As the annual Black Friday event approaches quickly, now is a great time to get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping with an assortment of deals already available through numerous retailers. If your shopping list includes a smartwatch for yourself or as a gift for someone special, leading brands such as Apple and Samsung have started offering great pre-Black Friday deals on their smartwatches. Our technological proficient friends at ZDNET have done the footwork and researched the internet thoroughly to present you with the best pre Black Friday smartwatch deals for your benefit.

Starting our list of best pre-Black Friday smartwatch deals for 2023 is the Apple Watch Ultra. Even though the market has onwards moved to Apple Watch Ultra 2, the original model still continues to impress with tremendous features such as a big display panel, long-lasting battery, durable and rugged design elements. It's certainly Apple's most premium smartwatch and you can avail a discount of $170 ahead of Black Friday.

Next up is the Google Pixel Watch which you can buy for 20% less from. It comes equipped with a built-in Fitbit activity tracker, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking capabilities, and a quick action Emergency SOS button.

If you are a fan of Apple and looking for slightly more economical options, the Apple Watch Series 8 is an absolute steal. If Siri usage on your Watch isn't a necessity for you or if you don't care about Apple HomePod integration, this is the one for you. The health and fitness tracking features are similar to the Series 9, and you save $100 on the original price.

For those who prefer staying within the Samsung technology ecosystem can grab a deal with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 now available for 33% less. But be aware! This particular model is refurbished but is certified as fully operational and in great condition. Amazon backs it with its 90-day Renewed Guarantee.

In its category, Garmin arguably has the best activity-tracking technology. This robust Garmin model is specifically designed for tracking outdoor activities such as hiking, trail-running, amongst others. It can be yours with a discount of 30% at Amazon.

Black Friday this year will take place on Friday, 24th November - traditionally observed in the U.S the day after Thanksgiving. However, sales and discounts start almost a week prior and continue over the weekend.

ZDNET's methodology for curating these pre-Black Friday deals includes looking for items that we ourselves desire or would recommend as well as deals offering at least 20% off or those which are seldom on sale, to begin with. We have utilized established price comparison resources and frequency trackers to determine if the deal is genuinely on offer and how often the price drops. We have also taken into account customer reviews for users' insights who already own and use the products we're recommending you. Our recommendations also come from our own rigorous testing accompanied by comprehensive research and comparison shopping. Our aim is to guide you with the most reliable advice to shop smarter. According to ZDNET, the best smartwatch to buy is the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It has gained popularity and is highly recommended by athletes and the press for its rugged credentials, large, vibrant display, long battery life, and water-resistant features.