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Apple Watch Series 2 Aluminum Models Drop to $230 in 38mm and $260 in 42mm

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Following the launch of the Apple Watch Series 3 last month, the previous generation of Apple's wearable device -- Series 2 -- has seen a steady stream of sales hit both aluminum and stainless steel editions, with the best discounts arriving for the aluminum models. The first discounts (from B&H Photo) marked 38mm devices down to $290 and 42mm devices down to about $320, while the second wave (from Best Buy) brought those numbers down by $20, to about $270 and $300, respectively.

Today, Best Buy has dropped the price of aluminum versions of the Apple Watch Series 2 down by another $40, resulting in 38mm models priced at just $230 and 42mm models at $260. Cases in the sale include Space Gray, Gold, and Silver, and collections are only focused on Sport Bands, although there are a few Nike+ editions. We've listed a few of the models below, compared to their previous sale prices at Best Buy. For the full list visit Best Buy's deals page right here.

Apple Watch Series 2
best-buy-apple-watch-late-october-sale.jpg

[*]38mm Space Gray Aluminum Case Black Sport Band - $229, compared to $269
[*]42mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - $259, compared to $299
[*]38mm Gold Aluminum Case Midnight Blue Sport Band - $229, compared to $269
[*]42mm Gold Aluminum Case Midnight Blue Sport Band - $259, compared to $299
[*]Nike+ 38mm Silver Aluminum Case Pure Platinum/White Nike Sport Band - $229, compared to $269
[*]Nike+ 42mm Silver Aluminum Case Pure Platinum/White Nike Sport Band - $259, compared to $299
As a point of comparison, current prices of aluminum Series 3 models stand at $329 for 38mm and $359 for 42mm without LTE.

Best Buy's new sale isn't just focused on Apple Watch, however, and includes deals on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPad Pro, and select Beats products. The retailer also has a special offer running right now for anyone interested in both the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Apple Pencil accessory. If you buy both items simultaneously, you'll save $100 on the order, essentially making the Apple Pencil free.

For more details on Best Buy's new sale -- and other ongoing discounts -- head over to our Deals Roundup.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 2 Aluminum Models Drop to $230 in 38mm and $260 in 42mm
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/25/apple-watch-series-2-drop/
If you didn't want to go for the full Series 3 price but wanted the watch...this is the watch / price to get.
 
Original Apple Watch stainless steel still works well enough. The improved speed and waterproofing of the 2 and 3 would be nice, but not worth upgrading. I don’t use enough features from the watch beyond activity, time and wrist based notifications. It is possible with a faster watch I may use more apps due to the speed but I haven’t been convinced yet to upgrade, and LTE certainly isn’t a reason to.
 
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roland.g said:
Original Apple Watch stainless steel still works well enough. The improved speed and waterproofing of the 2 and 3 would be nice, but not worth upgrading. I don’t use enough features from the watch beyond activity, time and wrist based notifications. It is possible with a faster watch I may use more apps due to the speed but I haven’t been convinced yet to upgrade, and LTE certainly isn’t a reason to.
Click to expand...

Having had both the original and a series 2 I'd suggest that the battery life alone is worth the upgrade
 
Series 2 is still great, decent battery life and faster than the 0. If you can survive without LTE on the watch then I’d go for the 2 over the non LTE 3 if the price difference was enough. Personally I’d avoid the 0 and 1 as the waterproofing isn’t there and the 0 has too many other limitations for a new purchase.
 
roland.g said:
Original Apple Watch stainless steel still works well enough. The improved speed and waterproofing of the 2 and 3 would be nice, but not worth upgrading. I don’t use enough features from the watch beyond activity, time and wrist based notifications. It is possible with a faster watch I may use more apps due to the speed but I haven’t been convinced yet to upgrade, and LTE certainly isn’t a reason to.
Click to expand...
I am going to respectfully disagree on each point. I felt similar to you but upgraded anyhow, I had someone to hand my original watch to in the family. I thought it would be no big deal. Wrong. If someone buys any other series but 3 they are making a mistake. Sure, it has a monthly cost but the convenience and speed make the watch different than the past generations. I have spent more time without my phone than at any other time in the past since owning one. I routinely leave it behind knowing its just fine. AirPods enhance this to another level with music, Siri and short calls. I had a 50/50 chance of making it all day with my series 0 battery, now I can wear it to bed and wake up with power to spare.
 
Still loving my Series 1 I got a year ago for about this price. I'll probably wait and spring for the Series 4, but this is a decent deal on a 2, esp. if you need the waterproofing and GPS.
 
gsmornot said:
I am going to respectfully disagree on each point. I felt similar to you but upgraded anyhow, I had someone to hand my original watch to in the family. I thought it would be no big deal. Wrong. If someone buys any other series but 3 they are making a mistake. Sure, it has a monthly cost but the convenience and speed make the watch different than the past generations. I have spent more time without my phone than at any other time in the past since owning one. I routinely leave it behind knowing its just fine. AirPods enhance this to another level with music, Siri and short calls. I had a 50/50 chance of making it all day with my series 0 battery, now I can wear it to bed and wake up with power to spare.
Click to expand...
Interesting.

I have 30-50% juice left on my series 0 each day at the end of the day and if I want to wake up without waking anyone else up, I wear it to bed without the phone alarm on and use the watch to wake me up with wrist vibrations. I can even throw it on the charger in the morning to add juice while I shower and dress and still get through the workday.

If I did upgrade I would go series 3 simply for the best speed and would go Stainless as that is what I own but if I am correct I can opt not to activate the LTE and save the monthly charge. I would actually opt for a non-LTE version if possible but I don’t want the aluminum.

Do you have to activate (and therefore pay for) LTE or can you just leave it dormant?
 
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Having owned both the Series 2 and 3, I would say hold off until S3 is reduced following a refresh. Aside from the speed increase, the S3 also has a much brighter display, GPS and better battery life. I would only go for S2 if I were testing the waters.
 
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I have a series 1. The thing I most appreciate about the series 2 is the water proof design. I race sailboats, so this is an important feature for me.
 
This report is so bloody confusing. Why not simply refer to sale prices by their discounts on MSRP, instead of all this convoluted "down to" and "compared to" language?
 
roland.g said:
Interesting.

I have 30-50% juice left on my series 0 each day at the end of the day and if I want to wake up without waking anyone else up, I wear it to bed without the phone alarm on and use the watch to wake me up with wrist vibrations. I can even throw it on the charger in the morning to add juice while I shower and dress and still get through the workday.

If I did upgrade I would go series 3 simply for the best speed and would go Stainless as that is what I own but if I am correct I can opt not to activate the LTE and save the monthly charge. I would actually opt for a non-LTE version if possible but I don’t want the aluminum.

Do you have to activate (and therefore pay for) LTE or can you just leave it dormant?
Click to expand...
That is where I'm at, first time buyer not sure if I should go with the 2 series or the 3 series and like the weight of the SS but I don't need LTE on the 3 series but want the better battery and brighter display. Can I purchase LTE SS and not activate the LTE? Maybe Im wasting money on LTE when I don't need it.
 
roland.g said:
Interesting.

I have 30-50% juice left on my series 0 each day at the end of the day and if I want to wake up without waking anyone else up, I wear it to bed without the phone alarm on and use the watch to wake me up with wrist vibrations. I can even throw it on the charger in the morning to add juice while I shower and dress and still get through the workday.

If I did upgrade I would go series 3 simply for the best speed and would go Stainless as that is what I own but if I am correct I can opt not to activate the LTE and save the monthly charge. I would actually opt for a non-LTE version if possible but I don’t want the aluminum.

Do you have to activate (and therefore pay for) LTE or can you just leave it dormant?
Click to expand...
You do not have to activate the LTE. It will work just as your watch does today but I would consider it. It has been one of the best features. (aside from the monthly cost)
 
At these prices I think I may pick one up for my wife for Christmas to replace her S0. However, I may wait to see what Black Friday offers before buying.
 
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I'm still using a 0 SS and it's just fine for most of the stuff I use it for, which include notifications, calendaring, and the occasional round of golf (arccos).

If your needs are simple the original is going for like $100 for the aluminum ones on swappa, and they're great. I just saw someone selling new in box ones on eBay for cheap, probably some retailer liquidation.
 
IJ Reilly said:
This report is so bloody confusing. Why not simply refer to sale prices by their discounts on MSRP, instead of all this convoluted "down to" and "compared to" language?
Click to expand...
Well technically there is no MSRP because they aren't current models. I suppose they could have listed the original MSRP for reference. Or perhaps the current MSRP for the S1 and S3 to compare.
 
usarioclave said:
I'm still using a 0 SS and it's just fine for most of the stuff I use it for, which include notifications, calendaring, and the occasional round of golf (arccos).

If your needs are simple the original is going for like $100 for the aluminum ones on swappa, and they're great. I just saw someone selling new in box ones on eBay for cheap, probably some retailer liquidation.
Click to expand...
Arccos is great. A bit slow to update hole, distance, etc. I’m curious if that is that the watch or the phone causing the lag.
 
roland.g said:
Arccos is great. A bit slow to update hole, distance, etc. I’m curious if that is that the watch or the phone causing the lag.
Click to expand...

I think it's the watch. Usually I pull out my phone every hole on the tee to check the distances and hazards, then when I look at the watch it's takes about 2 or 3 seconds for it to update to the current hole. Maybe a faster watch would make a difference, but given the usual pace of play the extra few seconds doesn't matter. Plus if I'm near the green I pull out my phone anyway, just to see what's around the green.
 
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