Vintage no more, Apple Watch Series 1 is now obsolete
Apple has officially moved the Apple Watch Series 1 to its obsolete products list. This means the device is no longer eligible for service or repairs from Apple or authorised providers.
Apple Watch Series 1 is now obsolete worldwide
The Series 1 was introduced back in 2016. It retained the design of the original Apple Watch but featured a modest internal upgrade with the S1P chip. It lacked GPS and swim-proofing, but for everyday use, it offered a decent entry into Apple’s wearable ecosystem.
Apple had previously designated Series 1 as vintage in late 2023. The jump to obsolete status now reflects that it’s been more than seven years since the model was last sold. Once a product crosses that threshold, Apple ends all hardware support without exceptions, even in regions where vintage products may still be eligible for service.
What being obsolete actually means
If you are still holding on the Series 1 and it is in working order – well done! But what does this mean for you going forward?
Once a product is labelled obsolete, it can’t be repaired by Apple Stores or authorised service providers. They no longer have access to replacement parts or diagnostic support for those models. Third-party repair shops might still offer unofficial fixes, but these rely on unofficial parts sourced independently. For most users, support effectively ends the moment a device appears on the obsolete list.
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Vintage products, by comparison, are those discontinued more than five but fewer than seven years ago. Service may still be possible in some locations, especially for Macs or in areas with consumer protection laws requiring longer parts availability.
Other Apple Watches on the vintage and obsolete lists
Alongside the Series 1, Apple’s obsolete list also includes the entire first generation of Apple Watch models. That includes the original aluminium, stainless steel, Sport, Edition and Hermès variants in both 38mm and 42mm sizes. The Apple Watch Series 2, which added GPS and water resistance, also appears across the board in the obsolete section.
Meanwhile, the vintage list includes the Series 4. All sizes and case materials of the fourth-generation Apple Watch are currently on that list. These devices were released in 2018, so they still fall within the five-to-seven-year support window. They remain serviceable in some cases, depending on local policies and parts availability.
The lists don’t affect software support directly, but older models had already been dropped from recent watchOS updates. With the latest shift, the support gap just became more official on the hardware front.
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