Looking for an old Apple Watch? There are a number of drawbacks to keep in mind, including support issues. Apple announced at WWDC 2026 that the upcoming watchOS 27 update would skip five models, making it one of the biggest cuts in Apple Watch history as only the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and newer devices will get it. The main reason, according to Apple, is that older supported models (like the Series 6-8, SE 2, and the original Ultra) can’t handle the new Siri AI capabilities, even though the new Siri relies heavily on the iPhone rather than the watch’s processor. With this, the company decided to drop several models at once in order to prepare users for new AI experiences with the watch, while also pushing customers to upgrade their “too good” Apple Watch models.
The reality is that buying an older model of Apple Watch is often not a good deal. They’re significantly more affordable than their iPhone counterparts, starting at $249 for the Apple Watch SE 3 and $399 for the Apple Watch Series 11. Apple also recently launched a leasing program where a Series 11 costs $11.99/month for 24 months, with the option for users to upgrade to a new model after a year. This means that getting a shiny new model is usually better than just paying a few dollars less but probably having to deal with with some abrasions and scratches. someone’s model, in addition to degrading battery life.
Consider an Apple Watch as an investment
No matter which Apple Watch you get, it can still track your workouts, send you notifications, and of course, tell the time. Newer models may have larger, brighter screens or new sensors, but Apple is slow to update the watch form factor. For example, the last big upgrade to the Apple Watch sensor was for wrist temperature with the Series 8. As the Apple Watch Series 12 nears release, not much has changed in this department. Before that, the last major health feature was the blood oxygen sensor, introduced with the Apple Watch Series 6, which means most of these revolutionary tools take a long time to arrive.
Apple is making the Apple Watch more dependent on the iPhone, like with the watchOS 26 update and sometimes a little less, like when it added 5G capabilities. Remember, the watch doesn’t need crazy speeds or computing power to mirror notifications or stream music and podcasts. For example, not much has changed on the processor from Series 9 to Series 11, which is why they continue to share so many of the same features (like double-click and wrist gestures).
This means that buying an older model of Apple Watch may not seem like a good investment, but expecting to own your new model for a long time isn’t unreasonable. The main features will still be relevant for some time after your purchase. Still, customers should be wary of unsupported hardware, as it could possibly lead to incompatibility between iPhone, Watch, and other devices; however, this product is built to last.
What to know before buying a used Apple Watch
If you’re looking to buy a used Apple Watch, here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of the product and your money. First of all, you need to make sure that the Apple Watch still has good battery life (at least above 85%). Replacing the battery will cost you $99, which will likely wipe out the savings you made buying used. You’ll also want to try to get a Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE 3, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 model, as these watches will receive at least watchOS 27.
Anything from Series 6 to Series 8, SE 2, or Ultra 1 will continue to connect and work with your iPhone, even if you won’t get the latest features. However, the older the model, the more features you miss and the longer a watch will take to complete a task. The problem with the Apple Watch is that it’s designed to be used at a glance. So you want to quickly respond to a message, start listening to a song, or start a workout. If the battery is too slow or features start to fail, the money you saved may not be worth it.
It’s also important to note that older Apple Watch models don’t have a lot of storage. While the latest Apple-supported models have 64GB of storage, other versions have 32GB, and sometimes 16GB depending on the model, meaning you’ll have limited space to save your songs and podcast episodes.
