with GPS and LTE support, and in case you aren’t in the know, it has the most features, sensors, and ruggedness of any Apple Watch model available thus far. Its 49mm case houses a screen that can get brighter than the Series 8, it has a longer-lasting battery and more precise GPS tracking, and it’s loaded with sensors that essentially turn it into a swimming and diving guide.

In May, we saw select Apple Watch Ultra configurations plummet to $701.99 (about $97 off). Right now, however, Apple’s premium wearable is only on sale at Amazon with an Alpine Loop or Trail Loop strap in select configurations starting at $779 ($20 off), which remains the watch’s third-lowest price to date.

Read our Apple Watch Ultra review.

While all of the Apple Watch models and colorways covered here are encased in aluminum (except the Ultra, which has a titanium build), Apple does make a more premium range built out of stainless steel and titanium. These offerings are functionally and aesthetically similar to their aluminum counterparts, with slightly refined colors and finishings — polished for the stainless steel and brushed for the titanium. However, they start at much steeper prices of $749 and above. They, too, can often be found on sale, but they’re never discounted as low as the standard base models, so we don’t include them here.