Whatever you do, don’t buy an Apple Watch Series 3

If you’re a regular reader of Tech Advisor and my articles in particular, you’ll already know that I have a particular disdain for the Apple Watch Series 3.

While Apple generally holds high standards of design and performance across its product line, the Apple Watch Series 3 is an exception, with a dated design and sluggish performance that is not inherently Apple’s.

What baffles me is the fact that the Series 3 is still on sale when it was originally released in 2017, and even more so that it retails for £179/$199, which is similar to the price of decent smartwatches like the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro on Android. .

However, the latest development in the Apple Watch Series 3 saga means that no matter how you feel about aging inexpensive smartwatches, you should avoid them at all costs right now.

The source of this revelation? An apple of course. The company talked about the upcoming watchOS 9 software update at WWDC 2022 with key features including improved fitness tracking, full sleep tracking, an updated notification system, and more.

This will be an exciting update for all Apple Watch owners, whether they’re using their wearables for fitness tracking or just checking notifications. All Apple Watch owners separately from the Apple Watch Series 3, that is.

You see, Apple has quietly confirmed that watchOS 9 will end support for the Apple Watch Series 3, meaning it will be tied to watchOS 8 indefinitely.

While it’s not a shock – rumors were circulating months before WWDC – it means that Apple is in a particularly strange scenario of selling a product it knows this will happen in a few months when watchOS 9 comes out.

After all, Apple won’t sell smartwatches so slowly that they can’t even run the latest OS updates, and there are rumors that there will be a slew of new Apple Watch models later this year.

While not surprising, the only mention of this revelation on Apple’s website when trying to buy an Apple Watch Series 3 is in the comparison chart at the bottom of the Watch Series 3 web page, which notes that it is “compatible with watchOS 8 and earlier.” and it’s pretty hard to miss if you’re not actively looking for it. There is also no mention on the actual product listing page.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

Apple customers deserve a clearer warning that the smartwatch they’re buying is actually discontinued from day one, especially when Apple is famous for its years-long promise of software updates. This is part of the reason why Apple technology is so premium and in the end retains its value for much longer than most alternatives.

So not only does the Apple Watch Series 3 lag behind the rest of the Apple Watch collection in terms of aging design and sluggish performance, but it won’t offer new buyers a single OS update with new features and functionality.

If you’re looking for a new wearable, and the Apple Watch Series 3 does look like a tempting option to fit your budget, I’d recommend just waiting three months for what I believe is an updated entry. Apple Watch level with a few more years of OS support.

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