Prime Day is almost here -- again. Amazon's annual sale is now semi-annual, with the next one taking place Oct. 7-8. This one is called Prime Big Deal Days, and it's two days long.
We can expect that Amazon will cut prices on its company-owned brands, like Kindle, Ring, and Alexa devices, during this deals event. But more retailers, including Apple, Samsung, Oura, Google, and Garmin, slash prices on their health trackers to participate. So, what does this mean for you? October Prime Day could be a great time to buy a wishlist item you've been putting off, or get your holiday shopping done early.
Also: The best smartwatches we've tested
I'm rounding up some of the more attractive smartwatch and fitness tracker deals on sale ahead of and during the October Prime Day event. I'm only including products I have tested myself or a ZDNET colleague has tested and recommended. While the product offerings below could compel you to buy a smartwatch now, I'd advise waiting until two weeks from now, when the prices could be further cut.
Best early Prime Day smartwatch and fitness tracker deals
Fitbit Inspire 3 for $80 Save $20 Matthew Miller/ZDNet Current price: $80
Original price: $100 Want a discreet, thin health tracker that nails the basics? The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great health tracker for beginners looking to dip their toes into step-tracking and not break the bank while doing so. It's under $100 right now. Show more View now at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 10 42mm for $349 Save $50 Nina Raemont/ZDNET Current price: $349
Original price: $399 It's a great time to buy a Series 10. That's because many of the updates coming to newer Apple Watch models, including the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 Apple debuted last week, also arrive through software updates available on Series 9 and later. This includes Sleep Scores and Hypertension Detection. Between Series 9 and Series 10, I'd recommend the 10 thanks to its slimmer build that's more comfortable for exercise and sleep. You'll get 18 hours of battery life and fast-charging with the Series 10 watch. But if you want to score even steeper deals on the device, you might want to wait a few more weeks until October Prime Day, when the watch's price could go lower. Show more View now at Amazon
Apple Watch SE for $169 Save $70 Jason Hiner/ZDNET Current price: $179
Original price: $249 The Apple Watch SE is a great smartwatch for first-time buyers and for kids. If you're in the Apple ecosystem and have wanted to try out a smartwatch but don't necessarily want to shell out several hundred dollars, the SE is a great option. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of the Series 10 and Ultra models, it still includes all of the essentials, like the ability to make calls, send texts, and use Siri, as well as health features like heart rate monitoring and Fall and Crash Detection. Show more View now at Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 55 Save $31 Garmin Current price: $169
Original price: $199 In addition to integrated GPS, the Forerunner 55 has integrated wrist-based heart rate monitoring, all-day activity tracking, sleep tracking, daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach training plans, and phone-connected safety features. Also: The best Garmin watches you can buy It also offers PacePro guidance, finish time estimator, cadence alerts, and recovery time, so you can use the watch to help keep you informed about your performance, aid in planning for improvement. Show more View now at Walmart
When is October Prime Day 2025?
Prime Big Deals Day takes place from October 7 through October 8 this year. During the sale, the retailer cuts prices on thousands of products (and many products from brands it owns, like Kindle, Alexa, Ring, and more).
Are smartwatches really cheaper on Prime Day?
You might not see the same substantial deals you'll see on Amazon-owned devices, like Kindle or Alexa devices, on smartwatches. Still, retailers like Apple, Samsung, and Google, just debuted their new lineup of products, and as demand rises for the newer generations of smartwatches, the demand for older generations declines. This is great for budget-conscious consumers not interested in the newest and shiniest devices.
How did we choose these Prime Day deals?
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.