John Kim/CNET
Is 2018 the year you finally trade in your analog watch for an Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge 3 or Garmin Vivosmart 4? With the Black Friday deals you’re about to be exposed to, it just might be. Wearable devices can be helpful tools to keep you connected while also assisting you to make your fitness goals. Keep checking this page for more Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals over the next few days.
But before you start looking for deals, it’s important to figure out what you need in a wearable or you may end up spending more on features you don’t need. Designated fitness bands such as Fitbit’s Charge 3 and Alta, or Garmin’s Vivofit tend to be cheaper options. You get basic activity tracking, watch features and notifications, but you’re limited by a smaller screen.
Smartwatches such as the Apple Watch, Fitbit Versa or Samsung Gear for example, will still have a lot of the same fitness tracking functionality as the previous trackers, but they have more controls on the screen and can even become a secondary phone. The downside is they do tend to be bulkier and more expensive.
Now that you have a clearer idea of what you want, let’s save you some money.
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Just keep in mind:
- Terms of the deal vary, so where possible we’ve listed when and where to get the sale price from each retailer.
- The deals below are current as of Nov. 19, and we’ll update if we find more, or if they sell out.
- CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.
- We linked to the current listing at the retailer’s website when one was available, but of course sale pricing won’t be available until the sale begins.
With that out of the way, let’s get you started on some bargain hunting.
Fitbit Charge 3, $120 (Save $30)
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Fitbit’s latest tracker is almost a category of its own. It’s not quite a fully fledged smartwatch, but it’s not just a fitness band either. The design is also a nice middle ground between bulky and sleek, and has some tactile functionality on the screen.
Sale pricing starts
Fitbit.com: Online Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22
Shopko: In-store and online Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
Target: In-store and online Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Best Buy: In-store Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
JCPenney: In-store Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
Kohl’s: In-store Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Apple Watch Series 3 GPS, $199 (Save $80)
James Martin/CNET
If you don’t need the EKG feature on this year’s Series 4, the Apple Watch Series 3 may be the perfect fit. It has most of the same features as the newer model, but for a lot less. And it still keeps track of your ticker by alerting you if your heart rate is abnormally high or low. This price is also available at Macy’s.
Sale pricing starts
Macy’s: In-store and online Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Target: In-store and online Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Best Buy ($229): In-store Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Fitbit Versa, $149 (Save $50)
Sarah Tew/CNET
This Fitbit smartwatch has a comfortable, sleek design with a color touchscreen, heart rate sensor and a battery that will last you days at a time. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices, but only Android users will be able to program quick responses to reply to text messages. This deal is also available at Shopko.
Sale pricing starts
Kohl’s: Online Monday, Nov. 19, and in-store on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Shopko: Online Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Meijer: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 6 a.m.
Kohl’s: In-store on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Best Buy: In-store Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Samsung Galaxy Watch, $260 (Save $70)
James Martin/CNET
Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch is a great Android alternative that you can also use phone free. It’s one of the best looking smartwatches of 2018 with rotating bezel that makes it easy to navigate its many features. The watch can track over 35 different activities including sleep, and keeps a close eye on your stress levels.
Sale pricing starts
Samsung: Now
Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, $200 (Save $100)
Sarah Tew/CNET
This well crafted smartwatch has a round design and a rotating bezel that allows you to easily navigate through its many features. It also boasts one of the best Samsung features available: Samsung Pay, which allows you to make payments at just about any credit card terminal.
Sale pricing starts
Samsung: Now
Meijer: Now
Costco: In-store starting on Nov. 23, at 9 a.m.
Gear Sport, $180 ($100 off)
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Gear Sport Watch is fitness-focused and has both GPS and water resistance, but its greatest feature might actually be Spotify.
Sale pricing starts
Samsung: Now
Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
The Gear Fit 2 Pro tracks fitness, heart rate, is swimmable and has built in Spotify.
Sale pricing starts
Samsung: Now
Fitbit Alta HR, $80 (Save $50)
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Fitbit Alta HR is the perfect companion if you’re just getting stated on your fitness journey. It’s the smallest and lightest fitness tracker on our list, with customizable straps that can give it a more stylish look. And it’s still able to fit in a heart rate sensor for improved activity tracking and calorie count.
Sale pricing starts
Kohl’s: Online starting Monday, Nov. 19, and in-store on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Best Buy: In-store on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.
Fred Meyer: TBD
Black Friday 2018 deals in each category
- TV deals for Black Friday 2018: The best and cheapest TVs of the year
- Headphone deals for Black Friday 2018 (early edition)
- Smart home Black Friday 2018 deals: Half-priced Echo Dot, $99 Google Home Hub and more
- Black Friday 2018: The best deals so far
Black Friday 2018 deals by store
- Amazon’s Black Friday 2018: Deals on Kindles, Fire TVs, Alexa speakers and more
- Target’s Black Friday 2018 deals: $200 PS4 and Xbox bundles, $150 Fitbit Versa and more
- Costco Black Friday 2018 deals arrive: $250 iPad, $300 Dyson and more
Black Friday 2018: CNET’s complete coverage
- Black Friday 2018 hub: Every CNET story so far
- When is Black Friday 2018?
- Black Friday 2018: The best deals so far
- 5 things to know about Black Friday 2018
- How to tell if that Black Friday deal is really a deal
- Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: What’s the difference?
- How to save even more on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
