Apple Watch Ultra 3 and SE 3 see early Black Friday discounts

Retailers have begun rolling out early Black Friday discounts on Apple’s latest smartwatches, cutting prices on the high-end Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the budget-oriented Apple Watch SE 3 and prompting some buyers to reconsider higher-priced models. The promotions, which have appeared on major online stores this week, include $100 off select Apple Watch Ultra 3 configurations and discounts of up to 50 percent on Apple Watch SE 3 models.

Among the Ultra 3 markdowns, several titanium-cased configurations are discounted to $699.99, including versions with a black ocean band and an anchor blue ocean band. A higher-end black titanium case paired with a Milanese loop is marked down to $799.99. The Ultra 3, introduced in September, offers a larger screen than previous Ultra models, emergency SOS via satellite and a battery life Apple advertises at up to 42 hours. Early reviews have highlighted its rugged design and suitability for users who need durable hardware and extended battery life.

The SE 3 is seeing deeper cuts. The 40 mm GPS model has been reduced to about $199.99 and the 44 mm GPS to roughly $229.99, from manufacturer list prices of $249 and $279 respectively. Retailers are...