Don't want to pay for a 45mm Series 9 that's down a blood oxygen sensor? You can grab the 45mm Series 8 instead for its record-low price of $229.
Save $200: As of Feb. 26, the 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 is just $229 at Walmart. That saves you 46% on the $429 smartwatch, and marks a record low price for this configuration.
The Apple Watch Series 9 may be $70 off, but if you're looking for the real savings (and rarer deal), looking one generation back is your best bet.
Walmart proves it, offering the 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 with GPS for just $229 as of Feb. 26. At $229, this watch is $200 off, and at a low price we formerly only saw on the 41mm Series 8 last year when it was $170 off. You'll want to act quick though — this deal has already sold out in multiple colorways, and at the time of writing, only the silver watch is in stock.
With opting for a gen back, you are going to make some concessions. The Series 8 doesn't come equipped with an S9 processor, which means that you won't get Double Tap capabilities that were a focal point of the Series 9's release. Your watch won't be quite as bright either, and a little slower than the newer watch — but on that latter point, you're not likely to notice too much of a difference.
Due to a patent dispute, the Series 9 also no longer comes equipped with a blood oxygen feature, so it might be even more worth it for you to go with a cheaper model while the latest Apple smartwatch is down a feature. Between the 45mm Series 9 and 45mm Series 8 sale prices, there's a $130 difference, so the savings are significant. Even between the 41mm Series 9 on sale and this Series 8, you'll be saving $100 by going for the older model.
As a quick refresher, here's what you do get with the Series 8: the same 18 hours of battery life as the Series 9, the same crash detection and the same temperature sensor, accelerometer, GPS, and heart rate monitor. Again, you mainly lose out on Double Tap and a brighter screen, but if you're willing to make those sacrifices and have been in the market for a more affordable Apple Watch, we recommend grabbing this one while it's still in stock.
