Apple tech veers toward the expensive side of things and doesn’t often go on sale, so we’re looking forward to 2020’s Prime Day deals and we expect to see iPads, MacBooks, and, of course, Apple Watches among them. Prime Day, landing on October 13 and 14 this year, is rivaled only by Black Friday when it comes to discounts; there can be a lot to sort through, so if you’re after the best smartwatch on the market and want to cut right to the chase, here’s everything you need to know about what Prime Day Apple Watch deals to expect this year (plus some early discounts you can score today).

Today’s best Prime Day Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) — $169, was $199
• Apple Watch Series 3 (white, 42mm, GPS) — $199, was $229
• Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS, Refurbished) — $377, was $429
• Apple Watch Series 5 (40mm, GPS, Renewed) — $356, was $359
• Apple Watch Series 4 (44mm, GPS+Cellular) — $350, was $529

After being delayed in the summer, Prime Day was rescheduled for October 13 and 14. That means that those Prime Day Apple Watch deals aren’t live just yet, but you don’t have to wait until the sale itself to save: Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best Apple Watch deals and discounts you can enjoy right now.

When are the best Prime Day Apple Watch deals?

Prime Day is unique in that it’s reserved exclusively for Prime members (although many third-party sellers on Amazon also run their own Prime Day deals that are available to all). Nonetheless, Prime Day still follows a similar pattern to other big sales like Black Friday in that the best deals are reserved for the official calendar days of the event but there are often many teaser deals thrown out there beforehand to lure in shoppers.

Don’t ignore these early Prime Day Apple Watch deals. Usually offered in the form of Amazon’s short-term “Lightning Deals,” these pre-sale bargains are generally every bit as good as the ones you’ll see during the sale itself; if you find an Apple Watch you like at a good price, grab it. You can always return it and buy it again if you see it again for cheaper come Prime Day.

What Prime Day Apple Watch deals to expect

There are two Apple Watch models that you can still buy new: The Apple Watch Series 3 and the more feature-rich Apple Watch Series 5. Apple has quietly discontinued the Series 4, as there was not enough of a difference between it and the upgraded Series 5 to merit keeping it around (and we’ve seen some great deals on the Series 5 lately that made the Series 4 even more redundant), but Apple kept the Series 3 on the market as a low-cost alternative for shoppers who just want a solid smartwatch at a great price.

The Apple Watch Series 5 starts at around $400, while the Series 3 goes for around $200. This year’s Prime Day Apple Watch deals will naturally knock those prices down, and if previous 2020 sales are any indication, we’ll likely see the Apple Watch Series 3 discounted to around $160-170 and the Series 5 cut down to around $350-360 (these estimates are for the entry-level GPS-only models; upgraded units with cellular connectivity and unique case/color combos will be more expensive but may also feature larger discounts).

These are only our predictions, however. Amazon can and does get aggressive with its prices for its big sale, so we could see these Prime Day Apple Watch deals go even lower. Just remember that Lightning Deals go quickly, and the more competitive the prices are, the faster they’ll get snatched up. Don’t tarry too long if you find the Apple Watch you want on sale for the lowest price you’ve seen — you might not get another chance before 2021.

Should I shop on Prime Day or wait until Black Friday?

Prime Day and Black Friday are placed just a month apart from each other this year. This means that if a certain Apple Watch runs out of stock due to heavy demand we might not see a restock in time for Black Friday or even Cyber Monday. Apple also just released the Apple Watch Series 6 in September, which means that a lot of their older watches will see very big discounts come Prime Day. We don’t anticipate Amazon further discounting these smartwatches for Black Friday season. So if you’re looking for a new smartwatch, shop these Prime Day Apple Watch deals now instead of holding off your holiday shopping till the end of the year.

Are any Prime Day Apple Watch deals too good to be true?

Before you start shopping for a new Apple Watch, make sure to put in a little research beforehand. Make a list of all the features you want. Also, spend some time checking out the different reviews and ratings of your chosen Apple Watch. When looking for bands for your Apple Watch or any other accessories always stick to the Apple brand and avoid any and all off-brand products. Never jump too quickly on a heavily discounted product before putting in some research — if a deal seems suspicious, it probably is.

How to choose an Apple Watch

With the release of the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE, you’re probably wondering which Apple Watch is worth your investment. If you head over to Apple right now you’ll see that the 2019 version of its smartwatch — the Apple Watch Series 5 — is now discontinued. That said, you’ll be still able to buy the Series 5 from other tech retail sites like Amazon. Currently, the only Watches sold through the Apple website are the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Series 3. So which should you choose?

Apple Watch Series 6: This smartwatch is a clear upgrade from the Apple Watch Series 5. It carries all the same features including an always-on display, ECG monitor, and powerful fitness tracker but with a few additional perks. You can now measure your blood oxygen levels straight from your watch. Not to mention, the Series 6 has Apple’s new S6 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, which is 20% faster than the Series 5. You also get the option of two new aluminum case colors including blue and Apple’s famous (PRODUCT) Red.

Apple Watch SE: If you want an affordable option that still boasts the newer, sleeker display and Apple’s S5 processor, go with the Apple Watch SE. It’s just slightly pricier than the Apple Watch Series 3 but its features make it worth it. It’s faster, has slimmer bezels, a larger screen, and comes equipped with an always-on altimeter. Unlike the Series 3, it also has integrated fall detection and supports family setup. You can also store 32 GB worth of data, a clear jump from the Series 3’s 8GB of storage.

Apple Watch Series 3: The Apple Watch Series 3 is still one of the best and most affordable smartwatches on the market. There’s a lot to love. It can accurately monitor your heart rate, function with maps, and it has a beautiful retina display. It’s also waterproof like its successors, making it the perfect starter smartwatch no matter what your daily routine looks like. That said, it’s only slightly cheaper than the newer Watch SE. We suggest only buying this watch if you’re okay giving up on premium features like a sleeker design and a faster processor for the sake of a lower price point.

Discontinued options: As we mentioned before, Apple always discontinues its smartwatch predecessors (with the exception of the Series 3) with new releases. That said, the Watch Series 5 and 4 are still available on Amazon and will probably see the biggest discounts. The Apple Watch Series 5 is almost as good as the Series 6, albeit without a blood oxygen sensor and Apple’s newest S6 watch processor. If you’re not interested in the newer health capabilities of the Watch 6, stick with the Apple Watch Series 5 — it’ll probably be heavily discounted come Prime Day.

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