Apple Watch Series 1 Is Now Obsolete: What That Means for You

If you’ve been hanging on to your trusty Apple Watch Series 1, it’s officially the end of the road, at least in Apple’s eyes. As of this week, Apple has added the Series 1 to its obsolete products list, meaning the company will no longer provide hardware service or parts for the device.

A Quick Refresher: Which Model Is This?

There’s often some confusion around Apple Watch naming, especially in the early years. The original Apple Watch launched in 2015 with no "Series" number attached. Then in 2016, Apple released two models: Series 1 and Series 2.

• Series 1 was essentially a refreshed version of the original Apple Watch (now known as Series 0) with a faster S1P processor.
• Series 2 brought bigger upgrades, like built-in GPS and water resistance.

Both models were sold side by side for a time, but now, both are considered obsolete.

What Does "Obsolete" Mean?

Apple follows a two-step timeline for aging products:

• Vintage: 5 years after a product was last sold, Apple may limit repair services, depending on part availability.
• Obsolete: 7+ years later, Apple officially stops offering support, and no more repairs or parts are available from Apple or its Authorized Service Providers.

Series 2 hit the obsolete list in late 2024, and now Series 1 joins it—likely because Apple has now exhausted its supply of replacement parts.

Still Using a Series 1?

Don’t panic—your watch won’t stop working. But if you need a repair, you'll have to look beyond Apple’s ecosystem and consider third-party repair shops (if they can find parts).

This might also be a good time to consider an upgrade—especially with newer models offering better speed, battery life, and features like ECG, crash detection, and more.