When looking for deals on smartwatches, the devices that tend to get great discounts are often a couple of years old, with a replacement model that has either been released or is due out later this year. That’s because retailers are keen to clear out less profitable old stock to make way for the device’s better, more advanced successors.
Not so this year. On the eve of October’s Amazon Prime Day, or Big Deal Days as it’s calling the sales event, we’ve found two of the best Apple Watches - the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, both released this year - on sale at Amazon US. It’s a surprise, but a welcome one, as we weren’t expecting discounts on these watches so soon.
The Apple Watch Series 9, GPS only 41mm, is down more than $50 to $389.99, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a small $37 discount, bringing it from $811 to $774. Check out both deals below:
Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals:
The Apple Watch Ultra series is the equivalent of what might happen if an Apple Watch and one of the best Garmin watches were placed in a blender: a super-tough, expensive titanium coating, with lots of diving and hiking features. Great for amateur athletes, but for most people, the standard Apple Watch will be more than enough to track your runs, rides, gym sessions, and swims.
If you like a premium-looking and -feeling Apple Watch, but don’t want to pay all the extra money for an Ultra as you’re not a big adventurer, there is a happy medium: the stainless steel version of the mainline Apple Watches.
Amazon is also offering a chunky 21% off the stainless steel Apple Watch GPS Series 8, bringing it down to just $549.99. This is the deal I'd go for in the scenario above: it’s not got the Double Tap functionality you’ll get in the Series 9, but if you’re looking for a premium Apple Watch and don't care about emergency sirens for hiking, additional battery life or dive computers, this is the best deal on a stainless steel Apple Watch I’ve seen for ages. Check out the deal in full below:
Stainless steel Apple Watch Series 8 deal:
It's a beautiful watch, and the biggest discount of the three. If looks are important to you, this is the one to get.
However, if you're not fussed whether your watch’s case is comprised of stainless steel or standard aluminum, go for the Apple Watch Series 9 deal at the top of the page.
Why? Despite the fact it's got a cheaper, softer aluminum case, the newer watch’s Ultra Wideband radio frequency will interact with newer iPhones (at the moment, just iPhone 15) that also share the frequency. It allows you to use an improved version of the Find Devices feature that can tell you exactly how far, in feet, your other Ultra Wideband devices are, as well as the direction.
It's a more future-proof watch, especially if you're planning to upgrade to a newer iPhone in the next few years.
More early Prime Day deals
- Amazon Fire TVs: smart TVs starting at $69.99
- Blink smart cameras: up to 50% off Blink cameras
- Echo smart speaker: deals starting at $17.99
- Echo Show: save up to $90 on the Echo Show lineup
- Fire TV Stick: starting at $17.99
- Fire tablets: tablets for the whole family from $39.99
- Invite-only deals: save up to 60% off on Prime Day
- Kindle: 22% off the all-new Kindle Scribe
- Ring Doorbell: 40% off Ring doorbells, cameras & alarms
- TVs: QLED smart TVs starting at $379.99
