Since it launched in April 2015, it has become the must-have accessory for those looking for an alternative to a FitBit, a way to track their health and sleep or simply a stylish bit of wearable tech.
We may earn revenue if you click the links below and buy the products but we never let this affect our recommendations. Remember to shop around on Black Friday to make sure you’re getting the best price.
Live Black Friday Apple Watch deals
Some retailers begin offering great deals in the run-up to Black Friday itself. Now that the big day is here, here are some of the best bargains we’ve spotted.
We’ve included a guide price with the Apple Watch models as well. If the sale price is lower than the guide price, you’re getting a good price.
Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
(Guide price: £499)
John Lewis & Partners £489.00
Currys £489.00
Amazon £489.00
Argos £499.00
AO.com £499.00
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a number of improvements on the Series 6. It’s screen is 20% bigger and it’s Retina Display is now always on.
Apple say the 7 is their most durable watch yet, with a stronger screen than before, plus WR50 water resistance.
And it’s a quick recharge as well, apparently charging 33% faster than the series 6.
Apple Watch SE (2021)
(Guide price: £249)
Currys £239.00
Amazon £239.00
Argos £249.00
John Lewis & Partners £249.00
AO.com £249.00
The SE is the more affordable Apple Watch, but we reckon you still get most of the best features at a better price than the Series 6.
It’s still waterproof and has a number of useful workout features.
Apple Watch Series 6
(Guide price: £339)
Apple Watch Series 6, £349 at Amazon – buy here
‘Easily the best smartwatch you can buy today, the Apple Watch Series 6 is a powerful, long-lasting and attractive gadget you’ll quickly come to adore.’
Apple Watch Series 3
(Guide price: £168)
John Lewis & Partners £178.00
AO.com £178.00
Currys £178.00
Amazon £178.00
Argos £179.00
Apple Watch Series 3, £169 at Amazon – buy here
The Apple Watch Series 3 is cheaper than ever courtesy of its 2017 release date.
Check out our Apple Watch Series 3 review here.
When is Black Friday 2021?
Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving in the US — making it today, November 26, this year.
In recent years, it’s become hugely popular in the UK as well.
Will the Apple Watch be on sale on Black Friday?
Apple itself does not traditionally take part in Black Friday sales and maintains its characteristically high prices throughout November.
However, a number of retailers that stock Apple Watches are taking part, meaning that you shouldn’t struggle to find yourself some high-tech wristwear at a bargain this weekend.
How much is an Apple Watch?
Currently, the Apple website sells three models of the Apple Watch, alongside two limited editions.
The range-topping model is the Apple Watch Series 7, which goes in hard on health-related tech and costs £369 (GPS) or £469 (GPS and cellular).
There’s a “revolutionary” sensor and app that can read your blood oxygen level, and the device can also take an ECG (electrocardiogram, a test that measures your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity), and shows you a number of fitness metrics at a glance.
Apple Watch Series 7, £499 on Amazon – buy here
The Apple Watch Series 7 is similar in the major features to the Apple Watch Series 6. Upgrades include an improved display, faster charging and an on-screen keyboard. But the Series 6 model is still a superior piece of tech and is well worth looking at this Black Friday.
The Apple Watch SE also offers many of those features, minus the most sophisticated ones such as the blood oxygen sensor.
Unless you’re a health nut, this is probably the model that represents the best value for money — the SE is currently available for just £269 on Amazon. The model with GPS and Cellular, which allows you to call and text without having your phone on you, is currently £319, a discount of £30.
Apple Watch SE, £319 on Amazon – buy here
The cheapest Apple Watch you can buy new is the Series 3, which originally came out in 2017 and retails for just under £200 (£169 during the Black Friday event). It has great core features including fitness tracking, but doesn’t have the battery life of models further up the ladder.
Black Friday 2021 Apple Watch deals
While there are no specific discounts on Apple’s own website, there are plenty of retailers offing savings on the Apple Watch this Black Friday.
Last year, the price of the Series 5 Apple Watch hit an all-time low on Amazon, with the Space Grey model being sold for £379.65 — a saving of more than £120 on its RRP.
The Series 5 watch is no longer being sold by Apple, but you should expect proportional discounts on the current Apple Watch line-up, which comprises the Series 3, Series 6 and SE — especially considering the Series 7 has now hit stores, which could force prices down.
Here are the best Black Friday 2021 Apple Watch deals currently available online:
Apple Watch Series 6 GPS, £289 (saving £90) on Amazon – buy here
Apple Watch Series 6 GPS + Cellular, £379 (saving £100) on Amazon – buy here
Apple Watch Series 7 GPS, £349 (saving £20) on Amazon – buy here
Apple Watch Series SE GPS, £249 (saving £20) on Amazon – buy here
Apple Watch Series SE GPS + Cellular, £299 (saving £20) on Amazon – buy here
Apple Watch Series 3 GPS, £169 (saving £30) on Amazon – buy here
Where to buy the Apple Watch on Black Friday
And if the deals above are not enough, here’s a complete list of retailers who are worth checking for Apple Watch deals during the Black Friday weekend:
UK retailers
Amazon
AO
Argos
Currys
John Lewis
Selfridges
Very
US retailers
Amazon
AT&T
Best Buy
B&H
Gamestop
Target
T-Mobile
Verizon
Walmart
Will the Apple Watch be on sale on Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday, which tends to be an online-only event, takes place the Monday following Black Friday — this year, it’s November 29.
Many retailers have deals running across the weekend, and some even have sales lasting into December, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for Apple Watch Cyber Monday deals.
Does the Apple Watch track sleep?
The most sophisticated Apple Watches — the Series 7, Series 6 and the SE — come with the capability to track your sleep.
This means that you can wake up in the morning and see how much sleep you got, and check your sleep over the last 14 days. You can also set sleep schedules and sleep goals.
The Series 3 comes with the capability to track sleep if installed with WatchOS 7, but some reviewers have noticed that the battery life isn’t quite good enough to properly support it.
Are Apple Watches worth it?
Realistically, a minimum of £197 is a lot of money to pay for a watch (although, as we all know, prices for wristwear can get a lot higher).
However, Apple Watches are much more than just a watch – you can track your fitness levels, pay for things, check texts and much more.
The functionality they provide and the way they integrate with your other Apple products is bound to make your day-to-day life incrementally easier, and it’s hard to put a price on that — and that’s especially true if you manage to grab an Apple Watch in the Black Friday sales.
