The “lowest prices ever” in this headline were Amazon offers reported on November 9, 2025—not current deals. HotHardware listed a 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 at $279.99, a 13.6-inch M4 MacBook Air at $749.99 and a 15.3-inch M4 MacBook Air at $949.99. By September 2026, deal coverage had moved on to M5 MacBook Airs and Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra models, so those 2025 prices should not be used as today’s shopping benchmarks.
What did the early Black Friday headline refer to?
HotHardware’s November 9, 2025 report covered three Amazon offers. The prices and discount claims below describe that dated report; they are not live offers.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Product in the 2025 report | Reported Amazon price | Reported discount or price context |
|---|---|---|
| 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 | $279.99 | Reported as 30% off and $119.01 below the stated MSRP; the report said it had briefly reached the same price in July. |
| 13.6-inch M4 MacBook Air | $749.99 | Reported as 25% off. HotHardware author Paul Lilly said it had briefly touched $742.49 a few days earlier. |
| 15.3-inch M4 MacBook Air | $949.99 | Reported as 21% off; the article called it the lowest price it had seen for that model. |
These are the publisher’s contemporaneous retailer-price claims, not the result of an independently audited, market-wide price-history study. “Lowest ever” should therefore be read as the report’s characterization at the time, not a verified lifetime record across every seller or configuration. HotHardware’s report is available at the original November 9, 2025 article.
Recommended Free Tools
What configurations did the MacBook Air offers cover?
The report described both M4 Air offers with 16GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 10-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. It gave the 13.6-inch model a 2560 × 1664 resolution and the 15.3-inch model a 2580 × 1864 resolution. The article also cited Apple-rated battery life of up to 15 hours of web use or 18 hours of video streaming. These details describe the configurations and ratings in that 2025 report; check Apple’s current specifications before comparing newer models.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Why the two Air prices are not a like-for-like size comparison
The reported prices applied to different screen sizes, and prices for MacBook Airs can also vary with chip generation, memory and storage. A useful comparison starts by matching those specifications, then checks whether the larger display is worth the price difference for the buyer’s needs. The 2025 prices alone do not establish what either size should cost now.
Why the headline is no longer a current buying guide
A September 29, 2026 9to5Mac deal roundup lists M5 MacBook Air configurations and Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra models, reflecting a newer product and deal context than the 2025 report. That roundup is a dated snapshot too: retailer prices and stock can change. See 9to5Mac’s September 29, 2026 Apple deals coverage for the models it listed, and verify the exact configuration and checkout price before relying on any offer.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
TechRadar also covered Apple Black Friday deals in November 2025, but those offers are historical rather than current price guidance. Its roundup is useful as period context, not as a source for live prices: TechRadar’s 2025 Apple deal coverage.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How to judge a similar Apple deal today
A laptop and a smartwatch serve different purposes, so they are not alternatives to one another in a household budget. Assess each purchase on its own needs and total cost rather than treating the two products as competing deals.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
For a MacBook Air
- Match the chip generation, screen size, memory and storage when comparing prices; an apparent bargain may reflect a lower specification.
- Check the exact configuration and the price shown at checkout, not just a headline discount percentage.
- Compare the price history for that specific configuration if a retailer or tracker provides one. Distinguish a source’s tracked record low from a universal claim that a price is the lowest ever.
For an Apple Watch
- Identify the generation and case size, and confirm whether the model is GPS or cellular before comparing offers.
- Check the current feature and specification differences using Apple’s information for the exact models; the Series 10 remarks in the 2025 article are not a current model comparison.
- Confirm current stock and checkout price, since availability and price can vary by model and retailer.
For any sale, the practical question is whether the exact product you need is available at a worthwhile price now. A past Black Friday price can provide historical context, but it cannot confirm today’s value or establish that a current listing is a record low.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
