Black Friday is here, and we’ve likely seen the biggest discounts you’ll find over the deals season through to Cyber Monday. We’ve seen deals on the Samsung Galaxy Watch series, Apple Watch devices, Fitbit smartwatches any many others.
The best smartwatches also seem to be in good supply too – even the Apple Watch 6, despite that having been discontinued. So there shouldn’t be too much danger of stock shortages over the Black Friday period.
The exception to all this is the Apple Watch 7, with analysts suggesting this could be in short supply for a while. This is a wearable that probably won’t be heavily discounted either given how new it is, so you might want to buy one of these sooner rather than later.
Below you’ll find the best current smartwatch deals money can buy from a variety of manufacturers for all different purposes.
Black Friday smartwatch sales (US): quick links
The best Black Friday smartwatch deals in the US
Black Friday smartwatch sales (UK): quick links
The best Black Friday smartwatch deals in the UK
Our predictions
Based on previous Black Fridays – and in particular Black Friday 2020 – we predict that we might see the following:
- Apple Watch 6: might get a discount of up to hundreds of pounds/dollars for the top models.
- Apple Watch 7: expect a small discount (around $50/£50) at most.
- Apple Watch SE: a small discount is likely, but don’t expect a big drop.
- Garmin: expect a range of discounts on various Garmin watches – including some big savings.
- Fitbit: we could see big discounts on older Fitbit models, with small ones on newer watches.
- Samsung: don’t expect a big drop on the Watch 4, but the Watch 3 and Active 2 could get some sizeable sales.
Tips for buying a smartwatch
There are a huge number of smartwatches to choose from and deciding on the best fit for you can be tricky, especially as many of them have superficially similar specs.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to make sure you get a good model – and don’t overpay for it.
1. Check out our best smartwatches guide
At TechRadar we’ve tested almost every smartwatch on the market, and with that knowledge we’ve created a best smartwatch guide, highlighting the very best options. Or if money is tight then take a look at our best cheap smartwatch guide.
Everything on those pages comes highly recommended, and you can see at a glance what we like about each model too.
2. Check if a deal is really a deal
If you see a smartwatch at a seemingly reduced price, it’s worth double checking how much of a deal it really is, by comparing to the prices elsewhere, or using a browser extension like The Camelizer to see how the current price compares to previous prices the wearable has been listed at.
Sometimes retailers can do tricky things like listing the price as a reduction from a starting price that the watch hasn’t sold at for a long time, so not all deals are as good as they look.
On Black Friday we’ll be highlighting all the best deals too, so keep an eye on this page and the rest of TechRadar for genuine bargains too.
3. Keep an eye on older models
Recent smartwatches might be new and exciting, but the biggest Black Friday discounts will usually be found on older models – especially if a new version has since been released.
So rather than the Apple Watch 7 for example, consider buying an Apple Watch 6 – you’ll likely find it for a lot less money, and won’t miss out on too many features.
Black Friday smartwatch FAQ
When will the best Black Friday smartwatch deals start in 2021?
Black Friday falls on November 26th this year, but we expect to see some tasty smartwatch discounts before then. Traditionally, the best offers were reserved for the day itself, but in recent years we’ve seen retailers launch their Black Friday pricing at the beginning of Thanksgiving week.
We’ve even started seeing some offers crop up as early as October. The best deals often drop near Black Friday itself, but if you’re after a bargain it’s worth paying attention as soon as the first prices are cut on the smartwatch device you want to snag.
If you feel like you need a hand, we’ll be rounding up all the best smartwatch Black Friday deals here, first, so bookmark this page and keep checking back.
Last year, the trend towards earlier deals was even more pronounced thanks to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in many parts of the world. Smartwatch and other tech prices dropped in late October and stayed low into the first week of December.
According to data from Adobe Analytics, the change last year was because the pandemic accelerated the shift to online shopping, with more than a 50% increase in 2020 compared to 2019. With many brick-and-mortar stores closed, and more people than ever shopping online to stay safe – plus with restrictions causing shipping delays – it made sense for retailers to spread the deals out.
We don’t know if 2021 will be the same, but we recommend having your eyes peeled from late October / early November just to be sure you find the best Black Friday smartwatch deals.
Where will the best Black Friday smartwatch deals be?
You’ll, of course, find the best Black Friday smartwatch deals here as soon as they drop. However, if you want to find the deals for yourself you’ll need to know where to look. If you live in the US or UK, check out our picks below for the best sites to check for Black Friday smartwatch deals when they drop later this year.
You can also check them out now to see what pre-Black Friday prices look like so you know how good the savings really are.
Top US retailers
Amazon: a broad smartwatch selection at great prices
Best Buy: save on a wide range of smartwatches
Walmart: get free shipping on these smartwatches
Top UK retailers
Amazon: often the cheapest smartwatches in the UK
Currys: free delivery, on a wide selection of smartwatches
John Lewis: extended warranties on premium smartwatches
Which smartwatch is best for you?
There are a lot of smartwatches to be on the lookout for during Black Friday 2021, but what wearable devices will be best for you? Here’s a rundown of the top devices to keep an eye on as the discounts appear.
Apple fans will be happy to know that the best smartwatch out there (according to our best smartwatch list) is the Apple Watch SE. The Apple Watch SE comes with some top-end specs, a high-end design and a great range of features that you can’t get on every other smartwatch right now. The battery life could be better, but if you’re looking for good value for money during Black Friday 2021, this is a smartwatch to snag.
Alternatively, Android phone users will want the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. The Galaxy Watch 4 features a near-unique rotating bezel that makes navigating around the smartwatch a joy. Its functionality is great too, making this smartwatch perfect if you’re looking for a smartwatch to track your fitness, look good on your wrist and do a whole lot more.
If you’re on a tighter budget, you might want to check out our best cheap smartwatches for 2021, which will likely get even cheaper during Black Friday. The Fitbit Versa Lite currently sits at the top of our list showing the brand can do more than just fitness bands, while the TicWatch E2 shows that you can get something good from brands you might not be as familiar with.
Should I wait for the Black Friday smartwatch deals?
Whether you should wait for Black Friday smartwatch deals largely depends on which wearable you plan to buy.
Very recent ones such as the Apple Watch 7 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are unlikely to get big discounts, so you probably won’t really miss out by buying one ahead of time.
In the case of the Apple Watch 7, supplies are also short, so you could be waiting a long time for it to actually ship and you might not want to extend that delay by not ordering it yet.
Then again, if you’re not desperate for a new smartwatch there’s no real risk in waiting, especially for wearables that are readily available, so unless you happen across an excellent early deal, we’d say it’s generally worth waiting to see what appears on Black Friday itself.
That’s even more true for older smartwatches from 2020 or earlier, as these ones are likely to get hefty discounts over the sales period.
Who has the best smartwatch deals right now?
The best deals will depend in large part on the kind of smartwatch you’re looking for – do you want an Apple one or a Garmin? A cheap one or a premium model? Wear OS or Tizen? There are all sorts of considerations, and different stores may focus on different kinds.
That said, you can find many of the best deals in our ‘today’s best smartwatch deals’ section above. But for more options, check out our guides to the best Garmin deals, the best Apple Watch deals, and the best Fitbit deals.
3 best smartwatches to watch out for
The Apple Watch SE is the best smartwatch money can buy right now (not counting the Apple Watch 7, which we haven’t yet put through a full review), and it’s also a top mid-range choice, being cheaper than Apple’s new numbered wearable.
That said, it’s only of any use if you have an iPhone, so if not just scroll down for an alternative option. For those who do have an iPhone, you get a surprisingly premium experience with the Apple Watch SE, including good specs and a great design.
It didn’t get big discounts last year, only dropping by $20 in the US, with no notable deals in the UK or Australia. That said, it’s now a year older, so we wouldn’t be surprised if there are some much better Black Friday offers for it this year.
Read the full Apple Watch SE review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is our top premium smartwatch pick. It only came out recently so we’re not expecting big discounts yet, but you might be able to save at least a bit of cash on Black Friday, and this wearable is worth the money.
That said, iPhone users are out of luck here, and to get the most out of it you need a Samsung phone. Still, with an ECG, body composition monitoring and all sorts of other health and fitness tools, this goes beyond most smartwatches for telling you what’s going on with your body.
It also looks stylish, and unlike previous Samsung smartwatches this one runs Wear OS, so you can access a wide range of apps to use with it.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review
The Apple Watch 6 is no longer the top spec Apple Watch, with the Apple Watch 7 taking that crown. But Apple’s latest wearable could be in short supply and is unlikely to get discounted much if at all, whereas last year’s model could see heavy reductions as retailers look to shift their stock.
This is still a top smartwatch, with an always-on display and sleep tracking making for nice additions over the previous model.
While the battery life could be better you’re not missing out on a ton by choosing this over the newer model, and it could end up being a whole lot cheaper.
Read the full Apple Watch 6 review
Last year’s Black Friday smartwatch deals
You’ve missed out on these deals from last year – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth checking out. That’s because they can give you a hint at what deals we might see on smartwatches in Black Friday.
Expect discounts that are at least as good as these on the selection of devices below, but also keep an eye on how these offers compare to deals you see before Black Friday lands. That way you can decide if it’s worth waiting for the day itself, or snagging an early offer while you can.
Last year’s Black Friday smartwatch deals in the US
Last year’s Black Friday smartwatch deals in the UK
TechRadar is scouring every retailer and rounding up all the top deals over the Black Friday period, and we’ve put all the best Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals in easy-to-navigate articles to help you find the bargains you’re looking for.