The Best Apple Watch Deals Right Now (August 2024)
If you use an Apple iPhone, then there’s no question: the Apple Watch is absolutely the only smartwatch you should consider. Apple Watches come in a variety of price points, from the value-minded Apple Watch SE to the no holds barred Apple Watch Ultra. They combine smart iPhone integration with a dazzling array of fitness and health-related tech that no other brand can match.
They’ve always topped our list of best watches, including for 2024, so it was only right that we gathered up some of the best Apple Watch deals available right now. One of our favorites is this deal on the 2nd Gen Apple Watch SE, which has dropped to $189, but you can find even more below. And if you are stuck on an Android phone, check out the best Android smartwatches.
The Apple Watch SE 2 features an upgraded CPU over the original Apple Watch SE. The Apple Watch SE 2 has the same S8 processor found in the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra. The original Apple Watch SE uses an older S5 processor. Apple claims about a 30% performance improvement between the two. Outside of that, both SE watches are largely similar. The bright and sharp Retina OLED display is 30% larger that what you’d find on the Apple Watch Series 3. It also features crash detection (new to the 2nd Gen Apple Watch SE), IPX7 water resistance, international roaming, heart rate notifications, fall detection, sleep tracking, sports monitoring and activity tracking, Apple Pay, and more.
The latest addition to the lineup is the Apple Watch Series 9. It released in September 2023, with a significantly faster processor than its predecessors, plus a handful of new features. It has an 18-hour battery life, which will get you through the day and then some. Access to Siri is processed on the device, rather than having to beam over the internet, which makes for faster response times. It also can detect a “double tap” motion you can make with your thumb and forefinger. You can use this to press the primary button in an app without having to touch the watch display with your other hand (or nose). Fancy.
For the adventurous and outdoorsy types, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a terrific buy. Built for endurance athletes, outdoor adventurers, and water sports enthusiasts, this techy timepiece boasts a 49mm corrosion-resistant titanium case, 100m water resistance, and an S9 SiP for a superbright display. With a battery life of up to 36 hours and 72 hours in Low Power Mode, it’s designed to keep up with your most demanding adventures. The biggest, brightest, always-on Retina display ensures visibility in any setting, while cellular capabilities, advanced health features, and specialized bands make it a must-have for athletes, adventurers, and health-conscious people.
Investing in an Apple Watch doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. There are plenty of excellent, affordable options to choose from, and we’ve listed some of our favorites below.
Although it’s technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn’t recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn’t worth it. If you’re absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option. For those of you quite happy with your Android smartphone, there are plenty of Android smartwatches that would be a better fit than the Apple Watch.
Personalizing your Apple Watch is the next best thing to do after you’ve bought one for yourself, and there are plenty of ways to do it. Whether you want to find a specific style of band, case, or even customize your watch face, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. In our roundups of the best Apple Watch faces, the best Apple Watch bands, and the best Apple Watch cases and covers, you can find our top picks for 2024.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.