Apple Watch Series 11 Drops to $299 After $100 Cut as Pixel Watch 5 Launches

Q: With older models getting the exact same health features via watchOS 26, is the Series 11 deal actually a clever trap for buyers?

Not necessarily—but for many buyers, it is only a good deal in very specific cases. The catch is real: watchOS 26 brought two headline health features often used to market the Series 11—hypertension notifications and Sleep Score—to older supported models, including the Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2. That means the $299 sale price does not buy much exclusivity on the software side. Reviews broadly describe the Series 11 as a modest refresh, not a major leap. What the Series 11 still adds is hardware value. Compared with the Series 10, the meaningful upgrades are better battery life, more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass on aluminum versions, and 5G support on GPS + Cellular models. For buyers coming from a Series 8 or older, those changes, plus the larger newer display design, make the discounted Series 11 a sensible purchase. For Series 9 or Series 10 owners, the upgrade case is weak. The bigger trap may be pricing. At $299, this deal is solid but not extraordinary: it is above the record low of $279, and refurbished alternatives can undercut it. Apple’s own refurbished store and third-party sellers sometimes offer Series 10, Series 11 or even cheaper SE models at more aggressive prices, depending on features you need. So the answer depends on what you already own. If you have no recent Apple Watch, $299 is a fair buy. If you already have a Series 9 or 10, the sale risks looking like smart marketing around features your current watch may already get.

3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 13

$299 gets buyers the Apple Watch Series 11 on Amazon, down $100 from its $399 starting price and just $20 above its record low.
The discount follows the Pixel Watch 5 launch and applies to two colorways: Jet Black with a black band and Rose Aluminum with a light blush band.
Series 11’s pitch centers on health and safety features including ECG, chronic hypertension alerts, sleep scoring, fall detection and car-crash detection.
Amazon is also leaning on battery convenience—up to 24 hours per charge, plus 15 minutes of charging for as much as 8 extra hours—as the limited-time deal aims to spur quick purchases.