Technologies

Snag Refurbished iPhone and Apple Watch Models at a Huge Discount Just Before Christmas

This one-day sale offers iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7 and more with massive markdowns.

Apple devices often score highly in our reviews and its flagship products top our best phone and best smartwatch lists as we approach the end of the year. Sleek design and impressive performance comes at a premium, though, meaning Apple gear is often more expensive than devices from competing brands. However, if you don’t mind a preowned device, you can save a ton of cash this side of Christmas this one-day sale at Woot. You can choose from a massive selection of refurbished Apple Watches and iPhones and save big compared to buying from Apple directly.

See at Woot

All the devices you’ll find at this sale are «scratch and dent» refurbs. According to Woot, that means that you can expect these items to show moderate signs of wear and tear, but they have all been thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re in full working condition. Though none of the latest iPhone 14 or Apple Watch Series 8 models are on sale, many of these previous-generation devices are still great buys.

Last year’s iPhone 13 is included in the sale with prices starting at $570. Considering Apple still sells this device from $700, it’s a rare chance to save on a really recent model. Similarly, this sale offers some solid savings on 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7 with models available there from $260. Where you can find a Series 7 brand new these days you’re still regularly looking at prices north of $300 at best.

For those wanting to spend a little less, the iPhone 12 is still an excellent phone that’s more than sufficient for most users thanks to its 5G capabilities, OLED display and powerful A14 Bionic chip. It’s a great value starting at just $360, which is $239 less than buying new from Apple directly, or $340 for the iPhone 12 mini. In our iPhone 14 review, CNET’s Patrick Holland stated that there isn’t really a compelling reason to upgrade to the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 12 meaning it’s still a great phone for a lot of folks today.

On the smartwatch side, the Apple Watch Series 6 is a good choice from as little $190, offers many of the same features as the Series 7 at a lower price. Or, you can spend a little less with Series 4 and Series 5 models starting at just $150 — ideal for someone just testing the waters with their first Apple Watch.

Older phones like the iPhone SE and iPhone XR start at $160 for those looking for the cheapest devices, and Apple Watch Series 3 is also available from as little as $80.

Overall, these are some of the best value Apple deals you’ll find right now — but the sale expires tonight at 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET), or when these refurbished models sell out, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.

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Apple’s New Smart Home Display Delayed Until Fall Over Siri Issues

It has been nearly a year and a half since the company announced the AI-powered product.

Your home could get smarter with Apple’s Siri, but it will have to wait a few more months. Bloomberg reported the iPad-shaped AI home hub won’t be ready until September, several months after the company was hoping to launch it this spring. Apple engineers first need to complete work on a new and improved Siri assistant for the home device, code-named J490, according to Bloomberg.

Apple was hoping to release J490 this month, along with a slew of other new devices, including the iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, MacBook Air M5, new Pro models, and iPad Air M4. Apple first teased the smart home display in November 2024.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Siri is Apple’s virtual assistant that uses voice recognition and AI to fulfill a variety of tasks and commands, along with intriguing uses. You might use Siri to find your iPhone — «Hey Siri, where are you?» — or to hear the weather forecast — «Siri, what will the weather be today?» Siri is available on iPhones, MacBooks and iPads. It was launched in 2011 as a feature of the iPhone 4S.

As CNET reported last month, Apple engineers have struggled to push the upgraded Siri assistant out the door. It isn’t fast enough, gets confused by complex commands and doesn’t interact well with other Apple AI models. The company is also wrestling with how much personal data to access to inform the AI, and the new Siri is not yet able to complete in-app tasks, such as finding a photo and posting it to socials, all with one command.

It has been nearly two years since Apple announced that it would give Siri a major upgrade. In the meantime, competitors like Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home have entered the marketplace.

Tech tester Jon Rettinger, whose YouTube channel has 1.66 million subscribers, says the repeated delays in upgrading Siri can «erode» confidence in Apple’s ability to keep up in the AI race.

«Apple as a whole is still one of the strongest companies on the planet. But their AI play is clearly the weakest link in an otherwise very strong chain,» Rettinger told CNET.

Rettinger said he has had issues getting Siri to complete basic commands, such as setting two alarms at the same time, and that it’s a bit of «a mess» right now.

«Having said that, the iPhone has such massive market penetration that I’m not sure it will actually matter in the end. Which is kind of wild when you think about it,» Rettinger said.

Facial recognition for residents

The hardware for the forthcoming smart home display has already been finished. It resembles an iPad and can be either attached to a wall or rest on a half-domed-shaped base, the Bloomberg report said.

The device will be equipped with facial recognition, so when residents walk up to it, they will be shown personalized data such as music preferences, news headlines, appointments, reminders, tasks and so on.

The screen interface will include a bunch of circular app icons, similar to the display on an Apple Watch. The Bloomberg report said the smart home display will be the first of several home devices by Apple. Future products include a tabletop robotic limb with a 9-inch screen, a smart security camera and a Face ID-enabled smart doorbell.