The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) just dropped to its lowest price ever for Black Friday

Apple's popular watch wearables are available in several models, and the Watch SE (2nd Gen) is still the latest base model watch to hit the market. Despite Apple unveiling the new Watch Series 10 in September, the SE did not get an upgrade as originally rumored. And while it's not packed with all the features of the Series 9 or 10, it offers great value for those looking to track basic health and fitness metrics, keep in contact with ease, and benefit from connection to the Apple ecosystem. 

Also: The best Black Friday deals 2024

Apple's Watch Series 9 saw several price drops during the holiday shopping season last year, as did other models like the Ultra, Ultra 2, and Series 8. But right now, even a few days away from Black Friday 2024, you can grab Apple's most up-to-date base model, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), for $80 off its regular price. 

Also: The best Apple Watches we've tested (and where the Series 10 stands)

This price beats out the $170 offer we saw during October Prime Day, and it's even lower than last year's Black Friday offers, which hovered around $179 at major retailers. The Watch SE (2nd Gen) has been available for the last few months for $50-$60 off at most major retailers, and this deal is about $20 less than that price. So if you don't want to wait to see if you can snag the Watch SE for a few dollars less, or you want to get gift shopping done now, this is a great opportunity to save. 

Also: The Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off for the first time ahead of Black Friday

You can also shop this deal and similar Watch SE offers at Best Buy and Amazon. 

If you're not looking for the 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. You'd be surprised how well this model compares to Apple's other contenders.

The SE offers users up to 18 hours of battery life and 32GB of internal storage, and it 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)

During Black Friday sales last year, I upgraded from the Series 3 Apple Watch to the 40mm SE model, and I've 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 it still offers a crisp display, fast response rate, and seamless use. It's perfect for tracking my workouts and walks, and for quickly answering texts, emails, and more. 

Grab the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) now and upgrade your or a loved one's smartwatch setup.