How Old Is Too Old When Buying an Apple Watch?

In 2023, I made a decision to replace my Apple Watch after constantly failing to put on my Sequence 4 for a variety of years. I sold that one on Poshmark and commenced newer fashions to seek out one with sufficient options to persuade me to truly put on it. I opted to get a Sequence 8, though the Sequence 9 had simply been launched, as I used to be shopping for two: one for my mother and one for myself. Because it seems, that was an ideal choice.

If you happen to’re trying to find a brand new wearable or contemplating upgrading yours, you may additionally be questioning which of the older Apple Watch fashions remains to be helpful as we speak. My Sequence 8 is holding up fantastically three years after it was launched, so I am an enormous proponent of utilizing older units so long as doable. However not all Apple Watches will work in addition to the Sequence 8 does in 2025.

Don’t purchase a watch Apple doesn’t assist anymore

We have now to attract the road someplace: Seven of Apple’s watches are not supported, that means they will not obtain any software program or safety updates anymore. As well as, you run the danger that the watch will not be appropriate along with your iPhone or sure apps. In brief, you should not purchase a watch that Apple would not assist. That features the next:

Whereas the corporate does at the moment assist the Sequence 6, it’s subsequent in line to affix this record. It isn’t clear when that can occur, however you might be certain it’ll. We’ll see subsequent week—when Apple reveals watchOS 26—whether or not the watch can be supported one other 12 months. If not, it will be caught on watchOS 11 for good.

Efficiency and different generational Watch enhancements

There are concerns for older Apple Watch fashions that reach past their capability to easily run the most recent working system. With every technology, enhancements are made in some type or one other. As an example, the Sequence 4 launched the ECG sensor, whereas the Sequence 6 launched the blood oxygen sensor (although Apple needed to disable the feature for the Series 9 and Ultra 2 within the U.S. because of a lawsuit). The Sequence 7 expenses sooner than its predecessors, and Apple has included quick charging on most watch fashions since (sorry, Apple Watch SE customers).

Usually, every Apple Watch is quicker than the final. Apple tends to place its latest S-Chip—the Apple Watch’s processor—in its newest watch collection. Merely put, a more moderen S-chip provides you a sooner, extra productive product. The Sequence 6 has an S6 chip, Sequence 7 has S7, and so forth till you hit the Ultras. (The primary-generation Extremely has an S8 chip just like the Sequence 8, whereas the Extremely 2 has an S9 chip just like the Sequence 9.)

Whereas there are some core options all at the moment supported watches share—like exercise and swim monitoring, sleep monitoring, Apple Pay, ECG scanning, and the power to learn and reply to messages—newer fashions additionally every have a few of their very own particular developments and upgrades. Here is a short record:

• The Sequence 7 launched sooner charging, a bigger show, and extra sturdy display screen.

• The Sequence 8 introduced temperature sensing, crash detection, and a low-power mode for conserving battery (as did the second-gen Apple Watch SE).

• The Sequence 9 debuted new gesture controls, on-device Siri entry, extra exact location monitoring in Discover My, and a show with double the brightness of the Sequence 8.

• The primary-gen Apple Watch Extremely launched a extra sturdy titanium casing, customized shortcuts to apps and modes through the Motion button, a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, extra correct GPS, a 36-hour battery life, and an emergency siren.

• The Apple Watch Extremely 2 launched a show with a most brightness of three,000 nits and on-device media playback.

• The Sequence 10 launched the most important show accessible on a typical Apple Watch and sooner charging.

If you happen to see a function you completely want in a specific watch mannequin, you may must spring for it. However when you simply need one thing for core Apple Watch duties, you can begin to contemplate older choices. Apple’s watch comparison site could be a useful software for figuring out completely different options amongst fashions.

Battery degradation

All tech degrades to some extent and the Apple Watch isn’t any completely different—notably relating to the battery. Whereas there are methods to mitigate the problem, over time, the lithium-ion battery powering your wrist laptop will not final so long as it used to. That is likely to be an even bigger situation than your watch’s capability to obtain and assist a brand new working system. Apple’s warranty doesn’t cover batteries that put on down from regular use, and expenses $99 for the restore, which you may as a substitute put in direction of the acquisition of a brand new watch. There may be one exception: Battery service is free when you’ve got AppleCare+ and your watch’s battery holds lower than 80% of its unique capability. You might want to take your watch in to an Apple Retailer or service supplier to have it examined.

My watch was pre-owned, and whereas I’ve no means of figuring out if it has its unique battery, my battery life has not declined considerably within the two years I have been utilizing it every day. I primarily use mine to trace my exercises, vitals, and sleep, which implies it is all the time working. I cost it whereas I am within the bathe and sometimes for a couple of minutes earlier than mattress, and that is about it. On a median day of fixed notifications, mine lasts me a bit longer than the marketed 18-hour mark. As a result of I’ve little curiosity within the small enhancements provided by the Sequence 9 and Sequence 10—like additional brightness, bigger display screen dimension, efficiency bumps, and superior cycle monitoring—the battery life is what would (or will) compel me to improve sooner or later, however for now, I’ve not observed any issues. I requested my mother if she’s observed any battery degradation on hers, since I purchased it on the identical time and place as mine, and he or she mentioned no. She makes use of hers to trace strolling exercises, discuss on the cellphone, and monitor her sleep and vitals, too.

Follow the Sequence 7 or newer

Completely take into account which of the options on newer fashions are literally vital to you earlier than making any shopping for choice and, when you can, keep above a Sequence 7. The Sequence 6 remains to be useful, however, once more, it is a matter of time till the corporate stops acknowledging that one fully.

For now, I’ve been pleasantly shocked by how properly my Sequence 8 has held up for 2 years. Its touchscreen has by no means faltered, the exterior buttons perform completely, it syncs to all of my apps and units with no drawback, and it does precisely what I want it to do—which is to inform me what number of steps I am taking and the way laborious I am exerting myself on the fitness center. If you happen to’re available in the market for a sensible watch, I see no motive that an older model should not be thought of, so long as it nonetheless runs the most recent working system. It can save you a piece of change by sourcing an older mannequin from the resale or refurbished markets and put that cash away for when Apple drops one thing tremendous revolutionary within the wearable area.

Apple would not promote something under a Sequence 10 or SE instantly anymore, so if you would like a 6, 7, 8, or 9, you may must examine the resale and refurbished markets. You may undoubtedly avoid wasting cash that means (a brand new Sequence 10 starts at $399, although it may be discovered on sale, and the refurbished Series 8 I acquired is promoting proper now for $219).