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Black Friday smartwatch deals are close, but most of the big ones are not live yet. So here is the number to beat for six watches and trackers, what phone each one needs, and what the optional subscriptions add over two years. Write these down before Nov. 27, and you will know a real deal when you see one.
The short version
Most Black Friday smartwatch deals have not started yet, so the regular prices below are the ones a deal has to beat. Pick by the phone you own first, then by price.
- Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, and Galaxy Watch9 and Pixel Watch 5 only work with Android phones.
- The regular prices to beat are $399 for Apple Watch Series 12, $249 for Apple Watch SE 3, $379.99 for Galaxy Watch9, $399.99 for Pixel Watch 5, $179.99 for Fitbit Edge and $299.99 for Garmin Forerunner 170.
- The Google Store says its Black Friday sale starts Nov. 19.
- Keeping Google Health Premium after the free three months adds about $210 over two years to a Pixel Watch 5 or Fitbit Edge.
- The downside: none of the six was marked down at Best Buy when we checked on Nov. 14, so there is nothing to grab yet. Check the price on the button against this list before you buy.
In plain terms: a “deal” only counts if it is lower than the regular price. Stores often show a crossed-out price that is higher than what the watch normally sells for. The prices in this guide come from the makers’ sites and store listings, checked on Nov. 14, 2026.
When Black Friday smartwatch deals start
Black Friday is Nov. 27, 2026. The Google Store page for Pixel Watch 5 says its Black Friday sale starts Nov. 19. Best Buy has a Black Friday deals event running through Sunday, Nov. 15, but all six watches here were still at their regular prices, and in stock, when we checked on Saturday morning. One exception: members of Best Buy’s paid Plus and Total plans were shown $50 off Galaxy Watch9 and $100 off Pixel Watch 5. If you already pay for one of those plans, look at those two first.
If you are buying a gift, check return windows before you pay. Our guide to holiday return policies for tech lists the dates for the big stores.
Start with your phone
This is the step most people skip, and it decides half the list for you.
- iPhone: Apple Watch, Fitbit Edge or a Garmin.
- Android: Galaxy Watch9, Pixel Watch 5, Fitbit Edge or a Garmin. Some Galaxy Watch9 health features need a Samsung Galaxy phone.
- Switching phones next year? Fitbit Edge works with both Android and iPhone, so it moves with you.
The six watches and their prices to beat
Apple Watch Series 12: best for most iPhone owners
Price to beat: $399 (GPS, 42mm). Apple says the battery lasts up to 24 hours. It needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. No subscription is required.
The downside: you will charge it every day. Skip if: you use an Android phone.
Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) · paid link
Apple Watch SE 3: best cheaper Apple Watch
Price to beat: $249 (GPS, 40mm). Apple says the battery lasts up to 18 hours. It works with iPhone only and needs no subscription.
The downside: it has no ECG app. Skip if: heart rhythm checks are the reason you want a watch.
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) · paid link
Samsung Galaxy Watch9: best for Galaxy phone owners
Price to beat: $379.99 (40mm, Bluetooth), the starting price on samsung.com. It works with Android phones. Samsung says Heart Health Score needs a Samsung Galaxy phone, and features such as Vitals need Android 13 or later with the Samsung Health app. No subscription is required.
The downside: Samsung lists battery size, not hours, so it is hard to compare battery life with the others. Skip if: you have an iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch9 (40mm, Bluetooth) · paid link
Google Pixel Watch 5: best for Pixel and other Android phones
Price to beat: $399.99 (41mm, Wi-Fi). Google says the battery lasts up to 30 hours on the 41mm model with the always-on display. It needs Android 12 or later. It comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
The downside: Premium costs $9.99 a month after the free months if you keep it. Skip if: you have an iPhone.
Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Wi-Fi) · paid link
Google Fitbit Edge: best tracker for any phone
Price to beat: $179.99. Google says the battery lasts up to 7 days. It works with Android 11 or later and iOS 16.4 or later. Some features need Google Health Premium, and you get three months free.
The downside: the subscription can cost more than the tracker over two years. Skip if: you want apps and calls on your wrist.
Google Fitbit Edge · paid link
Garmin Forerunner 170: best for new runners
Price to beat: $299.99 (43mm, without music). Garmin says the battery lasts up to 10 days in smartwatch mode. The version with music storage costs $349.99. Garmin Connect+ is optional and costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year after a 30-day trial.
The downside: it is built for training, so it has fewer everyday smartwatch apps than an Apple or Galaxy watch. Skip if: you mostly want notifications and payments.
Garmin Forerunner 170 (43mm) · paid link
What a smartwatch really costs over two years
We added the regular price to the cost of keeping the optional subscription for two years, after any free months. You do not have to subscribe to use any of these watches.
| Watch | Regular price | Subscription for 2 years | Two-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399 | None needed | $399 |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | $249 | None needed | $249 |
| Galaxy Watch9 | $379.99 | None needed | $379.99 |
| Pixel Watch 5 | $399.99 | $209.79 (21 months of Premium) | $609.78 |
| Fitbit Edge | $179.99 | $209.79 (21 months of Premium) | $389.78 |
| Garmin Forerunner 170 | $299.99 | $139.98 (two years of Connect+) | $439.97 |
Prices checked Nov. 14, 2026, on the makers’ sites and Best Buy’s listings. A subscription price can change, so check it again when you sign up.
How we picked
We have not tested these watches ourselves. We picked them from the current models on each maker’s site, their spec pages and their price lists, and sorted them by the phone you own. For more choices, see the best smartwatches of 2026 and our live list of Black Friday tech deals.
As deals go live, the rule is simple: if the price is not below the number in this guide, it is not a deal. Which watch is on your list this year?
