If you’ve been waiting for the Apple Watch Series 11 to come down in price, this week finally gives you two different ways in.
Amazon has pushed the 42mm GPS model to $299 and the 46mm GPS version to $329, both $100 off and among the lowest prices yet for Apple’s newest smartwatch. At the same time, Apple has started selling refurbished Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 models through its own online store for the first time since those watches launched last September.
That means shoppers are now seeing a rare overlap: aggressive new-in-box discounts at retail, plus Apple-certified refurbished options for anyone who wants a warranty-backed buy without paying full price. Apple’s refurbished Series 11 starts at $369 for the 46mm GPS model, while the Ultra 3 begins at $699 and the SE 3 at $209.
The Amazon sale is the more eye-catching deal on paper. It applies to several color options, and both Apple and retailers such as Best Buy have been matching the pricing on select models. For anyone comparing the two paths, Amazon’s $299 entry point is significantly below Apple’s refurbished pricing — which helps explain why Apple’s own offers are drawing some eye rolls from bargain hunters. As one MacRumors commenter put it, the discounts feel a lot less compelling when brand-new watches are already cheaper elsewhere.
That said, Apple’s refurbished store does bring a couple of advantages that matter to some buyers. Refurbished devices go through Apple’s inspection and cleaning process, include the same one-year limited warranty as new products, and remain eligible for AppleCare+. For people who care more about official support than squeezing out the absolute lowest price, that’s still a meaningful distinction.
The Series 11 itself remains the headline watch in Apple’s current lineup. In our WWDC 2026 watch rumors roundup, Apple’s broader software push has kept health and fitness features front and center, and the Series 11 continues that trend with hypertension notifications, sleep score tracking and the company’s usual safety tools. In Mashable’s review coverage, battery life also stood out: the watch can stretch to roughly a day and a half on typical use, with careful low-power management pushing it longer.
For buyers focused on value, the question is less about whether the Series 11 is good — it is — and more about where the best price lives. Right now, that answer seems to be Amazon. Apple’s refurbished store is useful if you want the company’s own certified hardware, but the discounts are modest enough that they’re hard to recommend over a brand-new unit from a third-party seller unless official refurbishment matters to you.
The timing is no accident either. With Prime Day approaching, Amazon is clearly using the Series 11 as a lure, and the same broader deal wave is spilling into Apple Watch SE 3 and Ultra 3 pricing too. If you’re shopping the lineup, there’s suddenly a lot more room to compare — especially if you’re also weighing whether to save on a cheaper Apple Watch SE 3 deal or hold out for a more premium model like the Ultra 3 instead.
For now, the pattern is pretty clear: Apple Watches are getting easier to buy for less, but not necessarily from Apple itself.
