Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Archived deal roundup: These prices were reported during Amazon Prime Day on July 11–12, 2023. They are historical snapshots, not current offers.

The strongest Apple Watch deal was the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 for $280. For Android users, the standout was the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 at $151. The lower-cost Apple Watch SE was the better value for iPhone owners who did not need advanced health sensors. Remember: Apple Watch requires an iPhone; it does not work as a normal smartwatch with Android phones.

Prime Day 2023 smartwatch deals at a glance

Model Reported Prime Day price Cited regular price Best for Phone compatibility
Apple Watch Series 8, 41mm GPS $280 $399 Best overall iPhone option iPhone only
Apple Watch SE, 44mm GPS $230 $279 Best Apple Watch value iPhone only
Apple Watch SE, 40mm GPS $200 in a later update Varied by configuration Lowest-cost Apple Watch iPhone only
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 $151 $280 Best Android deal Android
Google Pixel Watch $250 $350 Best Google ecosystem option Android
Fitbit Versa 2 $140 Reported as $150–$200 Budget cross-platform smartwatch iPhone and Android
Fitbit Inspire 3 $80 $100 Basic fitness tracking iPhone and Android

Prices and availability changed throughout the event. Size, color, band, connection type, seller, and condition could all affect the price. The historical deal roundup is reproduced in the archived coverage.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Best overall iPhone deal: Apple Watch Series 8 for $280

The reported $280 price applied to the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8, down from a cited $399. That was approximately $119 off, or about 30 percent.

#1 Best Overall
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

It was the best all-around choice for iPhone owners because Series 8 included features missing from the second-generation SE:

  • Always-on OLED display
  • ECG capability
  • Blood oxygen hardware and app
  • Temperature sensing
  • IP6X dust resistance
  • Fall Detection and Crash Detection
  • 50-meter water resistance

Apple listed up to 18 hours of normal battery life, or up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode under its stated conditions. Those are manufacturer claims, not a guarantee of real-world runtime. Full specifications are available in Apple’s Series 8 technical documentation.

Series 8 was the better purchase if you wanted the most complete Apple Watch experience, particularly the always-on display or health sensors. Its limitations were the usual Apple Watch trade-offs: it required an iPhone, and the GPS model depended more heavily on a nearby phone for calls, messages, and data.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Best-value Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE, second generation

The second-generation Apple Watch SE was the sensible alternative for iPhone owners who wanted notifications, activity tracking, sleep monitoring, heart-rate alerts, and safety features without paying for Series 8 hardware.

Reported configurations included:

  • 40mm GPS: $200 in a later update, although it was initially reported as unavailable.
  • 44mm GPS: $230, compared with a cited $279 regular price.
  • 40mm cellular: $250, compared with $299.
  • 44mm cellular: $280, compared with $329.

The SE used the same generation of S8 SiP as Series 8 and offered 32GB of storage, 50-meter water resistance, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, sleep stages, heart-rate notifications, and noise monitoring. Apple’s specifications are listed here.

Rank #2
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

What it did not have was equally important: there was no always-on display, ECG, blood oxygen sensor, temperature-sensing hardware, or IP6X dust-resistance rating. Choose the SE when those omissions do not matter. The $49 discounts on the listed 44mm and cellular configurations were smaller than the Series 8 discount, but the lower starting price made the SE the better value for many buyers.

GPS or cellular: which Apple Watch deal made sense?

GPS was the cheaper and simpler choice if you normally carried your iPhone. It could use the phone for communications when nearby.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

GPS + Cellular added the ability to call, text, and use mobile data away from the iPhone, subject to carrier support and activation. The watch’s higher purchase price was only part of the cost; a carrier smartwatch line or service plan could add recurring charges. Cellular was worthwhile for phone-free walks, runs, or emergencies, but unnecessary if your phone was almost always with you.

Best Android deal: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 for $151

The Galaxy Watch 5 was reported at $151, compared with a cited $280 regular price—approximately $129 off, or 46 percent. It was the most aggressive discount in the roundup and the leading recommendation for Android users.

Samsung’s watch ran Wear OS and combined smartwatch functions with health and fitness tracking. The coverage highlighted sleep coaching, body-composition analysis, improved durability, and a curved case back intended to improve wrist contact.

Rank #3
Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*

It was a particularly strong deal for Samsung Galaxy owners who wanted deeper Android ecosystem integration than an Apple Watch could provide. Buyers should still check the exact phone and software requirements for the configuration they were considering. Most importantly, do not buy it as an iPhone alternative without verifying compatibility: the Apple Watch was not the Android option, and smartwatch support can vary by model.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Best Google option: Google Pixel Watch for $250

The Google Pixel Watch reportedly fell from $350 to $250. It appealed primarily to Pixel owners and people invested in Google services rather than shoppers seeking the maximum hardware value.

Its strengths included an attractive design, a broad selection of watch faces, responsive Google Assistant, and Fitbit wellness integration. The weaknesses identified in the original coverage were short battery life and an awkward Fitbit integration experience.

At $250, the Pixel Watch made sense if Google’s software and design mattered more than endurance. For many Android buyers focused on value, health features, and a less compromised overall package, the $151 Galaxy Watch 5 was the stronger deal.

Best cross-platform budget smartwatch: Fitbit Versa 2 for $140

The Fitbit Versa 2 was a lower-cost smartwatch that worked with both iPhone and Android. It tracked workouts and sleep, displayed notifications, supported apps and Spotify controls, and included Alexa.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #4
Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*

Its battery life was a meaningful advantage: the deal coverage reported up to six days with the always-on display disabled, falling to roughly two days with it enabled. That made it more convenient for continuous sleep tracking than an Apple Watch with an advertised roughly 18-hour daily cycle.

However, the Versa 2 was not equivalent to a current flagship Apple Watch or Wear OS watch. Its app ecosystem and safety functions were more limited, and some advanced Fitbit metrics and sleep content required Fitbit Premium. The cited regular price also varied between reports, so the $140 offer should be treated as a configuration- and timestamp-specific snapshot rather than a precisely calculated percentage discount.

Best basic fitness tracker: Fitbit Inspire 3 for $80

At a reported $80, the Inspire 3 was the cheapest useful option for readers primarily interested in steps, heart rate, basic activity tracking, and sleep information.

It was a fitness tracker, not a full smartwatch. It was a poor fit if you wanted calls, rich third-party apps, independent GPS, or extensive wrist-based communication. The Inspire 3 used connected GPS, meaning your phone had to accompany you to record GPS-based exercise routes.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Which Prime Day 2023 deal should you have bought?

  1. iPhone plus the fullest feature set: Apple Watch Series 8.
  2. iPhone plus the lowest sensible price: Apple Watch SE.
  3. Android plus the strongest discount: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.
  4. Pixel or Google-services focus: Google Pixel Watch.
  5. Either phone plus longer battery life: Fitbit Versa 2.
  6. Basic tracking at the lowest price: Fitbit Inspire 3.
  7. Phone-free running or cycling: choose a model with built-in GPS and, if needed, cellular; avoid relying on the connected-GPS-only Inspire 3.

Important caveats about the 2023 deals

Apple Watch does not work with Android

This is the most important compatibility warning. Apple Watch is an iPhone accessory. Android users should look at Samsung, Google, Fitbit, Garmin, or another Android-compatible platform instead.

Best Value
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

Deal prices applied to specific configurations

“Apple Watch Series 8 for $280” was not a universal price for every size and connectivity option. Confirm the case size, GPS or cellular status, band, color, seller, and condition. A listing can remain active while a popular size or color is sold out.

Prime eligibility and coupons could change the final price

The original reports described some offers as Prime-member deals. On the historical product page, shoppers would have needed to check whether Prime eligibility, a clipped coupon, or a selected configuration was required. Membership terms should not be inferred from this archived roundup.

Check new, renewed, and marketplace listings

Before buying, verify whether the item is new, renewed, refurbished, or open-box; who sells and fulfills it; what warranty applies; and what the return terms are. The archived reporting does not establish those details for every listing.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Prime Day occurred before Apple’s next annual watch announcements

Prime Day 2023 took place in July, before Apple’s expected September product cycle. Buying the discounted Series 8 or SE was reasonable if you needed a watch immediately and the configuration suited you. Waiting could have made sense if you wanted the newest generation or longer potential support, but a future announcement was not a reason to ignore an unusually low price if the older model already met your needs.

Apple’s announced US starting prices in 2022 were $399 for Series 8 and $249 for the second-generation SE; configuration-specific retail prices varied. See Apple’s launch announcement for the original context.

Health features such as ECG, blood oxygen readings, and temperature-related capabilities should be treated as device features, not medical diagnoses. Availability can vary by country, software version, and regulatory approval.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.