⌚ Wearables Watch: Early Black Friday Watch Deals Arrive, Oura's Smart Ring Heads to Ulta, Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch Get Updates, and a Tubeless Insulin Pump Wins FDA Clearance

Or: Sale Signs Are Up, but the Best Deal Might Be the Watch Already on Your Wrist

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, November 14, 2026

Good afternoon, neighbors, and welcome back to Wearables Watch, where we look at the newest watches, rings, hearing helpers and health gadgets and explain them in plain English for Sequatchie Valley readers.

This week has a little bit of everything. The sale signs are going up early, a smart ring is moving onto store shelves, two popular watches are getting free updates, and folks living with diabetes got news about a pump that can be worn without tubing.

Here’s what’s in edition No. 2: early Black Friday prices on Apple Watch and rugged Garmin watches, Oura Ring 5 coming to 1,000 Ulta Beauty stores on Nov. 22, a big free software update for Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, new workout help and an easier unlock for Google’s Pixel Watch, plus a $29.99 Pixel Tag for finding your keys, and an FDA clearance that lets the Tandem Mobi insulin pump go tubeless for up to seven days.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Thinking about a watch for Christmas? Early Black Friday sales have started. Black Friday itself is Nov. 27. Prices change by the hour, so check the price at checkout, and remember that last year’s model is often the bargain.
• Curious about smart rings? Oura Ring 5 is on Ulta.com now and in 1,000 Ulta Beauty stores starting Nov. 22. It starts at $399, and most of the detailed health info needs a $5.99-a-month membership.
• Own a Galaxy Watch 8? The free One UI 9 Watch update has started reaching U.S. owners, beginning with beta testers. Everyone else should see it in the coming days or weeks.
• Own a Pixel Watch 3 or newer? Step-by-step workouts are rolling out now (they need a paid Google Health Premium plan). Unlocking your watch with your phone is coming in the next few weeks.
• Wear a Tandem Mobi insulin pump? The FDA cleared a tubeless option worn up to seven days. It isn’t in pharmacies yet; Tandem says the full U.S. launch is planned for the first half of 2027, and in-warranty users won’t need a new pump.

🛍️ Early Black Friday Watch Deals Are Already on the Shelf

Black Friday isn’t until Friday, Nov. 27, but the watch sales have already started, the way the Christmas candy shows up at the store before the Halloween candy is gone.

Apple Watch: Walmart’s early Black Friday sale includes clearance prices on last year’s Apple Watch Series 11 in the titanium GPS + Cellular version. 9to5Toys reported on Nov. 12 that the 42mm model was down to $489 (regularly $699) and the 46mm to about $524 (originally $749), and warned that these deals tend to sell out fast. On Amazon, Macworld and AppleInsider tracked the newest Apple Watch Ultra 4 at $699.99 (about $99 off its $799 list price), and the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3 at $239.99 for the 40mm GPS model — only about $9 off. Macworld notes the SE 3 dropped as low as $199 during October’s Prime Day sale, so there may be room for that price to fall further.

Garmin: Garmin’s early holiday sale is also live on Garmin’s own store and on Amazon. Gadgets & Wearables, checking prices on Nov. 13, listed the rugged Instinct E at $199.99 and the Instinct 3 AMOLED at $249.99, the vívoactive 6 at $249.99, and the Lily 2 (a smaller, dressier watch) at about $200. The Instinct line is the kind of watch built to take a knock against a fence post: Gadgets & Wearables notes the Instinct 3 has strong battery life and a built-in flashlight, which farmers, hunters and anyone feeding animals before sunup can appreciate.

What it means for you: If a watch is already on your Christmas list, now is a fine time to start comparing — but there’s no need to rush. Write down the model and price you see today, and check again before Nov. 27. Make sure an Apple Watch matches your phone (Apple Watches need an iPhone). And remember that a “GPS + Cellular” watch can make calls without your phone nearby, but usually needs its own monthly plan from your phone carrier.

👉 Read more (9to5Toys) · Garmin deals (Gadgets & Wearables)

💍 A Smart Ring You Can Try On Next to the Lipstick Aisle

On Nov. 9, Oura announced that its Oura Ring 5 will be the first health wearable sold at Ulta Beauty. It went on sale at Ulta.com on Nov. 10 and arrives in 1,000 Ulta Beauty stores on Nov. 22, with in-store displays to help shoppers find their fit. Stores will carry sizes 7 through 10 in Gold, Deep Rose, Silver and Brushed Silver; other sizes and colors are online only.

The Oura Ring 5 came out in May, and Oura says it is 40% smaller than the Ring 4 and weighs as little as 2 grams. It tracks sleep, heart rate, activity, temperature trends and more. On Oura’s price list, the Ring 5 costs $399 in Silver or Black and $499 in Gold, Deep Rose, Stealth or Brushed Silver. Here’s the part to remember: the detailed insights need an Oura Membership at $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Without it, Oura says the app shows only your three daily scores, the battery level and some reading material. Oura says the ring and membership are HSA/FSA eligible, and the battery lasts about 6 to 9 days.

One feature you’ll hear about is Blood Pressure Signals. MedTech Dive reported that it is a wellness feature, not a regulated medical device, and it does not show the top and bottom blood pressure numbers you get from a cuff. It looks for overnight patterns and can nudge you to talk with your doctor.

What it means for you: A smart ring is like a quiet hired hand who keeps a notebook on your sleep and never talks back. It can be handy for folks who don’t like wearing a watch to bed. But count the membership into the price — over a year, that’s about $70 more. If you have high blood pressure, keep using your cuff and your doctor’s plan. Ring sizes run differently from jewelry sizes, so use Oura’s sizing kit or an in-store display before you buy.

👉 Read more (Oura)

⌚ A Free Spruce-Up for the Galaxy Watch 8

Samsung’s big One UI 9 Watch update (built on Google’s Wear OS 7) is now reaching Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic owners in the U.S. Android Authority reported on Nov. 10 that U.S. beta testers got it first, and that the wider U.S. rollout hadn’t started yet at that time. SamMobile reported the update should reach more countries in the coming days.

According to Samsung’s changelog as reported by SamMobile and Android Authority, the update brings a redesigned Galaxy Wearable app, easier watch-face browsing, refreshed Samsung Health charts with daily cardio load, sleep vitals and heart health scores, the ability to pause a workout with the back button, saved outdoor waypoints (handy for marking where you parked the truck), extra camera-remote modes, and a text-size option for tiles.

A quick note on yesterday’s story: this is a separate update from Samsung’s upgraded sleep-apnea screening. Samsung has said Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 8 owners will get that feature later in a software update, and we haven’t seen a date for it yet.

What it means for you: If you own a Galaxy Watch 8, you don’t have to do anything today. When it shows up, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone and go to Watch settings > Watch software update. Charge the watch first and update when you’re on home Wi-Fi, so you aren’t stuck waiting on a slow signal out in the hollow.

👉 Read more (Android Authority)

📱 Pixel Watch Learns to Coach Your Workout and Unlock Itself — Plus a Tag for Your Keys

Google’s November update for its Pixel Watch arrived Nov. 10. The piece rolling out now is step-by-step workouts on the Pixel Watch 3 and newer: the watch walks you through each exercise, and you can log reps and weights right from your wrist. Google’s fine print says it needs a Google Health Premium subscription (sold separately) and is not intended for medical purposes.

Coming in the next few weeks, Google says, is a small kindness for anyone who fumbles with tiny screens: phone-to-watch unlock. When the watch is on your wrist and you unlock your nearby phone, the watch unlocks too, so you don’t have to tap in a PIN. Google’s fine print limits it to Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5 paired with certain Pro-model Pixel phones that have a special short-range radio (called UWB). Google also says its Gemini Call Screen, which asks unknown callers why they’re calling and shows a live transcript, is coming soon to Pixel Watch 4 and 5 — though its fine print lists it for the Pixel 11 phones in the U.S.

And for those of us who can’t remember where we laid the keys: on Nov. 11 Google started selling the Pixel Tag, a slim tracker for wallets, keys and bags, at $29.99 for one or $99.99 for a four-pack. Google says the battery lasts over a year and it works with Android’s Find Hub network.

What it means for you: If you already have a Pixel Watch, check for updates and enjoy what’s free. Don’t sign up for a paid plan just for guided workouts unless you know you’ll use them — a walk to the mailbox and back still counts. The call-screening feature is worth keeping an eye on, since scam calls are a daily nuisance around here, but the phone you have matters, so read the fine print first. A Pixel Tag works with Android phones; iPhone households have Apple’s own trackers.

👉 Read more (Google)

💉 An Insulin Pump That Can Ditch the Tubing for a Week

On Nov. 12, Tandem Diabetes Care announced FDA clearance for its Tandem Mobi to be used as a tubeless automated insulin delivery system, worn on the body for up to seven days. Tandem calls it the world’s first and only tubeless system of its kind with that wear time. A new tubeless cartridge and infusion set turns the existing small Mobi pump into a stick-on device, and it keeps Tandem’s Control-IQ+ technology, which adjusts insulin automatically with a compatible glucose sensor. Tandem’s fine print says the infusion set is cleared for up to 7 days of wear and the cartridge for 3 days of use.

Don’t call the pharmacy just yet. Tandem says the full U.S. launch is planned for the first half of 2027, and Drug Delivery Business reports it will be sold only through pharmacy channels. Here’s good news for current users: Tandem says people with an in-warranty Tandem Mobi won’t need a new pump, and the company will contact eligible customers when the new sets and cartridges are available.

What it means for you: Fewer site changes and no tubing to snag on a gate latch or a seat belt could make life easier for folks managing diabetes — especially active ones and grandparents chasing grandkids. If you or someone in your family uses an insulin pump, jot this down as a question for your next diabetes appointment. Don’t change anything about your treatment on your own; your care team and your insurance plan will be part of the decision.

👉 Read more (Tandem Diabetes Care via Business Wire)

✅ Your Front-Porch Wearables Checklist

• ✅ Shopping for a watch? Write down the model and price today and compare again before Black Friday, Nov. 27. Last year’s model is often the best value.
• ✅ Make sure the watch matches your phone: Apple Watch needs an iPhone, and cellular watches usually need their own monthly plan.
• ✅ Looking at Oura? Remember the ring plus the membership — $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year — and that Blood Pressure Signals is not a cuff reading.
• ✅ Galaxy Watch 8 owners: charge up and use home Wi-Fi when the One UI 9 Watch update shows up in the Galaxy Wearable app.
• ✅ Pixel Watch owners: take the free updates, and skip a paid plan unless you’ll really use it.
• ✅ Insulin pump users: ask your care team about the tubeless Tandem Mobi option, expected in the first half of 2027. Don’t change your routine on your own.

Practical rule: Check what the gadget you already own can do before you buy a new one, and always count the monthly fee into the price.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Glossary

• Black Friday: The big shopping day after Thanksgiving. This year it falls on Nov. 27, but many sales start weeks early.
• GPS + Cellular: A watch that has its own cell connection, so it can make calls or send texts without your phone nearby. Usually needs a monthly plan.
• Smart ring: A ring with sensors inside that tracks things like sleep and heart rate, with no screen on your finger.
• Membership / subscription: A monthly or yearly fee that unlocks some features of a gadget or app.
• HSA/FSA eligible: Something you may be able to buy with money from a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account.
• Wellness feature: A health-related feature that isn’t regulated by the FDA as a medical device and can’t diagnose anything.
• Software update: A free download that adds features or fixes problems on a device you already own.
• Beta tester: Someone who signs up to try early versions of software before everyone else.
• UWB (Ultra Wideband): A short-range radio in some newer phones and watches that can tell how close two devices are to each other.
• Tracker tag: A small gadget you attach to keys or a wallet so your phone can help you find them.
• Automated insulin delivery (AID): An insulin pump that works with a glucose sensor to adjust insulin automatically.
• FDA clearance: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration review that allows a medical device to be sold for a stated use. It doesn’t mean it is right for everyone.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy a watch now or wait until Black Friday on Nov. 27?

There’s no single right answer. Some deals, like Walmart’s Apple Watch Series 11 clearance, can sell out quickly, and Gadgets & Wearables notes that some early deals may not be beaten on Black Friday itself. Other prices, like the Apple Watch SE 3 at about $9 off, have been lower before. If you see a price you’re happy with on the exact model you want, it’s fine to buy. If not, write it down and check again.

Do I need a cellular Apple Watch?

Probably not, if you nearly always have your phone with you. A GPS-only watch still works with a nearby iPhone. A GPS + Cellular watch can make calls without your phone, which some folks like for walks or working outside, but carriers usually charge a monthly fee for it.

Is Oura’s Blood Pressure Signals the same as checking my blood pressure?

No. MedTech Dive reported that the feature does not show systolic and diastolic readings — the two numbers you get from a cuff. It’s a wellness feature that looks at overnight patterns and may suggest you talk with your doctor. Keep using your blood pressure cuff and follow your doctor’s advice.

Can I use an Oura Ring without paying a monthly fee?

Yes, but with limits. Oura says without a membership the app shows only your three daily scores (Readiness, Sleep and Activity), your ring’s battery and some reading material. The membership is $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

My Galaxy Watch 8 hasn’t updated yet. Is something wrong?

No. As of Android Authority’s Nov. 10 report, the U.S. rollout had started with beta testers, and the wider release hadn’t arrived yet. Updates roll out in waves. You can check in the Galaxy Wearable app under Watch settings > Watch software update.

Will phone-to-watch unlock work with my Pixel Watch?

Only with certain models. Google says it’s coming in the next few weeks to Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5 with UWB, paired with specific Pro-model Pixel phones listed in its fine print, and only where UWB is supported.

I use a Tandem Mobi. Do I need to do anything now?

No. Tandem says the tubeless sets and cartridges are planned for full U.S. launch in the first half of 2027, that in-warranty Mobi users won’t need a new pump, and that the company will reach out to eligible customers. Talk with your diabetes care team before making any change.

🔗 Other Resources

• 9to5Toys — Walmart’s Black Friday Apple Watch Series 11 clearance deals (Nov. 12, 2026)
• Macworld — Best Apple Watch Black Friday deals (prices checked Nov. 10, 2026)
• AppleInsider — Early Black Friday Apple Watch deals (Nov. 8, 2026)
• Gadgets & Wearables — Garmin watch prices dropping early for Black Friday (Nov. 13, 2026)
• Oura — Oura Ring 5 first health wearable available at Ulta Beauty (Nov. 9, 2026)
• Oura — What to know when buying an Oura Ring: prices, membership, battery (Oct. 13, 2026)
• MedTech Dive — Oura’s blood pressure wellness feature explained (May 28, 2026)
• Android Authority — Galaxy Watch 8 One UI 9 Watch update reaches the U.S. (Nov. 10, 2026)
• SamMobile — Galaxy Watch 8 One UI 9 Watch update goes global, with changelog (Nov. 11, 2026)
• Google — November Pixel Drop, Pixel Watch unlock and Pixel Tag (Nov. 10, 2026)
• Google — Step-by-step workout guidance on Pixel Watch (Nov. 10, 2026)
• 9to5Google — November Pixel Watch Drop (Nov. 10, 2026)
• Tandem Diabetes Care — Tandem Mobi FDA cleared as tubeless AID system (Nov. 12, 2026)
• Drug Delivery Business — Tandem’s Mobi wins FDA clearance for 7-day tubeless wear (Nov. 13, 2026)

🌿 Keep Learning, Stay Calm

Sale signs and shiny new gadgets can make it feel like you’re missing out. You aren’t. A free update can make the watch you already own a little better, a good deal will still be a good deal next week, and the most important health decisions still happen with your doctor, not at the checkout.

We’ll keep watching the wearables that matter for Sequatchie Valley readers so you don’t have to. For more calm, clear reporting, keep reading Dunlap.Today, and find local folks who can help with phones, computers and gadgets on Dunlap.Directory.