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.

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Top Rated Comments

FasterQuieter Avatar
23 months ago
I remember the series 0. That thing was slooooow.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
23 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)
Blackstick Avatar
23 months ago

What about the man mini 2014? I thought that would be listed as obsolete since the 2018 came out in October.
It's 5 years from the date last sold. Soooo probably by next month it's going vintage.

Besides California, Vintage = Obsolete for the rest of us. Apple won't service them.

The interesting one is the MD101LL/A (Mid 2012 13" MacBook Pro)... I'm not sure it'll ever die, Apple sold it so damn long.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tomtad Avatar
23 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)
Mr. Dee Avatar
23 months ago
Still using my Series 3 and I feel like its gonna be around for a while.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cyb3rdud3 Avatar
23 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)