Don’t buy the Apple Watch Series 3

The Apple Watch Series 3 may seem like an easy and affordable entry into the world of the Apple Watch, but we recommend buying another model, unless you’re looking for practice in despair and despair.

It’s still for sale in 2021 (and 2022)
With the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 7 in September 2021, Apple made another announcement that it would continue selling the Apple Watch Series 3. The Series 3 debuted in 2017, but Apple’s $199 price tag for the device makes it look affordable. The way for users to try on Apple Watch for size.

Although it is the cheapest Apple Watch model, it has major and minor flaws that may make you regret the purchase.

Why should you avoid the Apple Watch Series 3?
Anyone who’s used an iPhone ever since its prime knows that just because Apple is rolling out updates for older devices doesn’t mean it’ll work well on them.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is starting to show its age in a disappointing way. Thanks to the relatively small 8GB of on-board storage, even updating the Watch to the latest version of watchOS is a complicated process.

Unless you actually use your Apple Watch, the limited storage fills up very quickly. Because of the size of watchOS updates, there often won’t be enough updates without backing up your Watch data, installing updates, and then restoring your data from a backup.

Remember, this happens every time you update watchOS. These may not happen particularly frequently, but it will bother you the first time.

Of course, this all assumes that Apple will continue to support the Series 3 in future watchOS updates. No one wants to buy a product just to drop their support for the company in one year. Apple hasn’t announced plans to drop support, but the company also hasn’t given a long-term plan for the future of the Series 3.

What should you buy instead?

Even if you’re on a budget, there are better options than the Apple Watch Series 3. Yes, they may cost more, but you will get more for your money at the same time.

The Apple Watch SE is a better option for most people than the Series 3, but as of September 2021, it costs $279 to the Series 3’s $199. In the first place, this price difference may have been a deterrent. That said, if you really want an Apple Watch, the SE is worth the extra money.

The Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple Watch SE both have dual-core processors, heart rate sensors, and promise around 18 hours of battery life. Apple Watch SE is slightly larger with case sizes of 44mm and 40mm, while Apple Watch Series 3 comes in 42mm and 38mm case sizes.

One big advantage of the Apple Watch SE is that you can buy a model with a cellular radio, which the Apple Watch Series 3 completely lacks. It has a bigger screen with smaller bezels, a taller-more-powerful speaker, and 32GB. 8GB of storage compared to the Series 3.

The extra storage in the Apple Watch SE should be reason enough to go for this model, assuming you plan to keep it up to date. The new chip in this model is also expected to continue to perform well for a long time with future watchOS updates, which will give longer lifespan to the OS.

Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE costs a bit more, but you get more modern hardware that will last you longer.

consider buying used
If you’re not interested in the Apple Watch SE, you have options for comfortably getting a better watch than the Series 3 without spending more.

One of the best ways to save money on Apple products while still getting something you can be sure of is doing the right thing from the company’s own refurbished store. Apple. You get the cost savings of buying used, but your Apple Watch will appear in as good a condition as in brand new packaging.

At the time of this writing, you can find the Apple Watch Series 4 GPS for $279 in the Refurbished section of the Apple Online Store. Yes, that’s higher than the Series 3’s $199 price tag, but you get a bigger, brighter screen, better battery life, and a slimmer body.

You can save even more money by choosing one of the many services that resell used Apple Watch models. If you’re considering going this route, we have a complete guide to saving money on Apple products that can help.

What if you really want a Series 3?
You may be a fan of the Series 3’s slightly stricter look than the more rounded shape of the new Apple Watch models. You might like the 38mm size compared to the slightly larger sizes on the Series 4 and later.

Of course, it’s also possible that you really don’t want to spend a lot on an accessory but still prefer to buy new. There are many legitimate reasons why you might be interested in buying an Apple Watch.

If you’re totally determined to buy the Apple Watch Series 3, don’t let us deter you. Just make sure you’re aware of the downsides before hitting that buy button.