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Target has the OG Apple Watch SE on sale at historically low prices, but not for long

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Jan 21, 2025, 5:44 AM

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Finding a truly affordable smartwatch that can work flawlessly in conjunction with your new or old iPhone is not an easy task nowadays, especially if you've missed the recently concluded holiday shopping season and are opposed to buying refurbished or pre-owned gadgets on principle.

But while the 2022 release of the second-gen Apple Watch SE technically led to the immediate (official) discontinuation of Cupertino's first-ever low-cost timepiece, the 2020 device is still available at a couple of major US retailers. And now one of them is selling the original Apple Watch SE at truly unbeatable prices in both 40 and 44mm case sizes.

$140

$279 ⁹⁹

$140 off (50%)

GPS, Bluetooth, Apple S5 Processor, Heart Rate Monitor, Swimproof Design, Retina LTPO OLED Display, Built-in Compass, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, Sleep Tracking, Silver Aluminum Case, Abyss Blue Sport Band

Buy at Target

$155

$309 ⁹⁹

$155 off (50%)

GPS, Bluetooth, Apple S5 Processor, Heart Rate Monitor, Swimproof Design, Retina LTPO OLED Display, Built-in Compass, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, Sleep Tracking, Aluminum Case, Sport Band, Two Color Options

Buy at Target

$50 off (20%)

40mm, GPS Only, Apple S8 Processor, Retina LTPO OLED Display with 1000 Nits of Brightness, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Compass, Always-on Altimeter, Built-in Speaker, Third-generation Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Aluminum Case, Multiple Colors and Band Options

Buy at Amazon

The smaller model can only be had in exchange for $140 with a silver case and "abyss blue" sport band, while folks with larger wrists are able to choose between that same color combination and a space gray/midnight flavor at $155 a pop. Naturally, none of these units comes with standalone cellular connectivity, but that doesn't make Target's latest promotion any less attractive for iPhone-owning bargain hunters right now.

That's because, despite its super-advanced age, the Apple Watch SE (1st Gen) offers plenty of bang for your buck... at these new record low prices. We're talking reasonably large and undeniably high-quality Retina OLED displays, top-notch water resistance, solid overall build quality, super-accurate heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, fall detection, Emergency SOS functionality, and... decent overall performance with an Apple S5 processor under the hood.

Can you do better than all that at a comparable price today? It obviously depends on what you consider "comparable", with the newer and vastly improved Apple Watch SE 2 currently going for 50 bucks under its $249 list price on Amazon in an entry-level GPS-only variant with a 40mm case. Not easy to decide if you should settle for the older and cheaper edition or drop an extra $60 on the second generation, eh?

Well, you will need to make a decision soon, as Target is likely to follow Amazon and Best Buy's suit and run out of inventory (for good) before long as well.

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.