When an Apple product attains a certain age, it is categorized as either “vintage” or “obsolete.” For those still utilizing a second-gen Apple Watch, your moment has arrived. Apple has included the Series 1 models in its obsolete category, indicating that the company has exhausted its supply of parts and the watch is no longer serviceable.
It now joins the Series 2, the counterpart of the second generation of Apple Watches, which was added to the obsolete list last year.
It can be somewhat perplexing. The Apple Watch Series 1 and the Apple Watch Series 2 are both regarded as belonging to the same generation. Initially, the original Apple Watch didn’t carry an official Series designation. Therefore, when the Series 1 was released in 2016, the original Apple Watch was retroactively named Series 0. The Series 2 also debuted in 2016 alongside the Series 1, marking both as second-generation offerings from Apple.
Apple halted sales of the Series 2 upon the arrival of the Series 3 but continued to offer the Apple Watch Series 1 for an additional year as a budget-friendly alternative alongside the Series 3. Consequently, the Series 2 was added to the vintage and obsolete lists a year ahead of the Series 1. The positive news is that the entire second generation is now on the obsolete list, bringing clarity to the situation. Going forward, each Series will represent its own generation, beginning with Series 3.
What does it imply when an Apple product is obsolete?
Apple’s product lifecycle is relatively straightforward. Apple introduces a product, markets it for a period, and then discontinues it when a newer version is released. After a span of five to seven years (depending on the specific product), Apple places the product on the vintage list. This signifies that Apple has stopped manufacturing new parts that can be utilized to fix malfunctioning devices. However, Apple and Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) can still conduct repairs as long as they possess the necessary parts.
Once Apple depletes its supply of parts, the product is moved to the obsolete list and cannot be repaired via Apple.
Given that parts availability can fluctuate, this likely clarifies why the Apple Watch Series 4 has already reached the obsolete list, even though it is a few years younger than the Series 1 or Series 2.
What does this signify for me?
If you own an Apple Watch Series 1, it simply indicates that you can no longer have the watch repaired through Apple. Third-party repair services may be able to fix the watch, but they won’t have access to authentic Apple parts for the job. In essence, it implies that it’s probably finally time to consider upgrading your aging watch. We’ve heard that the Apple Watch Series 10 is quite impressive.