Apple Watch Series 3 Finally Selling Out Before Getting Discontinued

[urtules]

Apple has dropped Series 3 from sale and I still have not dropped Series 1 support in my app Caffeine++, but from the next version I will require watchOS 7, and Series 3 is a baseline for watchOS 7. So those who own Series 3, possibly as a second watch, will get the newest update from me.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Nope, just iPad 2. Way back then (gah, am I old?), the iPad 2 at the time was still getting updates (just like the Watch Series 3) for years even after it was discontinued AND it performed super well. It even bested the iPad "F-You" and iPad 4 for long term usability ratio, until iPad Air 1 came out and Apple then made the "plain iPad" the "budget iPad".

I have a few gaps in my own memory around this time, because I was also one of the many iPad 3 owners who felt duped by Apple with the iPad 4 just 6 months later, and I turned my attention away from the iPad line (as did a huge number of others). The iPad 3 was unfortunately under-powered for that Retina display on the A5 chip. This actually hurt iPad sales for 6 years. That's part of why iPad sales have declined since the iPad 3/4 year; and only recently (last 4 years) have recovered. Apple themselves may have a long memory and hold grudges (e.g. Mark Gurman), but so do customers like us.

Thanks.

Can relate. Had a iPa2, then ipa3 only because retina. Must say that I never warmed up to it because of thickness and weight increase over 2. Waited for TID iPaA2, and that is my current iPa.

But to be frank, I use my iPhSE3 (until 2 weeks ago iph6s) as my daily driver. (Plus a 2012 Mac Mini stuck on Catalina which still gets security updates.)

The iPa2, iPaA2, and iPh6S sure had long legs and support; they were great.

 

[goobot]

Apple has become so shameless

 

[JCADX]

I´m still using it, planning to upgrade to a S8 or SE2. For checking and replying to notifications, tracking some workouts, music and alarms is more than enough, but it´s true nowadays is slow as hell (lags in every single animation and replying to any notification is so slow that is better to pick up the iPhone and reply there) and the battery is getting weaker and weaker (in a month it went from 99% to 94% health).

Having a budget Apple Watch model makes sense, because not everyone is a power user for them (i guess that would include using it for more sophisticated workouts, health monitoring, sleep tracking...). When i had to buy my first Apple Watch they presented the S5 and discontinued the S4 (which was my goal). Ended up with the S3 around 220€ and did a really good service, i don´t regret it and made me consider upgrading to a better watch nowadays.

 

[iBungie]

Absolutely criminal they sold this for as long as they did when the user can’t even update the watch without wiping it. Such a pain and even more confusing for those not as tech savvy who think they are getting a great entry level smart watch.

I have a series 3 Apple Watch and can update either directly on the watch through 'Software Update' via General tab in Settings or via my iPhone. Does not require a wipe and updates for me have always been fine. Pity there wont be anymore.

 

[MathersMahmood]

Good they shouldn't have sold that old device for so long.

 

[HappyDude20]

I bought mine on eBay over 3 years ago, still had warranty left. I think the seller assumed it was going to be obsolete and cut used prices but Apple never stopped selling it, so I guess I got a deal.

It does what I need it to and still works. 90% battery, 431 cycles over 3 years later of daily use. ( I read how to get cycle info from the data file from an article.)

As long as it works I'm using it. It won't stop me from buying a new 8 though.

Can you message me on how to find out how many battery cycles my watch has gone through please?

 

[Shanghaichica]

I’m still using the original (model 0?) stainless steel and it’s going strong. I paid so much for it that I said I’d use it until it died. It doesn’t get updates anymore but works fine for time, messaging and alerts. Only thing that stinks is that I can no longer add new cards to Apple Pay anymore.

How long does it last? I upgraded after 2.5 years from the OG model because it just didn’t hold a charge anymore. It would die in about 6 hours.

 

[urnotl33t]

I´m still using it, planning to upgrade to a S8 or SE2. For checking and replying to notifications, tracking some workouts, music and alarms is more than enough, but it´s true nowadays is slow as hell (lags in every single animation and replying to any notification is so slow that is better to pick up the iPhone and reply there) and the battery is getting weaker and weaker (in a month it went from 99% to 94% health).

Having a budget Apple Watch model makes sense, because not everyone is a power user for them (i guess that would include using it for more sophisticated workouts, health monitoring, sleep tracking...). When i had to buy my first Apple Watch they presented the S5 and discontinued the S4 (which was my goal). Ended up with the S3 around 220€ and did a really good service, i don´t regret it and made me consider upgrading to a better watch nowadays.

Apple Watch Series 3? I have one right now and haven't that specific issue with notification replies. Curious: do you have any particular apps or extensions running? Shockingly, I even have the CrapBook Messenger app on my watch and my Watch usability hasn't dwindled (thought for sure it would).

My woes are related to Bluetooth garbage, tho. If I'm too far away from the iPhone, the Bluetooth connection struggles to relay dictation. That's just Bluetooth radio crap. The Watch obsesses over being connected to the phone via Bluetooth at all cost (like Bluetooth separation anxiety). That's just the algorithm Apple engineers wrote for it. You can't disable it either, even if you airplane mode your phone. The Watch and phone have a hidden Bluetooth link that's always alive. You have to physically leave the Bluetooth radio range (and account for radio echoes!) in order for it to separate to cellular. (#WirelessEngineer with a spectrum analyzer in my work bag.... 😕) you also can't disable just the Bluetooth radio on the Watch in airplane mode. It's all or nothing.

Next time you have issues, check how far away you are from your iPhone. If you're upstairs and the phone is downstairs, that's likely the problem. Your watch is connected with Bluetooth but at the farthest edge of that radio cell (and only then because of the radio echoes bouncing off the walls to get there, which further erode the signal, because you know you're not line-of-sight from the phone). I've had this happening when I lived in my last house. Annoying.
Apple Pay works great, and still marvels onlookers 😆, Workouts work well, notifications continue as before. I'm also very fortunate because I have a hairline crack around my entire display after I dropped it on a hardwood floor. The three ribbon cables came apart when the screen fell out. I reconnected them, rebooted, and ta-da!, it works. There is a grounding fault, tho, as part of my display is dead, but I've been able to work around it most of the time . Better than another $300-600 out of pocket cost! It's stainless steel so it didn't meet that special bulletin for aluminum watches with the same issue. I took it to an Apple Store and asked.

 

[Colpeas]

People still buy this despite it being obsolete?

well as an entry level model for kids it is still sufficient and will be for year after wOS support will haven been dropped completely. I still have a Series 2 to wear when I'm around the house or in the garden. It doesn't miss any of the features that I use on my S5 + I wouldn't be as worried if I accidentally break it as if it happened to my Hermes Watch.

But I gotta admit that it wasn't right from apple to drop the support while they still kept selling it. Ditto last iPod touch.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Is the Series 3 still a good choice for older relatives even without support for future versions?

 

[profcutter]

Eh, my family bought a series 3 for me in the months leading to the pandemic for my birthday. I mainly wanted it as a lap tracker for swimming. I'd love to get back in the pool, once the restrictions are eased, but I don't really have a need for a new watch. Too bad it's not going to receive updates, it works for most things, though in some ways it struggles with animations and some tracking because of the processor. Not bad for 120 bucks at Microcenter, new in box. I probably wouldn't buy one now, I got my dad a Series 6 for the heart tracking a couple years ago. I suppose at some point I'll get a 6 or something at MicroCenter. The only thing I'd want is the glucose meter, but that hasn't happened yet, and it would be mostly for curiosity.

 

[fredrik9]

Great watches used to be heirlooms. No chance of that in this world...
At some point you will probably have to stop updating your phone because it will cease to connect to your watch.
And if you do that, you will also need to stop updating your mac, because it will stop working with your phone...

It’s actually quite sad that the battery cannot be replaced and that software will eventually break all useful features.

 

[Stuart in Oz]

People still buy this despite it being obsolete?

I bought it six months ago for use exclusively as a workout tracker. Spends 23 hours a day on the shelf, one hour a day on my wrist while I swim/walk/do weights. Strava and MySwimPro are the only two things I need it to run. It was the perfect price for that use case.

 

[Green Valkyrie]

I've already got mine they'll be sought after in years to come

 

[nvmls]

Is the Series 3 still a good choice for older relatives even without support for future versions?

Guess..

Spoiler: of course not.

 

[CarlJ]

I read "Apple Watch Series 3 Finally Selling Out..." and I'm thinking, like, what, it's doing bad covers of popular songs? Adding product placement to its movies?

 

[SFjohn]

I unfortunately bought my wife one 5 months ago not knowing

If you’re buying complicated tech items, I believe it’s important to put a good deal of research in before purchasing. Also there’s the “You get what you pay for” factor. Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Now I like a good deal as much as anyone, but have learned the hard way that cheaper is often more expensive in the long run…

 

[babyexercise]

If you’re buying complicated tech items, I believe it’s important to put a good deal of research in before purchasing. Also there’s the “You get what you pay for” factor. Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Now I like a good deal as much as anyone, but have learned the hard way that cheaper is often more expensive in the long run…

No need, just an alarm for me, randomly bought an Apple Watch. The new cheap version of Apple Watch would be more expensive than Series 3 anyway.

 

[SFjohn]

No need, just an alarm for me, randomly bought an Apple Watch. The new cheap version of Apple Watch would be more expensive than Series 3 anyway.

Sounds like your pleased with your purchase, which is cool!

 

[JCADX]

Apple Watch Series 3? I have one right now and haven't that specific issue with notification replies. Curious: do you have any particular apps or extensions running? Shockingly, I even have the CrapBook Messenger app on my watch and my Watch usability hasn't dwindled (thought for sure it would).

My woes are related to Bluetooth garbage, tho. If I'm too far away from the iPhone, the Bluetooth connection struggles to relay dictation. That's just Bluetooth radio crap. The Watch obsesses over being connected to the phone via Bluetooth at all cost (like Bluetooth separation anxiety). That's just the algorithm Apple engineers wrote for it. You can't disable it either, even if you airplane mode your phone. The Watch and phone have a hidden Bluetooth link that's always alive. You have to physically leave the Bluetooth radio range (and account for radio echoes!) in order for it to separate to cellular. (#WirelessEngineer with a spectrum analyzer in my work bag.... 😕) you also can't disable just the Bluetooth radio on the Watch in airplane mode. It's all or nothing.

Next time you have issues, check how far away you are from your iPhone. If you're upstairs and the phone is downstairs, that's likely the problem. Your watch is connected with Bluetooth but at the farthest edge of that radio cell (and only then because of the radio echoes bouncing off the walls to get there, which further erode the signal, because you know you're not line-of-sight from the phone). I've had this happening when I lived in my last house. Annoying.
Apple Pay works great, and still marvels onlookers 😆, Workouts work well, notifications continue as before. I'm also very fortunate because I have a hairline crack around my entire display after I dropped it on a hardwood floor. The three ribbon cables came apart when the screen fell out. I reconnected them, rebooted, and ta-da!, it works. There is a grounding fault, tho, as part of my display is dead, but I've been able to work around it most of the time . Better than another $300-600 out of pocket cost! It's stainless steel so it didn't meet that special bulletin for aluminum watches with the same issue. I took it to an Apple Store and asked.

I have my iPhone close to the Watch almost all the time (in a small bag). I usually reply notifications when doing a workout, so maybe thats the main issue for the lag. But even without that, everything just lags from time to time. It does not have celullar connection (gps only model), so when the phone is away, is simply disconnected from it.