Remember the Lower-Cost Apple Watch Series 1? It's Vintage Now - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Remember the Lower-Cost Apple Watch Series 1? It's Vintage Now

Apple today updated the public-facing vintage and obsolete products list on its website. The page confirms that all first-generation Apple Watch models are now obsolete, as we reported earlier this month based on an internal memo. Obsolete products are no longer eligible for repairs or service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Apple Watch Series 1 Vintage Feature 2
Another addition to the page is the Apple Watch Series 1, which is now classified as vintage. Introduced alongside the Apple Watch Series 2 in September 2016, the Series 1 was a more affordable model that lacked the Series 2's built-in GPS, brighter display, and improved water resistance. It was also only available with an aluminum case, whereas the Series 2 had aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramic case options. In the U.S., the Series 1 started at $269, compared to $369 for the Series 2.

Apple considers a product to be vintage once five years have passed since it was last distributed for sale. Apple discontinued the Series 1 in September 2018 after introducing the Apple Watch Series 4, so that five-year mark has now been reached. Vintage products are no longer guaranteed to be eligible for repairs at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers, with service subject to parts availability.

Nowadays, the Apple Watch SE is the budget model, with pricing starting at $249.

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...
iPhone 4 on Black Feature

Apple Facing One of Its Worst Leaks Since the iPhone 4

Thursday July 2, 2026 9:53 am PDT by
Apple supplier Tata Electronics recently suffered a cyberattack that resulted in thousands of confidential files being published on the dark web, and this reportedly included some photos and documents related to the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. We have elected not to share any of the leaked photos in this story due to the illegal nature in which they were obtained, but they can easily be found...
American Express Gold Apple Pay Feature

American Express Announces New Apple Pay Feature

Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:27 am PDT by
American Express today announced that you can now redeem Membership Rewards points when checking out with Apple Pay on the web and in apps on the iPhone and iPad. When checking out with Apple Pay on iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later, tap on your eligible American Express card (Platinum, Gold, Green, and others) and select the Membership Rewards points option. You can use points to cover all or...

Top Rated Comments

FasterQuieter Avatar
36 months ago
I remember the series 0. That thing was slooooow.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
36 months ago

Doesn’t that force you to keep on an older iOS version on your paired iPhone? Or is Series 3 still supported by Watch OS 10?
Its on Watch OS 8.7.1 which still works with my iPhone X 16.7.1.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
36 months ago
Still use my Series 2. The extra water resistance has worked well over the years. It's been swimming with me in seas all over the world. It's proven a really tough and durable watch, which handily can pay easily as well, and performs reliably public transport transit mode as well around the world.

Still haven't seen anything in the newer versions that materially improves on my use cases for a watch.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crees! Avatar
36 months ago
Currently wearing my series 1 0. Still works great.

Update: my model is A1554.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
36 months ago
Still using my Series 3 and I feel like its gonna be around for a while.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tomtad Avatar
36 months ago
It’s interesting they called this the Series 1. I feel the original reasoning behind the ‘series’ name is they would have kept the names. The Series 1 being the lower cost watch, Series 2 the higher end. When the new gen came out it would still be the Series 2. Had the Ultra then joined with this naming scheme it would be the Series 3.

Then it was ditched and they just stuck with an iPhone style numbering system for each new generation of watch, just prefixed with ‘series’.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)