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Our top pick
Apple Watch Series 12
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Short answer
Android owners can buy now: the Google Pixel Watch 5 hit the lowest price in its Keepa history around Nov 1, 2026. Wait on the Apple Watch Series 12 and SE 3: both were back at their regular prices on Nov 12, and a real Black Friday deal has to beat their early-October sale. Final verdicts the week of Nov 20.
How we researched this
We did not wear these watches. Models come from our smartwatch guide. How we judge a deal: we compare a listing with its own public Amazon price history, not with the struck-through “list” price. On November 12, 2026, at about 8:40–9:00 AM CT, we read the one-year and 90-day Keepa price-history charts for every pick below that has a locked ASIN (both the Amazon-sold line and the lowest “New” offer). camelcamelcamel, our usual second tracker, was still showing a Cloudflare challenge to our research machine on Nov 12, so we link it but did not read it. We describe where today’s price sits in each product’s own history and when the lower stretches happened. We do not print dollar figures: Amazon prices change hourly, so use the “check current price” buttons. Final deal verdicts land the week of Nov 20. Last updated November 12, 2026.
Deal status: Pre-sale baselines checked Nov 12, 2026, about 8:40–9:00 AM CT. Final verdicts the week of Nov 20.
Quick verdict: which smartwatch deals are worth waiting for?
DudProof Pick
Apple Watch Series 12
A DudProof Pick is the product the evidence says is least likely to be a dud for most people. What our badges mean
These five come from our smartwatch guide. The big finding on Nov 12, 2026: the Google Pixel Watch 5 is already at the lowest price in its Keepa history. It dropped around Nov 1 to about a quarter below the price it launched at, so Android owners do not need to wait. The Apple Watch Series 12 and SE 3 are back at their regular prices after a short sale in early October, which is the bar a Black Friday deal has to beat. The Galaxy Watch9 has barely moved since launch, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 has drifted to its lowest steady Amazon price of the past year.
| Pick | Why testers like it | Price-history read (Nov 12) | Verdict | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42 and 46 mm) | Best for iPhone at Engadget, WIRED and Tom’s Guide | Regular price. Its only real dip so far was Oct 6–9; history starts mid-September. Keepa 42 mm · Keepa 46 mm | Coming week of Nov 20 | Find on Amazon |
| Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40 mm) | CNET’s best value; first watch, kids, older parents | Regular price. Lowest stretch Oct 6–21. Keepa B0HJ9ZNRKT · camelcamelcamel | Coming week of Nov 20 | Buy on Amazon |
| Google Pixel Watch 5 (41 mm, Wi-Fi) | Best Android watch at Engadget and WIRED | Lowest in its history since about Nov 1. Keepa B0H7X25DRT | Coming week of Nov 20 (already low) | Find on Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch9 (40 mm) | WIRED’s pick for Samsung phones | Nearly flat since its late-July launch; only small dips. Keepa B0H1DGNYK2 | Coming week of Nov 20 | Find on Amazon |
| Garmin Forerunner 165 (43 mm) | Engadget’s running pick; any phone | Lowest steady Amazon price of the past year. Keepa B0CT3SGHXL · camelcamelcamel | Coming week of Nov 20 | Find on Amazon |
Secure checkout on Amazon · Prime delivery where available · Free returns on eligible items
The smartwatches worth buying on sale
Apple Watch Series 12
Verdict coming the week of Nov 20. Pre-sale read (Nov 12): Keepa only has about two months of history because the Series 12 launched in September. For the 42 mm GPS model (Keepa B0HJ9YNRW7) and the 46 mm GPS model (Keepa B0HJBCGY95), Amazon has held one price on most days since a small cut a few days after launch. The only real dip came during Amazon’s early-October sale (about Oct 6–9). On Nov 12 both sizes were back at their regular price. A real Black Friday deal has to beat that October dip; anything less is the usual price with a badge on it.
What a real deal looks like: a price at or near the low stretches in this item’s own Keepa/camelcamelcamel history, on the exact model below, sold by Amazon, the brand or an authorized seller. A “% off” badge measured against a list price nobody pays is not a deal.
Why it’s worth watching: It is the watch three testers agree on for iPhone owners: Engadget calls it the best smartwatch overall, WIRED “the best everyday smartwatch for most iPhone users,” and Tom’s Guide “the best Apple Watch on the market for most people.” The trade-off they all flag is a battery rated for about a day.
Model check: Apple sells every case size, case color and band size as a separate listing, and GPS + Cellular models are separate again. Check “Series 12,” the case size (42 or 46 mm), GPS vs. GPS + Cellular, and the band size (S/M or M/L). Our button opens an Amazon search so you can pick the exact version.
Full evidence: best smartwatch.
Apple Watch SE 3
Verdict coming the week of Nov 20. Pre-sale read (Nov 12): Keepa B0HJ9ZNRKT shows the 40 mm GPS SE 3 at its regular price on Nov 12. Its lowest stretch so far ran from about Oct 6 to Oct 21, during and after Amazon’s October sale, and it went back up around Oct 21. If Black Friday only brings it partway down, the October price was better.
What a real deal looks like: a price at or near the low stretches in this item’s own Keepa/camelcamelcamel history, on the exact model below, sold by Amazon, the brand or an authorized seller. A “% off” badge measured against a list price nobody pays is not a deal.
Why it’s worth watching: It covers what most first-time owners, kids and older parents use, including fall detection and Emergency SOS. WIRED notes what it skips: no ECG, blood oxygen or hypertension alerts, and an 18-hour battery.
Model check: Our link goes to the 40 mm GPS listing. The 44 mm and cellular versions are separate listings with their own price histories, so compare like with like.
CNET’s value pick in our guide.
Google Pixel Watch 5
Verdict coming the week of Nov 20. Pre-sale read (Nov 12): Keepa B0H7X25DRT shows the 41 mm Wi-Fi model holding its launch price from late July to early October, dipping in mid-October, and then dropping around Nov 1 to its lowest level so far, about a quarter below launch. On Nov 12 it was still there. This is the one watch on this page that is already at a real low; Black Friday may match it, but you do not need to wait for it.
What a real deal looks like: a price at or near the low stretches in this item’s own Keepa/camelcamelcamel history, on the exact model below, sold by Amazon, the brand or an authorized seller. A “% off” badge measured against a list price nobody pays is not a deal.
Why it’s worth watching: Accurate Fitbit-based tracking, a rated 30 hours of battery on the 41 mm model, and a repairable design, per WIRED. It works with any Android phone; a few features need a Pixel phone.
Model check: Confirm “Pixel Watch 5” (not the 4), the case size (41 or 45 mm) and Wi-Fi vs. LTE. WIRED says many Pixel Watch 5 software upgrades also reached the Pixel Watch 4, so a deeply discounted 4 is also reasonable.
Engadget and WIRED’s Android pick in our guide.
Samsung Galaxy Watch9
Verdict coming the week of Nov 20. Pre-sale read (Nov 12): Keepa B0H1DGNYK2 shows the 40 mm model almost flat since its late-July launch, with only small dips in August, early September and late October. On Nov 12 it was at its usual price. A cut deeper than those small dips would be the first real sale it has had on Amazon.
What a real deal looks like: a price at or near the low stretches in this item’s own Keepa/camelcamelcamel history, on the exact model below, sold by Amazon, the brand or an authorized seller. A “% off” badge measured against a list price nobody pays is not a deal.
Why it’s worth watching: Deep health tracking for people who already own a Samsung Galaxy phone. Some features, like ECG and sleep apnea detection, need a Samsung phone.
Model check: Confirm “Galaxy Watch9,” the size (40 or 44 mm) and Bluetooth vs. LTE. Samsung also sells the Watch8 and Watch Ultra next to it; WIRED lists those as honorable mentions, not picks.
WIRED’s pick for Samsung phone owners in our guide.
Garmin Forerunner 165
Verdict coming the week of Nov 20. Pre-sale read (Nov 12): Keepa B0CT3SGHXL shows Amazon’s price higher from about February to April and again in July and August, then easing down through the fall. On Nov 12 it was at the lowest steady Amazon price of the past year. A few third-party offers dipped much lower for a day or two (in June and October); treat those with caution and check the seller.
What a real deal looks like: a price at or near the low stretches in this item’s own Keepa/camelcamelcamel history, on the exact model below, sold by Amazon, the brand or an authorized seller. A “% off” badge measured against a list price nobody pays is not a deal.
Why it’s worth watching: Accurate GPS, about 11 days of battery in smartwatch mode, and it works with iPhone and Android. Fewer smart features than an Apple or Pixel watch.
Model check: Confirm “Forerunner 165” (the Music version is a separate listing) and the color. Bundles from third-party sellers add chargers or screen protectors; compare them with the plain watch.
Engadget’s running pick in our guide.
Fake smartwatch deals to ignore
- Last year’s Apple Watch near full price. WIRED says not to pay anywhere close to list price for the Series 11 or Ultra 3 now that the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are out.
- A different size or band than you meant. Each Apple and Samsung size and color is its own listing with its own price. A big discount on an odd color or a cellular model is not the same deal on the watch you want.
- “Renewed” or third-party bundles priced like new. CNET points to Apple’s own refurbished store, which it says comes with the same one-year warranty and a 14-day return window. Third-party renewed listings may not.
- Cheap watches that claim to read blood sugar. The FDA says it has not authorized any smartwatch or ring that measures blood glucose without piercing the skin and tells people not to buy them.
How to check any smartwatch deal yourself
- Copy the ASIN of the exact size and connectivity you want and paste it into Keepa or camelcamelcamel.
- For the Series 12, SE 3 and Pixel Watch 5, compare with early October (Amazon’s fall sale), not with the launch price.
- Check the seller and whether it says “new.” Apple, Google, Samsung and Garmin warranties are clearest when Amazon or the brand is the seller.
- Confirm the phone first: Apple Watches need an iPhone, and Pixel and Galaxy watches need Android.
Recalls to know before you buy
We re-checked the CPSC Recalls API on November 12, 2026 (latest release: November 5). None of our five picks has been recalled, and we found no recalls of any Apple, Google, Samsung or Garmin watch. These are the watch-related recalls on record:
| Date | Recall | Hazard | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2022 | Fitbit Ionic smartwatches (about 1 million in the U.S.) | Battery can overheat; burn hazard | CPSC |
| Aug 7, 2025 | Altafit smartwatches, sold by HSN (about 2,900) | Serious burn injury and fire | CPSC |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Belkin portable wireless battery chargers for smartwatches (about 4,000) | Fire | CPSC |
FAQ
Will the Apple Watch Series 12 be cheaper on Black Friday?
We will know the week of Nov 20. On Nov 12, 2026, Keepa showed the Series 12 at its regular Amazon price; its only real dip so far was Amazon’s early-October sale, so a real deal has to beat that.
Is the Pixel Watch 5 on sale now?
Yes. Keepa shows the 41 mm Wi-Fi Pixel Watch 5 dropped around Nov 1 to the lowest price in its history, about a quarter below launch, and it was still there on Nov 12.
Is a Black Friday deal on an Apple Watch Series 11 worth it?
Only if it is well below list. WIRED says not to pay anywhere close to list price for last year’s Series 11 or Ultra 3 now that the Series 12 is out.
What is the best smartwatch to buy on sale?
The Apple Watch Series 12 for iPhone owners and the Google Pixel Watch 5 for Android, per Engadget and WIRED. For runners on any phone, the Garmin Forerunner 165.
Do you print Black Friday prices?
No. Prices change hourly. We describe price history in words and link the live listing.
Did Dudproof test these smartwatches?
No. Picks come from Engadget, WIRED, Tom’s Guide and CNET testing cited in our smartwatch guide, plus CPSC records and Keepa price history.
Related guides
- Best smartwatch
- Best fitness tracker
- Black Friday hub
- Black Friday AirPods and earbud deals
- Gifts for fitness lovers
- Gifts for runners
Sources
- Dudproof smartwatch guide (Engadget, WIRED, Tom’s Guide and CNET cited there)
- Keepa one-year and 90-day Amazon price charts for B0HJ9YNRW7, B0HJBCGY95, B0HJ9ZNRKT, B0H7X25DRT, B0H1DGNYK2 and B0CT3SGHXL, read Nov 12, 2026 (research/run1112b/baselines-20261112.json)
- camelcamelcamel product pages (linked; Cloudflare challenge from our machine Nov 8–12, 2026)
- FDA safety communication on glucose-reading smartwatches, Feb 21, 2024
- CPSC recall notices linked above; CPSC Recalls API, queried Nov 12, 2026
Changelog
Nov 12, 2026: Pre-sale baselines published from Keepa price history. Verdicts due the week of Nov 20.