No WatchOS9 on Series 3 Apple Watch - I emailed Tim

[honglong1976]

Email: tcook@apple.com

Hi Tim,

Thanks for all the great Apple products.

I have a homepod, homepod mini, iPhone 11, iPad and they are brilliant, well supported products!

However, I also have a Stainless Steel S3 LTE Apple Watch (which I love) and I was extremely disappointed at the lack of a WatchOS9 update for the Series 3.

The Series 3 is still sold online, is a more than a capable device, and if WatchOS9 cannot be updated for technical reasons (non 64bit CPU for example), then at least give S3 owners the Sleep app (so I don't have to buy one of those annoying FitBit devices).

There are many posts online about this and active online S3 users (like myself) are slightly annoyed (for the first ever with an Apple product).

Thank you for reading this.

Kind Regards

 

[oofio2461]

I mean, that thing is so slow, not surprised that they finally dropped support for it this year.

 

[Smith288]

The series 3 is almost unusable in WatchOS 8.

 

[honglong1976]

The series 3 is almost unusable in WatchOS 8.

Really? I use it, works fine. If the battery is shot, that can slow things down (like iPhones).

 

[honglong1976]

Apple TV HD
OS 9 to OS 16

 

[Shirasaki]

Apple should’ve never sold series 3 throughout 2021. The 8GB version was so abysmally small the update would have a chance to fail. It has smallest screen of all “recent” Apple Watches. Least feature set compared to other Apple Watch. Even the SE is a way better buy than series 3. The software support should’ve left at watchOS 7 imo. What does watchOS 8 even bring to series 3? I ditched series 3 in favour of series 4. 4 years later, still hold strong with sufficient feature set (ECG, good enough sleep tracking for example), and my watch battery is still good.

It’s a shame Apple still sell series 3 until recently.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Not sure what your expecting from the email. Series 3 should of been canned last year and WOS 7 should of been the last OS.. Your watch will still work on WOS8, not sure why you think it won't. You just won't get any new features

 

[turbineseaplane]

Good to see this

I've sent some messages regarding the iPhone iOS cutoffs also

Important to voice ones opinion on this if one feels strongly about it

 

[turbineseaplane]

It’s a shame Apple still sell series 3 until recently.

They aren't stopping

The AW3 lives on and is continuing to be sold brand new, directly from Apple

(it's insane to me...they are nearly "stealing money" with those in my opinion. Shameful)

 

[Smith288]

Really? I use it, works fine. If the battery is shot, that can slow things down (like iPhones).

My wife's 3 is a kludge. Doesnt sync with her mail or messages consistently. Taps are slow.

 

[Smith288]

Apple should’ve never sold series 3 throughout 2021. The 8GB version was so abysmally small the update would have a chance to fail. It has smallest screen of all “recent” Apple Watches. Least feature set compared to other Apple Watch. Even the SE is a way better buy than series 3. The software support should’ve left at watchOS 7 imo. What does watchOS 8 even bring to series 3? I ditched series 3 in favour of series 4. 4 years later, still hold strong with sufficient feature set (ECG, good enough sleep tracking for example), and my watch battery is still good.

It’s a shame Apple still sell series 3 until recently.

This. My wife has to restore her watch everytime to do an update. I guess she wont have to now. LOL

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Out with the old, in with the new.

Jk 😝

But, the series 3 is slow. Really slow. It’s not surprising that it has reached the end of its life,
Especially considering the introduction of the SE. the SE is the writing in the wall for how the product line will look moving forward.

 

[Cbarnett202]

I think they made right call by not supporting it in new version of watchOS.

They are wrong for still selling S3 in 2022. It should have been sunset years ago.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I think they made right call by not supporting it in new version of watchOS.

They are wrong for still selling S3 in 2022. It should have been sunset years ago.

Agree 100%. It's honestly ridiculous that it's still for sale. The SE 2nd gen needs to be a lower price, even if there's a bigger feature gap between it and the Series 8, and replace the 3.

 

[kc9hzn]

I think they made right call by not supporting it in new version of watchOS.

They are wrong for still selling S3 in 2022. It should have been sunset years ago.

I’m thinking they kept it around just so they could have something they could offer at a $200 price point in the lineup (sub-$200 on inevitable sales).

 

[honglong1976]

This. My wife has to restore her watch everytime to do an update. I guess she wont have to now. LOL

I have the 16GB LTE version which is fine. Maybe just the 8GB one is the kludge!

 

[honglong1976]

Out with the old, in with the new.

Jk 😝

But, the series 3 is slow. Really slow. It’s not surprising that it has reached the end of its life,
Especially considering the introduction of the SE. the SE is the writing in the wall for how the product line will look moving forward.

I agree. I love progress. But don't continue to sell the S3 if it won't be updated. I bet they won't tell anyone who buys one in-store. Oh, by the way, no more updates. What? I only just purchased it. They will be more than happy to sell them the next model a year later.

 

[henry72]

Apple should’ve never sold series 3 throughout 2021. The 8GB version was so abysmally small the update would have a chance to fail. It has smallest screen of all “recent” Apple Watches. Least feature set compared to other Apple Watch. Even the SE is a way better buy than series 3. The software support should’ve left at watchOS 7 imo. What does watchOS 8 even bring to series 3? I ditched series 3 in favour of series 4. 4 years later, still hold strong with sufficient feature set (ECG, good enough sleep tracking for example), and my watch battery is still good.

It’s a shame Apple still sell series 3 until recently.

This! Let’s be honest, Apple knew the Series 3 will not get watchOS 9 and they still decided to keep it in the lineup last year. Shame on them!

I don’t have an issue with them stop supporting a device that is nearly 5 years but they shouldn’t be selling it right now.
I hope John Gruber will ask them about this in his talk show lol

 

[honglong1976]

My old iPhone 7 Plus isn't support on iOS16, but the iPad with the same ram/cpu is ?

One big massive kull!

 

[Tripps9000]

The Apple 3 was my first watch that I bought to see if I liked the Apple Watch it was okay but got tired of the only 8 gigs available and having to delete apps to do os updates all the time I finally went out and bought the Apple Watch se and could not be more happier with it.

 

[boak]

I don't think the problem is watchOS 9 not coming to Apple Watch Series 3 but the fact that they're still selling the Series 3

 

[boak]

If the SE takes the Series 3's position in the next line-up, what will take the current SE's position?

Apple Watch improvements are so small, Apple can't just sell the previous generation at a huge price difference.

 

[Freeangel1]

I don't think Tim gives a crap.

He wants everyone to move forward and spend MORE MONEY on new hardware.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

My old iPhone 7 Plus isn't support on iOS16, but the iPad with the same ram/cpu is ?

One big massive kull!

I don't really understand Apple dumping the 7/7+.. I was actually expecting all remaining A8/A8X and A9's to be dropped but didn't see the odd split between iPads and iPhones..

 

[akidokraja]

Apple should’ve never sold series 3 throughout 2021. The 8GB version was so abysmally small the update would have a chance to fail. It has smallest screen of all “recent” Apple Watches. Least feature set compared to other Apple Watch. Even the SE is a way better buy than series 3. The software support should’ve left at watchOS 7 imo. What does watchOS 8 even bring to series 3? I ditched series 3 in favour of series 4. 4 years later, still hold strong with sufficient feature set (ECG, good enough sleep tracking for example), and my watch battery is still good.

It’s a shame Apple still sell series 3 until recently.

It’s a shame that they ever sold S3.