The Original Apple Watch Is Obsolete (2024)

FAQs

Is the original Apple Watch obsolete? ›

Apple has added the Apple Watch Series 1 to its list of obsolete products, meaning that it will no longer receive updates or repairs. The Series 1 was launched in 2016 and featured a dual-core processor, heart rate sensor, and touchscreen Retina display.

The 1st Gen Apple Watch is still a great piece of tech, but if it hasn't been cared for over the years, then you're not going to be happy with it. So make sure you're buying one that's been properly cared for by professionals in the refurbished industry.

You can definitely use the Apple Watch (1st generation) to do all of the above and more, but it will not support the latest versions of watchOS. So you will miss out on some features and other improvements. Thanks for reaching out!

Apple's first year sales of their watch was a failure with 10 million units sold instead of the projected 40 million.

The list of obsolete models includes the first-generation Apple Watch Edition with an 18-karat gold casing, which cost up to $17,000 in the U.S. when it was available. The solid-gold Apple Watch was discontinued in 2016 and replaced with a ceramic Apple Watch Edition, which was a more affordable luxury at up to $1,299.

In 2021, Apple did not drop support for any Apple Watch hardware with the release of watchOS 8. However, in September 2020, Apple dropped support for the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 with the release of watchOS 7.

The next step up is just called Apple Watch, and starts at $549 for a 38mm version with a sport band, and goes all the way up to $1,099 for a 42mm model with a stainless steel link bracelet. This model has a stainless steel case and a sapphire crystal display.

So how long does an Apple Watch last and are Apple Watches worth buying? There will always be exceptions, but on balance, based on the experience of our own reviewers and the comments we've seen from users online, I would say that an Apple Watch provide five to six years of good performance.

If your carrier offers Wi-Fi Calling and it is supported on your plan and enabled on your iPhone, you can also use Apple Watch to make and receive phone calls and (subject to carrier support) to send and receive SMS / text messages.

Why is the Apple Watch dying so fast? ›

Things You Should Know. Disable features like "Always On", "Hey Siri", "Wake on Wrist Raise," and other features to save battery life. If your Apple Watch is an older model, the battery may have deteriorated due to age. Low battery life could also be due to software update issues or pairing problems.

If Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra or later detects a hard fall while you're wearing your watch, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert.

Most of the time, it's a software issue that drains your Apple Watch. If you've already updated to the latest software, checked every aspect of the system, and every app, and still can't solve the issue, it could well be a hardware issue.

Apple's newest watch has a larger screen, a processor that's brand new versus the 202 SE's 4-year-old chip, more health features like temperature sensing, blood oxygen measurements (for non-US users) and ECG, and an always-on display.

1st Generation Apple Watch Compatibility

If you're asking yourself which watch is compatible with iPhone 5 and onwards, the 1st generation Apple Watch will work perfectly fine. It will work with an iPhone 5 or newer, running iOS 8.2 or newer, but doesn't have GPS.