Older Apple Watches longevity?

[ian87w]

Just wondering what are the disadvantages and long term potential if you get an unsupported AW today (S2 and older).

For iPhones that are no longer supported (eg. iPhone 6), we know the limitations will be future apps not supporting the older iOS. How about the older AWs? Since they rely on an iPhone for functionality, will there be a time when the iPhone itself stops supporting older AWs (despite them used to support it?) because of newer iOS?

 

[Ninja Dom]

Okay, I’ve still got a Series Zero (April 2015 launch model) and the furthest that got in terms of watchOS is 4.3.2

It still runs on modern iOS 14. And I suspect future iOS’s will still support the watch.

In terms of using the original Apple watch in 2020, it’s extremely slow. Every action happens a second or two later. You’ll hear the ‘ding’ for a notification and look at the watch and then the text for the notification arrives. Painfully slow.

I also have a Series 3 (2017) and that runs pretty fine today in terms of speed. Still on sale today and still runs the latest watchOS 7, however Apple has deliberately restricted some of the features of the OS. They have to...or they wouldn’t sell as many Apple Watch SE’s. No handwashing feature, low number of new watch faces. I think Sleep Tracking and the Artist watch face was all it got.

I think the Series 3 is gonna be supported with new watchOS updates for some time to come. Even if those updates only provide one extra feature.

Seeing as it’s still a current model, it would create a bad customer experience if it got dropped from the latest updates in the next year or two.

If you are getting an older Apple Watch then start with a Series 3.

 

[KennyJr]

Just wondering what are the disadvantages and long term potential if you get an unsupported AW today (S2 and older).

For iPhones that are no longer supported (eg. iPhone 6), we know the limitations will be future apps not supporting the older iOS. How about the older AWs? Since they rely on an iPhone for functionality, will there be a time when the iPhone itself stops supporting older AWs (despite them used to support it?) because of newer iOS?

I gave my perfectly good original Apple Watch (which I bought on Apple Watch day one) to my niece who teaches dance and wanted a way to control the music from afar (and monitor the time, etc.). It works great for her. I switch between my Watch 5 and Watch 2, both of which work very well for most of what I use them for. I use the Stainless Watch 5 for more formal settings and at night (and cool watch faces) and the Watch 2 generally for around the house and for while my Watch 5 charges (the Watch 2 has amazingly long battery life). I've never had a problem with any of my Apple Watches, and they can all be really useful in their own way.

 

[Koudspeel]

I've still got an Apple Watch series 0 laying around. As Ninja Dom pointed out, it runs on watchOS 4.3.2. My iPhone X with the latest iOS still supports the watch although the watch itself is unbelievably slow.

A few days back I got myself a series 6 and wanted to test the differences between it and the series 0; just for fun.

First I had to power up the series 0 which took an eternity in itself and then had to boot it up which took a long time as well. For the first 2 minutes or so the watch seemed to not function at all and glitch out at every tap. After a while the watch seemed to have settled down (maybe synced all the necessary data with my iPhone) and was somewhat usable but I wouldn't recommend it still.

If checking the time is the only thing you want from the watch; then sure, go ahead and get yourself a series 0. The battery seems fine still. It still makes it through the whole day for me.

 

[bodonnell202]

I think they will continue to function as they did with their last supported os for some time, with them likely losing app support with time (although like the iPhone older versions of the app which are already installed should continue to work). Only other issue I can think of is battery life - as the small battery will continue to degrade to the point where you can't make it through the day without charging it.

 

[Ninja Dom]

I think they will continue to function as they did with their last supported os for some time, with them likely losing app support with time (although like the iPhone older versions of the app which are already installed should continue to work). Only other issue I can think of is battery life - as the small battery will continue to degrade to the point where you can't make it through the day without charging it.

Apple do offer an Out of Warranty battery replacement for £82.44 in the UK.

Probably worth it if you really want to keep your older Watch going. Maybe it's an Edition version.