Finally, support for the Apple Watch Series 3 has come to an end.
You may question whether watchOS 9 is compatible with your device now that it has been released. So, in other words, which watchOS 9 models are supported?
Software updates for Apple’s older products have a solid track record, even years after they were first released. IOS 15, which was released in 2015, may be found on iPhone 6s models or the iPhone 13 series, for instance. Even though the first and second-generation Apple Watches are no longer being produced, all models released after 2017 continue to get yearly updates to the watchOS software.
Early Apple Watch devices should receive the newest software, even if certain features may be tailored for the expected watchOS 9 (watchOS 8 ended up being designed for watchOS 8 and Apple Watch 7). There is, however, one notable exception: the Apple Watch 3.
To put it another way, the watchOS 9 public beta and the watchOS 9 new faces will be unavailable to the third-generation Apple Watch.
What we know about watchOS 9 compatibility is summarized here.
watchOS 9 supported devices — all the compatible Apple Watch models
The Apple Watch 7 is expected to get an update. Indeed, we’ll most likely test watchOS 9 beta on that smartwatch. Not to add, it’s currently the greatest smartwatch in the world.
WatchOS 9 will be available for all Apple Watch models that have been released since the 4th generation of the device. This is a very similar experience if you already know how to use the Apple Watch. Apple Watch 5’s always on display is the sole significant feature of the new Apple Watch 7 sizes.
Here are the Apple Watch models that support watchOS 9 compatibility:
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch Series 5
- Apple Watch Series 4
watchOS 9 — what about Apple Watch 3?
You may have noticed that we didn’t include the Apple Watch 3 in our list of watchOS 9-compatible devices. In addition to being the greatest Apple Watch for those wanting to spend around $200, the third-generation model is also one of the best budget smartwatches out there. However, things have changed.
We have no idea why the Apple Watch 3 is still in circulation. Even if it does receive the greatest Apple Watch discounts over the Christmas season, it’s a long way from being relevant. It is no longer available in an LTE form, and its large bezels make it appear out of place next to the Series 7.
This year, Apple discontinued support for the Apple Watch 3 software, thus terminating upgrades for a five-year-old wearable. However, we must concede that the change does not seem to be fair to those who purchased a Series 3 this year. As a result, it seems that the Apple Watch 3 will be phased out this autumn, if not before.