The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is $199 following New Year’s Day.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Apple’s popular watch wearables made headlines quite a bit as 2023 came to a close, and despite already saying goodbye to last year, the savings on Apple’s tried-and-true watches we saw over the last few months are coming with us into 2024.
More: Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 sales resume as court pauses ban
Apple’s Watch Series 9 saw several price drops during the holiday shopping season, as did other models like the Ultra, Ultra 2, and Series 8. And right now, you can grab Apple’s most up-to-date base model, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), for $50 off its regular price following New Year’s Day.
The Apple Watch SE dropped to $199 at several major retailers like Best Buy — offering shoppers a savings of $50 off the wearable’s regular price of $249, and for only $20 more than the discounted price we saw offered by many retailers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Also: The best Cyber Monday deals still available now
If you’re looking to score those savings at Amazon or Walmart, you can, too.
Even the larger 44mm model is also $50 off at several retailers if you prefer an amped up display size.
If you’re not looking for advanced features offered in the newer Series 8, 9, or Ultra and Ultra 2 models, the watch SE is a great buy with all the essentials, and you’d be surprised how well this model stack up to Apple’s other contenders.
The SE offers users up to 18 hours of battery life and 32GB of internal storage.
The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) does offer some of the same health and safety features as the Series 8 and the Ultra, though it doesn’t track blood oxygen, do ECG heart checks, or check your temperature.
Also: Apple Watch SE (2023) vs. Apple Watch SE (2020)
ZDNET Editor in Chief Jason Hiner noted that the SE (2nd Gen) makes a great smartwatch to give to someone who doesn’t have an iPhone, such as a child or an elderly family member, using Apple’s Family Setup.
“If you are new to Apple Watch, giving it a try for the first time, and not sure you need all the latest health sensors, then the Apple Watch SE is a great place to get started,” Hiner says.
I upgraded from the Series 3 Apple Watch to the 40mm SE model during Cyber Week 2023, and I have never been happier with a tech purchase. The SE has all the necessary features without the complicated bells and whistles I didn’t want (or need) — yet still offers a crisp display, fast response rate, and seamless use. I loved my SE upgrade so much, I bought my mom her own SE for Christmas, proving that this watch is great for kids, adults, or senior citizens alike.
Grab the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) now before it returns to its regular price.