Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Everyone loves a good smartwatch, and Apple’s most affordable option, the Apple Watch SE, recently received an upgrade that earned it a ZDNET Editors’ Choice award. The Apple Watch SE 3 features new enhancements, including improved brightness, 18-hour battery life, sleep tracking, an always-on display, and more.
Also: The best Apple Watches you can buy
As an early Black Friday deal, you can get the Apple Watch SE 3<!–> for $49 off on Amazon, making it cost just $200. However, this deal is only applicable on Amazon to the 40mm Starlight colorway.
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the smartwatch first-time buyers and budget shoppers should get. This smartwatch is ideal for individuals seeking to track their workouts, sleep, menstrual cycle, and respond to texts.
The Apple Watch SE 3 (left), Apple Watch Ultra 3 (middle), Apple Watch Series 11 (right).
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
ZDNET wearables editor, Nina Raemont, has gone hands-on with every Apple Watch model available, and said she recommends the Apple Watch SE 3 the most.
Also: The best early Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker deals
“The SE 3 now rates sleep based on duration, bedtime consistency, and interruptions to deliver a nightly score,” she wrote in her review. “Now I can visualize through an easy-to-understand rating system how I slept and three specific factors that I can improve on.”
Review: Apple Watch SE 3
For the first time since its inception, Apple Watch SE (which has always been the basic, budget option for an Apple Watch) has finally caught up to the other models in features while keeping that same, lower price tag.
<!–>
And at $49 off, if you want a worthy smartwatch for under $200, the Apple Watch SE 3–> is the best option there is. Snag it for yourself or as a gift for someone this upcoming holiday season.
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
Based on the 20% off being offered, this deal should be rated 3/5 Editor’s deal rating according to ZDNET’s deal system, but I gave it a 4/5 Editor’s deal rating since the Watch SE 3 was only released a little over a month ago. It’s also a ZDNET Editors’ Choice award recipient, and it’s the first time we’re seeing a discount on this new model.
Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
Show more
We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.
In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.
At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.
Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025
Show more
ZDNET Recommends
<!–>
–>
