Today being Black Friday, readers may be hoping to spot a bargain on a new Apple Watch. As you’ll see in our Apple Watch Black Friday deals roundup, there are savings to be had on some of the newer models… but nothing dramatic.
No. If you want to save some serious cash, the strategy in 2023 is to look for bargains on last year’s watches.
We’ve already spotted one excellent deal on the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra: Argos and Amazon both have it for just £599, a stunning £250 off a premium device that is scarcely more than a year old and holds up well in comparison with the minor upgrades of its second-gen sibling. If you want a new Apple Watch, you would do well to grab that offer with both hands.
But today we’ve spotted an even better deal for those who are willing to dabble in the world of refurbished.
Available via eBay, and sold by the reputable MusicMagpie, the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra in “Very Good” condition can currently be had for £519.99. Better still, if you use the code BUYBETTER20 you can get another £75 off, for a final total of £444.99. That’s a whopping £404.01 off the Ultra’s original launch price (£849) from September 2022.
Naturally you will have reservations about buying refurbished, and we would reiterate that Argos and Amazon’s £599 deal is a better choice if you want a watch that looks brand new. But bear in mind that you get a 12-month warranty and that the product has been “fully tested and restored to factory settings by our in-house technicians.” It is also certified to be “in excellent working order.”
As ever, of course, it’s important to carefully interrogate what the condition categories actually mean. In this context, “Very Good” means the product is “in very good cosmetic condition, there will be signs of wear which may include light scratches and/or scuffs but nothing that will impair functionality. Battery health will be a minimum of 80%.” Translation: Don’t expect it to be perfect.
If you have higher expectations, but still don’t want to pay as much as Argos and Amazon are asking, consider instead the same MusicMagpie deal but on an “Excellent” condition model. That’s available for £539.99, and the same BUYBETTER20 code will again knock off £75 for a final total of £464.99.
“Excellent,” according to the seller, means “This product is in excellent cosmetic condition with a minimum battery health of 85%.”
The code expires on November 27, and stock is limited. In other words, if this deal appeals, don’t waste time. Good hunting.
Apple Watch Ultra deals
Author: David Price, Editor
David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.