When to buy a smartwatch for less: 2026 launches and best months

The best time to buy a smartwatch for less is usually in the weeks after a new generation launches, when retailers clear out the old one, and during Black Friday (Friday 27 November 2026). In 2026, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch9 in July, Google the Pixel Watch 5 in August and Apple the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 in September. So right now is when previous models start to look interesting at retailers.

Here's the launch calendar, the months to target by brand, and the checks to run before you fall for a "deal". Dates and rules below are for shoppers in France and Europe.

When do new smartwatches come out?

The big brands unveil their watches alongside their phones. Here are the 2026 announcements, based on official communications:

Brand	Models announced in 2026	Announcement
Samsung	Galaxy Watch9, Galaxy Watch Ultra2	22 July 2026 (Galaxy Unpacked, London)
Google	Pixel Watch 5	12 August 2026 (Made by Google)
Apple	Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4	9 September 2026, availability announced from 18 September

These events come around at similar times each year (summer for Samsung, late summer for Google, September for Apple), but exact dates change, so wait for the official announcement before planning around a specific day. Sports and outdoor specialists such as Garmin refresh their ranges more gradually through the year, with no single launch event.

Best month to buy a smartwatch

These pointers combine launch timing with the big sales events. They're patterns, not promises: a retailer can cut a price at any time.

Period	Rating	Why
January – February	Average	French winter sales (6 January to 2 February 2027, except a few départements); occasional deals, mostly on older models.
March – May	Average	Quiet period; some sports or entry-level models may be refreshed depending on the brand.
June	Avoid (Samsung)	The current Galaxy Watch is close to being replaced.
July – August	Good (Samsung, Google) / avoid (Apple)	New Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch: previous models often drop. For an Apple Watch, wait for September.
September – October	Good	New Apple Watch models: older generations are cleared at retailers. A good time to note prices.
November	Good	Black Friday (27 November) and Cyber Monday (30 November): lots of wearable deals, to check one by one.
December	Average	Strong gift demand; some offers, but less room to wait.

Apple Watch: Series 12 or an older model?

Since the 9 September 2026 keynote, the line-up on Apple's French store includes the Apple Watch Series 12, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and the Apple Watch SE 3. Previous generations (Series 11, Ultra 3) are no longer listed there: remaining units are sold by retailers, which is often where price gaps appear.

When to go for the new model

A brand-new Apple Watch is rarely discounted in its first weeks. If you've set your heart on the Series 12 or Ultra 4, note their prices at a few retailers now and aim for Black Friday or the following months instead.

When the older generation makes more sense

For activity tracking, notifications and contactless payments, a previous generation is often more than enough. Compare the sensors and health features you care about, battery life and how long the model will keep getting updates. And remember an Apple Watch works with an iPhone: if you're changing phones too, read when to buy an iPhone first.

Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, Garmin: Android and sports cycles

Samsung Galaxy Watch

New models are unveiled in summer, alongside the foldable phones. After that launch, and again on Black Friday, the previous generation often becomes more affordable. Some features are reserved for Samsung phones, so check compatibility with yours.

Google Pixel Watch

It's unveiled with the Pixel phones in late summer and works with Android phones. Same logic: take a close look at the older model once the new one is announced. For the phone to go with it, see when to buy a smartphone.

Sports and outdoor watches

With no big annual event, the calendar matters less. A given model's price can, however, vary a lot between retailers and from week to week, which makes it exactly the kind of product where you track the price rather than the date, for example by adding it to UniverTrack with a target price.

Black Friday, Prime Day, sales: which deals to watch?

Smartwatches feature heavily in the big shopping events: Black Friday, Prime Day, seasonal sales and the French Days. But a percentage badge says nothing about the quality of the offer. The crossed-out price may be a recommended retail price nobody charges, or one raised a few weeks earlier.

Under EU rules applied in France since 28 May 2022, the reference price in a discount must be the lowest price the seller charged in the previous 30 days (article L112-1-1 of the French Consumer Code). It curbs abuse without guaranteeing a bargain: a price raised more than 30 days before the event can still be shown as "reduced". See how to spot a fake discount and our Black Friday 2026 guide.

What matters more than the discount

A heavily discounted watch that doesn't suit you is still a bad buy. Pin down your model before comparing prices:

• Compatibility: an Apple Watch works with an iPhone; recent Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch models are designed for Android phones.
• Battery life: from daily charging to several days, or more on some sports watches. Pick based on how often you're happy to charge.
• Case size: it affects comfort, screen size and sometimes price. Try it on if you can.
• GPS or cellular: the cellular version costs more upfront and usually needs an add-on from a compatible carrier.
• Health and sports features: don't pay for sensors you won't use.
• Bands and accessories: include them in your total budget.

Buying earbuds at the same time? See when to buy headphones or earbuds.

Put it into practice: pay the right price for your watch

Watching a smartwatch's price by hand means going back to several product pages every day, missing drops that last a few hours and judging "deals" with nothing to compare against. UniverTrack does the tracking for you:

1. Paste the watch's link (Amazon, Cdiscount or another retailer's product page, on a best-effort basis). The price is checked automatically and a dated history builds up; on Amazon, past price history can be shown too.
2. Set your target price, the one that would make you buy without hesitating.
3. Get an email alert when it's reached, then buy. See how to set a price drop alert.

For a single watch, the Découverte plan is enough. If you're eyeing several gadgets over Black Friday and want to filter out fake discounts, Malin adds fake-discount detection. If you track the same watch at several retailers, Pro groups them on one product page with the best offer. All plans are on the pricing page, each with a 14-day free trial and no commitment.