If you want an Apple Watch, buy it refurbished from Apple — it’s as good as new and costs less

Should you buy a refurbished Apple Watch from Apple’s refurbished store?

Buying a refurbished Apple Watch from Apple’s refurbished store can be an excellent way to spend a little less on the highly coveted smartwatches without any real compromise. The best refurbished deals are usually with more recent models, especially the latest Apple Watch 6. 

The discounts aren’t staggering — we saved $60 and are still paying $369 — but a discount is a discount, and keeping $60 in your account when you don’t have to spend it is a win in our book. 

Not every model you see in the Apple refurbished store is worth buying. We’re not recommending the Series 3 anymore, as software updates are becoming increasingly harder to install due to the watch’s small on-board storage. Otherwise, the Series 4 and Series 5 still offer a comparable core experience to the Series 6, and are cheaper. 

Available stock is also an issue, and the Apple Watch you want might not be in stock. And if it does become available again, stock can quickly disappear. You have to check frequently or watch out for headlines that tell you when the model you’re looking for is back in stock.

It’s also worth checking whether other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are hosting deals for new Apple Watches. Sometimes, you can find a new Apple Watch for less than the price of a refurbished one.

And finally, it’s worth noting that Apple is expected to announce a new Apple Watch in the fall, likely in September when the company usually announces new iPhones. If you can wait until then, it can be worth checking out what upgrades are coming to the Apple Watch “Series 7.” 

After the new Apple Watch is announced, we might also see a restocking and new cheaper prices for the refurbished Series 4, 5, and 6. Apple may also ditch the Series 3 from its main lineup, and replace it with something else for a good price. We’re not sure what yet.