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Back in September, Apple unveiled a new base model Series 11, the affordable SE 3, and a luxurious and rugged Ultra 3. While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 received standout features including Hypertension Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, increased battery life, and Sleep Scores, older smartwatches also got a facelift following the new product debut.
Thanks to WatchOS 26, Apple Watches Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later got the same software as the latest lineup.
Also: Our favorite early Black Friday deals
So, what does that mean for you? It means that if you are eyeing a new Apple smartwatch this Black Friday, you might not actually have to buy the latest one at the highest price. In fact, Apple Watch Series 10, the one-year-old base model smartwatch is equally, if not better a buy than the SE 3 (or maybe even the Series 11). As early holiday deals begin to roll in, Amazon and other retailers might cut the price of the Series 10 down even further (it’s on sale for $250 right now
That difference in battery life is the only real differentiator, in my eyes, between the Series 10 and Series 11. Of course, it’s a great upgrade that Apple decided to make with its device, and people will surely buy the Series 11 over the 10 because of that. In fact, I’ve been loving my Series 11 because of how long its battery lasts (I wear it to sleep and throughout the day). But if you aren’t someone who plans to wear their smartwatch 24/7 or if you are always on top of device charging, you might not need a 24-hour battery life. So, you should buy the Series 10. 100%.
Also: Which Apple Watch should you buy? I tested every model
Here are a few new features the Series 10 gets, thanks to its software update (that the Series 11 already has). Apple’s new FDA-cleared Hypertension Detection (that the new Apple Watch SE 3 doesn’t have), Sleep Scores, Wrist Flick Gesture for declining messages or calls, and Workout Buddy on the Fitness app.
over the SE 3, and the Series 11 over the Series 10 (only if you want more battery life).
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
The Apple Watch Series 10 is 50% off right now. It’s becoming a rarer deal, so I’m rating this one a 5/5. Plus, as stock dwindles of this older model, it’s a great time to scoop up this smart wearable with decent savings.
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