Looking to buy a new smartwatch? You can’t go wrong with a new Apple Watch, one of your best options any price point. There are often steep discounts on the feature-rich devices, but right now’s a great time to invest in Apple‘s popular wearable, with Presidents’ Day deals already starting. Some models have reached their lowest all-time prices since the 2023 holiday season.
From the souped-up Apple Watch Ultra 2 to the budget-priced Apple Watch SE, we have savings to share.
One thing to keep in mind: Stock may be low on certain models of the Apple Watch, including the newly re-released Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, both of which are now available without their blood oxygen sensors active, thanks to a patent dispute with tech company Masimo. There may still be older models with the tech in stock, but you may find yourself paying higher prices for those coveted models instead of their replacements.
The 5 best Apple Watch deals in 2024
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): $199 (20% off)
Amazon
The new Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen makes an ideal entry-level smartwatch with key safety features for users of all ages.
It packs the powerful S8 chip of the Series 8 into a lightweight, affordable aluminum frame. This means you still get top-tier performance at a fraction of the price.
The SE retains must-have Apple Watch capabilities like fall detection, Emergency SOS, activity tracking and more. You’re covered for health monitoring, notifications, communication and basic app needs.
While it lacks some flagship model perks, the SE 2nd Gen nails the basics for an excellent starter smartwatch. And current sale pricing makes it even easier to bring home comprehensive Apple wearable safety and utility at a solid value.
Case in point: you can get the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) starting at $199 for the 40mm model at Amazon right now. That’s 20% off its normal price.
Apple Watch Series 7 (refurbished): $230 (49% off)
Amazon
While the newest Series 8 and 9 models grab headlines, the Apple Watch Series 7 remains an excellent option if you’re looking for a balance of utility and value.
This previous generation wearable still has the core Apple Watch experience, so you have a good idea of what to expect when you use it daily. In addition to its standard suite of phone features, it also comes with health sensors like ECG, SpO2, fall detection and more.
Of course, it still has fitness tracking and motivation features too, as well as activity goals, challenges with friends, and in-depth metrics to help you get in better shape or maintain the one that you have.
If a refurbished model isn’t something that scares you away from buying, you can get one right now for $230 at Best Buy. That’s 49% off its usual price, and a great discount, if you don’t want to move up to the Series 8 or the Series 9 just yet.
Apple Watch Series 8: $319 (30% off)
Apple
While slightly overshadowed by the newest Series 9, the previous generation Apple Watch Series 8 is still a stellar smartwatch option at a more affordable price point.
It packs the core capabilities diehard Apple Watch fans expect into a slim, ergonomic design. For regular use every day, the Series 8 performs great without the premium price tag. If you’re satisfied with what it offers, there’s no real reason to have to update to the Series 9.
Must-have health sensors like optical HR, ECG, SpO2 and body temperature options are on board, in addition to fitness and sleep tracking. There are must-have safety features like car crash detection as well that can immediately contact emergency services.
For a feature-packed, cheaper Apple Watch alternative, the Series 8 hits the sweet spot. It brings plenty of monitoring functions, safety innovations and slick styling in a more affordable package that you can still get right now if you check certain retailers like Walmart and Best Buy.
Right now, you can get a new model from Walmart for just $319, which is $110 off its normal price of $429 and a 30% discount.
Apple Watch Series 9: $359 (16% off)
Amazon
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the most recent of Apple’s smartwatch lineup, outside of the rugged Ultra 2 model. It’s packed with advanced capabilities that take the standard Apple Watch experience to new heights.
This wearable is designed to support virtually every activity and need. Health insights like ECG, SpO2 monitoring and menstrual cycle tracking join must-have basics like fitness metrics and crash detection.
New intuitive features such as double tap, which controls calls and music with two fingers, demonstrate Apple’s relentless innovation. And the svelte, iconic styling looks as stellar on the wrist as it functions.
Seamlessly pairing with your iPhone, the Series 9 enables calling, messaging, app access and more on the go. For those seeking the ultimate Apple Watch, the Series 9 leaves no feature stone unturned. With cutting-edge tech and design, it represents the pinnacle of Apple’s world-leading smartwatch ecosystem.
Right now, you can get the Series 9 for $359 at Amazon, which is 16% off its normal price of $429.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: $749 (6% off)
Apple
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a fantastic heavy-duty smartwatch compared to the standard Series 9 model, and the newest, most expensive option on the roster. Encased in rugged titanium, it boasts up to 36 hours of battery life, extendable to 72 hours in low power mode — far outlasting other Apple Watches.
The always-on display gets ultra-bright with night mode for easy visibility in dim conditions. Note the massive screen, which may not suit smaller wrists.
Beyond the expected GPS and dual speakers, the Ultra 2 adds an action button, side button and triple mic array. Most critically, it packs an 86dB siren audible from 600 feet away – a potential lifesaver in emergencies during remote hikes or outdoor adventures.
If you frequently head out on lengthy wilderness trips or extreme expeditions, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers vital battery life, durability, and safety features well worth the investment. Bottom line, if you need more than an everyday smartwatch, the Ultra 2 delivers.
You can get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 currently at Amazon for $50 off its normal price of $799 at $749, but there are limited models currently in stock. There is no indication that these models include the pulse oximeter, however, so keep that in mind when buying. If you must have this feature, you’ll want to make sure you purchase from a seller who can confirm what you’re getting.
How do I know if I’m buying an Apple Watch with the blood oxygen feature?
The only way to tell if you have a pre-ban Apple Watch is to look at the packaging or menus for part numbers ending in LL/A. You’ll have no way of knowing which one you get buy purchasing online, so keep that in mind unless the retailer has explicitly listed which one you’re buying.
Some retailers, like Best Buy, do indicate whether the models have the blood oxygen feature. Your best bet to find an Apple Watch that definitely has a pulse oximeter for blood oxygen monitoring is to look for models in person or through specialized listings at third-party sellers to confirm.
What’s the best Apple Watch for me?
You can check our comprehensive guide to choosing an Apple Watch! Or just check out our rundown of some of the basics below.
Size: Apple Watches typically come in two sizes. The right size for you can depend on your wrist size and your preference for screen size. Larger screens give you better visibility and touch targets, but can feel bulkier on smaller wrists, so this is going to have to come down to personal preference.
Features: If you’re into fitness, look for models with advanced health and fitness tracking. If you need it for connectivity and productivity, check for features like LTE/cellular options.
Battery Life: Different models and usage patterns affect battery life. If you’re a heavy user or plan to use features like GPS and LTE frequently, you might want a model with a longer battery life.
Compatibility: Make sure your Apple Watch is compatible with your iPhone. Newer Apple Watches will need newer phones, and if you haven’t upgraded, this might be a problem.
Health features: If health monitoring is a priority (like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring), look for models that include these sensors and keep in mind which features are no longer available on certain models.
Future-proofing: Buying the latest model can usually guarantee longer software support and access to new features released in future updates. As long as you stay current, you’ll get all of Apple’s newest updates.
Brittany Vincent has been covering gaming, tech, and all things entertainment for 16 years for a variety of online and print publications. She’s been covering the commerce space for nearly a decade. Follow her on Twitter at @MolotovCupcake.
A Russian court on Monday convicted a theater director and a playwright of terrorism charges and sentenced them to six years each in prison, the latest in an unrelenting crackdown on dissent across the country that has reached new heights since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
Zhenya Berkovich, a prominent independent theater director, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk have already been in jail for over a year awaiting trial.
Authorities claimed their play “Finist, the Brave Falcon” justifies terrorism, which is a criminal offense in Russia punishable by up to seven years in prison. Berkovich and Petriychuk have both repeatedly rejected the accusations against them.
In one hearing, Berkovich told the court that she staged the play in order to prevent terrorism, and Petriychuk echoed her sentiment, saying that she wrote it in order to prevent events like those depicted in the play.
The women’s lawyers pointed out at court hearings before the trial that the play was supported by the Russian Culture Ministry and won the Golden Mask award, Russia’s most prestigious national theater award. In 2019, the play was read to inmates of a women’s prison in Siberia, and Russia’s state penitentiary service praised it on its website, Petriychuk’s lawyer said.
Theater director Zhenya Berkovich, right, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk are seen in a glass cage prior to a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, on July 8, 2024.
Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP
The case against Berkovich and Petriychuk elicited outrage in Russia. An open letter in support of the two artists, started by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, was signed by more than 16,000 people since their arrest.
The play, the letter argued, “carries an absolutely clear anti-terrorist sentiment.”
Dozens of Russian actors, directors and journalists also signed affidavits urging the court to release the two from custody pending investigation and trial.
Immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin unleashed a sweeping campaign of repression, unparalleled since the Soviet era. It has effectively criminalized any criticism of the war, with the authorities targeting not only prominent opposition figures who eventually received draconian prison terms, but anyone who spoke out against it, publicly or otherwise.
Pressure mounted on critical artists in Russia, too. Actors and directors were fired from state-run theaters, and musicians were blacklisted from performing in the country. Some were slapped with the label “foreign agent,” which carries additional government scrutiny and strong negative connotations. Many have left Russia.
Berkovich, who is raising two adopted daughters, refused to leave Russia and continued working with her independent theater production in Moscow, called Soso’s Daughters. Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, she staged an anti-war picket and was jailed for 11 days.
Five congressional Democrats have publicly called for President Biden to step down from the 2024 race, and there are reports that other senior legislators may have expressed similar concerns during a call with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports from Capitol Hill.
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Americans are increasingly skeptical about the value and cost of college, with most saying they feel the U.S. higher education system is headed in the “wrong direction,” according to a new poll.
Overall, only 36% of adults say they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education, according to the report released Monday by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. That confidence level has declined steadily from 57% in 2015.
Some of the same opinions have been reflected in declining enrollment as colleges contend with the effects of the student debt crisis, concerns about the high cost of tuition and political debates over how they teach about race and other topics.
Whether a college educations is required to achieve professional success is also up for debate, as only about 1 in 4 Americans say a bachelor’s degree is necessary to secure a well-paying job, according to a March survey from the Pew Research Center.
Employment opportunities and earnings for young men without college degrees have improved in the last decade, reversing some of the economic damage that eroded the group’s fortunes starting in the 1970s. Young men with only a high school degree have seen a slight rebound in their earnings since 2014, Pew found.
The median annual income for men 25- to 34-years-old without a college degree was $45,000 in 2023, a 15% increase from $39,300 in 2014 when adjusted for inflation, according to Pew’s analysis of Census data.
Dimming belief in college
But the dimming view of whether college is worth the time and money extends across all demographics, including gender, age and political affiliation. Among Republicans, the number of respondents with high confidence in higher education has dropped 36 percentage points over the last decade — far more than it dropped for Democrats or independents.
“It’s so expensive, and I don’t think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job,” said Randy Hill, 59, a registered Republican in Connecticut and a driver for a car service. His nephew plans to do a welding apprenticeship after graduating high school. “You graduate out of college, you’re up to eyeballs in debt, you can’t get a job, then you can’t pay it off. What’s the point?”
The Gallup-Lumina survey’s overall finding — that 36% of adults have strong confidence in higher education — is unchanged from the year before. But what concerns researchers is shifting opinion on the bottom end, with fewer Americans saying they have “some” confidence and more reporting “very little” and “none.” This year’s findings show almost as many people have little or no confidence, 32%, as those with high confidence.
Tuition too high
“The No. 1 deterrent for a student not to pursue a college degree is affordability — they simply think they can’t afford the cost of a higher education,” Michael Itzkowitz, founder of HEA Group, a research and consulting firm focused on college, told CBS MoneyWatch in May.
The schools with the best return on investment for low- and middle-income students include many of California’s state colleges, which tend to be lower-priced than nonprofit private universities, he noted.
Experts say that fewer college graduates could worsen labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology. For those who forgo college, it often means lower lifetime earnings — 75% less compared with those who get bachelor’s degrees, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. And during an economic downturn, those without degrees are more likely to lose jobs.
“It is sad to see that confidence hasn’t grown at all,” said Courtney Brown, vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit focused on increasing the numbers of students who seek education beyond high school. “What’s shocking to me is that the people who have low or no confidence is actually increasing.”
This year’s survey added new, detailed questions in an effort to understand why confidence is shrinking.
Almost one-third of respondents say college is “too expensive,” while 24% feel students are not being properly educated or taught what they need to succeed.
The survey did not specifically touch on the protests this year against the war in Gaza that divided many college campuses, but political views weighed heavily on the findings. Respondents voiced concerns about indoctrination, political bias and that colleges today are too liberal. Among the respondents who lack confidence, 41% cite political agendas as a reason.
Generally when people express confidence in higher education, they are thinking of four-year institutions, according to Gallup. But the survey found that more people have confidence in two-year institutions. Forty-nine percent of adults say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in two-year programs, compared with 33% of Americans who feel that way about four-year colleges.
California college student Kristen Freeman understands why.
“It’s about saving money. That’s why I went to a two-year. It’s more bang for your buck,” said Freeman, 22, a sociology major at Diablo Valley Community College with plans to transfer to San Jose State University for the final two years of college.
Freeman understands the concerns about indoctrination and whether college prepares students for life and work but also feels the only way to change structural problems is from the inside. “I am learning about the world around me and developing useful skills in critical thinking,” Freeman said. “I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system.”
