How Old Is an Apple Watch Considered Too Old to Buy?
In 2023, I decided to upgrade my Apple Watch after not wearing my Series 4 for a few years. I sold it on Poshmark and started looking at newer models to find one that had enough features to convince me to wear it. I decided to get the Series 8, even though the Series 9 had just come out, because I was buying two models: one for my mom and one for myself. As it turns out, it was a great decision.
If you’re in the market for a new wearable or thinking about upgrading yours, you might also be wondering which older Apple Watch models are still useful today. My Series 8 has held up just fine three years after its introduction, so I’m a big proponent of keeping older devices for as long as possible. But not every Apple Watch will work as well as the Series 8 in 2025.
Don’t buy a watch that Apple no longer supports
You have to draw the line somewhere: Apple’s seven watches are no longer supported, meaning they will no longer receive any software or security updates. You also risk the watch no longer being compatible with your iPhone or certain apps. In short, you shouldn’t buy a watch that Apple doesn’t support. That includes:
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Apple Watch Series 0
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Apple Watch Series 1
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Apple Watch Series 2
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Apple Watch Series 3
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Apple Watch Series 4
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Apple Watch Series 5
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Apple Watch SE (first generation)
While the company currently supports the Series 6, it’s next in line to join that list. It’s unclear when that will happen, but you can be sure it will. We’ll see next week — when Apple unveils watchOS 26 — whether the watch will be supported for another year. If not, it’ll be stuck on watchOS 11 forever.
Performance and other Watch generation improvements
There are considerations for older Apple Watch models that go beyond their ability to simply run the latest operating system. Each generation brings improvements in one form or another. For example, Series 4 introduced an ECG sensor, and Series 6 introduced a blood oxygen sensor (though Apple had to disable the feature for Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US due to a lawsuit). Series 7 charges faster than its predecessors, and Apple has since included fast charging in most models of the watch (sorry, Apple Watch SE users).
Overall, each Apple Watch is faster than the last. Apple tends to put its newest S-Chip — the Apple Watch processor — in its latest series of watches. Simply put, a newer S-chip gives you a faster, more powerful product. The Series 6 has an S6 chip, the Series 7 has an S7, and so on until you get to the Ultras. (The first-generation Ultra has an S8 chip, like the Series 8, and the Ultra 2 has an S9 chip, like the Series 9.)
While there are some core features that all currently supported watches have, such as workout and swim tracking, sleep tracking, Apple Pay, ECG scanning, and the ability to read and reply to messages, the new models also have some of their own special enhancements and updates. Here’s a quick list:
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Series 7 features faster charging, a larger display, and improved screen durability.
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Series 8 adds temperature sensors, collision detection, and a low power mode to save battery life (just like the second-generation Apple Watch SE).
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Series 9 debuts new gesture controls, built-in access to Siri, more accurate location tracking in Find My, and a display that’s twice as bright as Series 8.
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The first-generation Apple Watch Ultra featured a more durable titanium case, customizable app and mode shortcuts via the Action button, a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, more accurate GPS, 36-hour battery life, and an emergency siren.
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The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduced a display with a maximum brightness of 3000 nits and the ability to play multimedia on the device.
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Series 10 features the largest display ever in a standard Apple Watch and faster charging.
If you see a feature that you absolutely need in a particular watch model, you’ll have to shell out for it. But if you need something to do the basics of the Apple Watch, you may want to start looking at older options. Apple’s watch comparison site can be a useful tool for identifying different features across models.
Battery degradation
All technology wears out to some degree, and the Apple Watch is no exception, especially when it comes to its battery. While there are ways to mitigate the problem , over time the lithium-ion battery that powers your wrist computer won’t last as long as it once did. This could be a bigger issue than your watch’s ability to load and support a new operating system.Apple’s warranty doesn’t cover batteries that wear out with normal use, and charges $99 for repairs that you could have spent on a new watch instead. There’s one exception: battery service is free if you have AppleCare+ and your watch’s battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity. You’ll need to take your watch to an Apple Store or service center to have it tested.
My watch was used, and while I have no way of knowing if it still has the original battery, the battery life hasn’t dropped much over two years of daily use. I mainly use mine to track workouts, vital signs, and sleep, which means it’s always running. I charge it while I’m in the shower and sometimes for a few minutes before bed, and that’s it. On a normal day with constant notifications, mine lasts a little longer than the advertised 18 hours. Since I don’t really care about the small improvements the Series 9 and Series 10 offer — like extra brightness, a larger screen, better performance, and expanded cycle tracking — battery life is what would (or will) make me upgrade in the future, but so far I haven’t noticed any issues. I asked my mom if she’d noticed any battery degradation on her watch since I bought it at the same time and place as mine, and she said no. She uses it to track her walking workouts, phone calls, and to monitor her sleep and vital signs.
Use Series 7 or newer
Think carefully about which features of the new models really matter to you before making a purchase decision, and if you can, go for a model above the Series 7. The Series 6 is still capable, but again, it’s only a matter of time before the company stops recognizing it entirely.
So far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well my Series 8 has held up over the past two years. Its touchscreen has never let me down, the external buttons work perfectly, it syncs with all my apps and devices without issue, and it does exactly what I need it to, which is tell me how many steps I’m taking and how hard I’m pushing myself at the gym. If you’re in the market for a smartwatch, I see no reason why you shouldn’t consider an older version as long as it’s running the latest operating system. You can save some money by buying an older model on the used or refurbished market, and save that money for when Apple releases something super revolutionary in wearables.
Apple doesn’t sell anything below the Series 10 or SE directly anymore, so if you want a 6, 7, 8, or 9, you’ll have to check the resale and refurbished markets. You’ll definitely save some money that way (a new Series 10 starts at $399 , though you can find it on sale, and the refurbished Series 8 I got is on sale right now for $219).