Best Black Friday in July 2026 Wearable Deals: AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11 — Buy Now or Wait? (2026)
Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale ends Sunday, July 26, and the wearable deals are the best we've seen since Prime Day in June. With Apple's fall product refresh (Series 12, possibly AirPods Pro 4) just two months away, the question on every buyer's mind is the same: buy now at a discount, or wait for the next generation?Here's our deal-by-deal breakdown.
Best Deal
AirPods Pro 3 ($249 list price) — the best earbuds for iPhone owners. Buy verdict: yes.
Best Value
Apple Watch Series 11 ($399 list price) — the best-value Apple Watch until the fall launches.
Sale Ends
Sunday, July 26. Stock may sell out before then on popular items.
Should You Buy AirPods Pro 3 Now?
Yes. The AirPods Pro 3($249 list price) are worth buying whenever they are discounted. You're getting the best noise-cancelling earbuds in the Apple ecosystem with hearing health features, adaptive audio, and USB-C charging.
What about AirPods Pro 4? Rumors suggest a potential Q4 2026 launch, but nothing is confirmed. Even if they arrive in September, they'll cost $249+ at launch with no discounts for 3–6 months. The Pro 3 is a known quantity, and you can buy it today. If you compare against Android alternatives, the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are strong competitors — see our best earbuds comparison.
Is the Apple Watch Series 11 Worth It With Series 12 Coming?
For most people, yes. The Apple Watch Series 11 ($399 list price) is a proven smartwatch with FDA-cleared hypertension detection, a 2,000-nit always-on display, all-day battery life, and the full Apple Health ecosystem. Discounted, it competes directly with Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 9 at $379.
The Series 12 is expected in September with rumored blood pressure monitoring via a sensor-in-band design, an 8-sensor array (double the current count), and improved battery life. However, it'll launch at $399–$429 and won't see real discounts until Black Friday 2026 at the earliest. If you want the bleeding-edge health features and can pay full price, wait. If you want a great smartwatch at a great price, the Series 11 is a buy-it-now watch.
Every Other Wearable Deal Worth Considering
Beyond the headline Apple deals, here are the other wearable deals worth your attention this weekend:
- AirPods Max 2 (reg. $549) — discounted, with all colors in stock. Worth it if you want premium over-ear noise cancellation with Apple's H2 chip. Compare prices.
- AirPods 4: $99 (reg. $129) — The base model without ANC, great for casual listening and calls.
- AirPods 4 with ANC: $145 (reg. $179) — Active noise cancellation in the open-ear design.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (reg. $299) — check the current price on Amazon. Best-in-class noise cancellation for Android users.
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: $140 — Down from $229. Best Galaxy Buds deal available.
What About Samsung Galaxy Watch Deals?
Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 9 ($379) and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ($699) are available for pre-order with shipping on August 7. Current pre-order perks include:
- Amazon: $50 gift card with Galaxy Watch 9 or Ultra 2 pre-order
- Samsung.com: Up to $250 trade-in credit, plus $100 instant credit on Ultra 2 without trade-in
- Bundle savings: Extra savings when bundling with Galaxy Z Fold 8
The previous-gen Galaxy Watch Ultra is available from $224 refurbished on eBay — an outstanding value if you don't need the Ultra 2's experimental health sensors. See our full smartwatch buying guide.
Our Buy/Wait Verdict for Every Category
Here's our bottom-line recommendation for each product category this weekend:
- Wireless earbuds: Buy now. AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultra are both discounted. Fall launches won't offer this value for months.
- Apple Watch: Buy now if you want value. The Series 11 is a great buy. Wait only if you specifically want blood pressure monitoring from Series 12.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch: Pre-order if you want the latest. Galaxy Watch 9 ships August 7. Or buy the previous-gen at deep discounts.
- Garmin: Wait if you can. Fenix 9 and Enduro 4 are expected September–October. Current Garmin watches rarely see deep discounts outside Prime Day.
- Smart rings: No major deals right now. Oura Ring Gen 4 from $218 on eBay is the best current value. The Galaxy Ring ($399) doesn't see frequent sales.
Related Articles
- Apple Watch Series 11: Buy Now or Wait for Series 12?
- Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Early Reviews: Should You Pre-Order?
- Garmin Cirqa Review Roundup: Worth Buying Day One?
- AirPods Pro 3 Review
- All Wireless Earbuds Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale end?
The sale ends Sunday, July 26, 2026. Most deals will expire at midnight PT. Stock may sell out earlier on popular items like AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Series 11.
Is this the best time to buy AirPods Pro 3?
It is one of the better windows outside Prime Day and Black Friday. AirPods Pro 3 list at $249, and discounts on them are uncommon between major sale events, so check the current price before the sale ends.
Should I wait for AirPods Pro 4 instead of buying Pro 3 now?
AirPods Pro 4 are rumored for a potential Q4 2026 launch, but nothing is confirmed. Even if they arrive in September, they'll launch at $249 or higher with no discounts for months. If you need earbuds now, AirPods Pro 3 are an excellent buy.
Is the Apple Watch Series 11 a good buy with Series 12 coming in September?
Yes. The Series 12 will likely launch at $399-$429 and won't see meaningful discounts until Black Friday at the earliest. The Series 11 has FDA-cleared hypertension detection, a 2,000-nit display, and all-day battery life — it's a capable watch, especially when discounted.
Are there any Samsung wearable deals in this sale?
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are available for pre-order with launch deals (up to $250 Samsung trade-in, Amazon gift card), but they don't ship until August 7. The previous-gen Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra may see clearance pricing as new stock arrives.