Presidents’ Day weekend shoppers can now buy the Apple Watch Series 11 for $299, a $100 discount off its usual $399 price and the lowest price spotted to date. The deal applies to the 42mm GPS model with a small/medium band and four factory color options; other Apple accessories are also discounted across holiday sales. Engadget identifies the Series 11 as its top overall smartwatch, citing a 90 review score driven by battery life and new health features. The offers run through the Presidents’ Day sales period and appear across major retail listings.
Key takeaways
- The Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for $299—$100 off the normal $399 price, a 25% reduction and the lowest recorded price so far.
- The specific SKU on sale is the 42mm case with a small/medium band, GPS-only configuration and four colorways: Jet Black, Space Gray (both with Black sport band), Rose Gold with Light Blush band, and Silver with Purple Fog band.
- Engadget’s review gave the Series 11 a 90 score, noting more than 24 hours of battery life and a thin, lightweight design that improves daily wearability.
- New health metrics on Series 11 include Apple’s hypertension alerts system and a Sleep Score, expanding clinical-style monitoring on the wrist.
- Beyond watches, holiday discounts extend primarily to accessories: AirPods, first‑generation AirTags (not the second‑gen models), the iPhone Air battery pack, and Apple’s crossbody straps for compatible iPhone cases.
- Many third‑party alternatives exist for accessories, but first‑party Apple gear typically drops in price during sales windows like Presidents’ Day.
Background
Presidents’ Day has become a major U.S. retail event for consumer electronics, with manufacturers and large retailers timing discounts to capture early‑year demand. Apple and authorized sellers periodically reduce prices on hardware and accessories during these holiday sales, giving buyers a seasonal window to pick up devices with meaningful markdowns. The Series 11 succeeds Apple’s prior smartwatch models and arrived with a focus on health tracking and incremental refinements to battery and ergonomics. Wearables drive a growing portion of Apple’s accessories and services ecosystem, so discounts on watches often coincide with promotional pricing on related items such as headphones, trackers, and power packs.
Because Apple’s lineup includes both first‑party accessories and a large third‑party marketplace, price sensitivity varies: some shoppers prioritize Apple’s design and ecosystem integration, while others opt for cheaper alternatives that replicate specific functions. Historically, headline discounts on flagship Apple watches are relatively rare outside Black Friday and select holiday events, so a $100 cut on the Series 11 is notable for buyers who have been waiting for a meaningful drop. Retail availability can be constrained by supply and color popularity, which affects which configurations actually appear at the sale price.
Main event
The current promotion reduces the Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS, small/medium band) to $299. The sale covers four manufacturer options: Jet Black and Space Gray aluminum cases paired with a Black sport band, Rose Gold aluminum with a Light Blush sport band, and Silver aluminum with a Purple Fog sport band. The discount represents a 25% reduction from the standard $399 listing price—bringing the watch within reach for budget‑minded shoppers targeting Apple’s latest wearable.
Engadget’s hands‑on testing and review rating informed the coverage of this deal, highlighting the Series 11’s battery performance (more than 24 hours in typical usage) and a slim, comfortable form factor that encourages all‑day wear. The watch also introduces expanded health features, such as hypertension alerts and a Sleep Score, positioning it as a device aimed at both lifestyle and health-conscious buyers. That combination of features and design contributed to Engadget naming the Series 11 its overall best smartwatch.
Accessory discounts accompanying the watch sale skew toward first‑party items: AirPods models, first‑generation AirTags (note that second‑generation AirTags are not part of this particular discount set), Apple’s iPhone Air battery pack, and the new crossbody strap accessories that attach to compatible iPhone cases. For shoppers who prefer Apple’s own accessories, Presidents’ Day offers like this are typically the best moment to buy without waiting for larger seasonal events.
Analysis & implications
A $100 discount on the Series 11 lowers the entry price enough to sway buyers who were on the fence between this model and last year’s or between Apple and Android smartwatch ecosystems. The 25% markdown is material: it reduces the effective premium for Apple’s latest health and software integrations and makes it more competitive versus similarly priced Android devices and earlier Apple models on the second‑hand market. For buyers focused on health monitoring, the inclusion of hypertension alerts and Sleep Score strengthens the watch’s value proposition beyond basic fitness tracking.
From Apple’s perspective, targeted discounts on one SKU (42mm GPS, SM band) help clear inventory for popular sizes and colorways while maintaining list pricing on higher‑margin variants (cellular models, larger cases, premium bands). Retailers and Apple may use limited, color‑specific price cuts to encourage traffic and attachment‑rate purchases of accessories. For accessory makers and third‑party brands, holiday price matches and bundles can capture customers who prioritize value over brand continuity.
For the market broadly, continued emphasis on health features in wearables supports growth in services and potential regulatory interest around health claims. As more devices integrate blood‑pressure alerts and sleep scoring, insurers, clinicians, and app developers may increasingly consider wrist data when designing interventions, though clinical adoption depends on validation and regulatory clearance rather than promotional retail cycles. Short term, the deal is most relevant to consumers who want a current Apple watch with modest savings; longer term, it signals how Apple balances device pricing with ecosystem retention.
Comparison & data
| Specification | Standard | Presidents’ Day Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Typical list price | $399 | $299 |
| Discount | — | $100 (25%) |
| Battery (review) | 24+ hours | 24+ hours |
The table above highlights the primary numerical changes: a $100 reduction from the normal listing to the sale price and the continued battery claim of more than 24 hours noted in reviews. While the sale focuses on a single GPS configuration, buyers comparing models should factor in the higher cost of cellular variants and alternative band sizes when assessing value. If color or band options are important, shoppers should verify retailer stock quickly because highlighted SKUs can sell out during holiday windows.
Reactions & quotes
Engadget’s review language has shaped buyer expectations around the Series 11 and is the primary review cited alongside the sale coverage. Below are short excerpts used to frame the deal and its appeal.
“Our choice for best smartwatch overall”
Engadget (review)
Engadget’s scoring and evaluation emphasize battery life and wearability as decisive factors for its recommendation, which helps explain why the Series 11 is a focal point for Presidents’ Day discount coverage.
“Scored a 90, thanks to 24 hours-plus of battery life and a thin, light design”
Engadget (review)
The review’s score and feature notes are cited to give readers a compact sense of performance expectations when considering the sale price. Prospective buyers should pair review findings with hands‑on impressions and retailer return policies before purchase.
Unconfirmed
- Exact retailer inventory and the duration of the $299 price vary by seller and region; availability may change rapidly during the Presidents’ Day window.
- Not all retailers list the same colorways or band sizes at the discounted price; some reported sales may be limited to specific outlets or online listings.
- Promotions on related accessories (AirPods, AirTags, battery pack, crossbody straps) differ across retailers; specific models and generations (for example, AirTags first‑gen vs second‑gen) may not be uniformly discounted.
Bottom line
The Apple Watch Series 11 at $299 during Presidents’ Day presents a clear opportunity for buyers who want Apple’s latest wearable features without paying full price. The discount is especially compelling for shoppers satisfied with the GPS‑only 42mm configuration and the included small/medium band options. If you prioritize health tracking and daily comfort, the Series 11’s battery life and new metrics strengthen the case for purchase at this price.
Shoppers who need different case sizes, cellular connectivity, or specific color/band combinations should compare stock across authorized retailers and consider third‑party alternatives for accessories. Confirm return windows and warranty coverage before buying, since holiday sales can move quickly and availability often varies by region.