tThe Apple Watch has been around for a decade, so it’s safe to say you’ve already heard the evangelism from fawning owners: fitness tracking for everything from running to rowing, phone alerts on your wrist, an endless variety of watch faces for every occasion. The latest versions have even added the ability to perform an EKG, 5G connectivity, and off-grid satellite messaging.
It’s no surprise that the Apple Watch Series 11 earned a five-star review from our consumer technology editor and regularly appears in our gift guides for just about everyone. The Apple Watch is loved by moms, personalized by dads, and sought after by tweens.
But if you’ve been putting off buying one because of the premium price, Prime Day could be the break you’ve been waiting for. Right now, all Apple Watches are at the lowest price we’ve ever seen. Here are the offerings for each model and how to choose the right one for you.
Apple
Apple Watch SE generation 3
$199
As The Guardian’s consumer technology editor Samuel Gibbs put it in his guide to the best Apple Watch, “the newly updated entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 offers almost everything its more expensive siblings do, but at a discount.” That includes an always-on display, built-in Siri, and basic heart rate monitoring. You can also use it to monitor your sleep and look for patterns, as a sleep expert recommends in Filter’s guide to solving common sleep problems.
Apple
Apple Watch SE generation 3
$229
No wonder Gibbs named it the best Apple Watch for most people. If you’re new to wearables and don’t have a specific use for a feature on a more expensive model, this is probably the one to buy, especially with this 18% discount.
Apple
Apple Watch Series 11
$279
The Apple Watch Series 11 gives you everything the SE does, and then adds more: a bigger, brighter screen, longer battery life, and faster charging. But the real improvement is in the sensors. “For heart health, this is the Apple Watch to choose,” Gibbs said. It includes ECG functionality and blood oxygen monitoring (although the latter has been disabled in the US due to a patent dispute). Even in its legally limited state, the ECG can help detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that should be your cue to see a cardiologist immediately.
Apple
Apple Watch Series 11
$309
Both the SE and Series 11 can come with or without built-in cellular capabilities. If you’re on a budget and usually keep your phone with you anyway, skipping cell service will save you upfront costs and ongoing bills of around $10 to 15 per month.
Apple
Apple Watch Ultra 3
$649
“The Ultra 3 is the biggest, best, and best Apple Watch the company makes,” Gibbs said in his five-star review, with a price to match. Even on sale, it costs twice as much as the low-end models. But if you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you might find value in the upgrades, like dual-band GPS for more accurate tracking, a scratch-resistant sapphire dial, and three-day battery life for long days away from an outlet. The most attractive thing might be satellite connectivity for sending and receiving messages outside of cellular range – a good safety net for a race gone wrong.
Other pieces you might enjoy from Filter, The Guardian’s guide to buying less and better things:
