I have an iPhone 6 - just got series 3 watch for Christmas...

[mlomeli]

Can I even use this watch? Will it pair?
[automerge]1577297580[/automerge]

 

[StumpyBloke]

Not if it’s got watchOS 6 on it. For that you need iPhone 6s or newer. The iPhone 6 is pretty much obsolete.

 

[Holster]

• Apple Watch Series 3 has two models, one with a cellular plan like your phone (LTE) and one without (Non-LTE). LTE is compatible with iPhone 6 or later, and Non-LTE is compatible with iPhone 5s or later. Both need iOS 11 or later.

This was correct at launch. As noted above however, this has changed.

Wiki Gen 3 Apple Watch

 

[Moparherb]

Buy a newer phone or return the watch. Those are the only options.

 

[mlomeli]

Thank you to you both. I was hoping a previous [older] OS would be fine. That Wiki link helped TONS!

Merry Christmas to you both.

 

[StumpyBloke]

Thank you to you both. I was hoping a previous [older] OS would be fine. That Wiki link helped TONS!

Merry Christmas to you both.

You’re welcome. And to you too.

 

[mlomeli]

...AAAAAAAND my wife now has an Apple Watch

 

[Bandaman]

Get a used 6S off swappa.com for cheap.

 

[fireboy60013]

I got myself one for chrismas after getting my boyfriend one, should have got both of them at the same time, but he likes it so much, and I had to have one. I love the thing. I have the iPhone XR though so.....

 

[uknation87]

My son got an AW S3 for Christmas and we purchased a used IPhone SE for cheap so he could use it.

You could probably trade your iPhone in to your carrier and upgrade for cheap as another option.

 

[Lubidubi]

Can I even use this watch? Will it pair?
[automerge]1577297580[/automerge]

Apple can and will downgrade your Aw3 to watch os 5. when there is no physical damage to the watch, just call them and explain your situation. They will setup a free repair, pickup the watch and downgrade it to the latest watchos 5.
did the same some weeks ago. No problem at all.