My Apple Watch no longer receives updates – what now?

watchOS 11 is expected to be available for download on the evening of September 16, 2024. However, it has been clear since the WWDC in June that not all Apple Watch owners will benefit from the new software. Unlike last year, the Apple Watch 4 and 5 models will not receive an update. Do you need a new watch right now?

Can I just keep using my old Apple Watch?

That depends. First and foremost, the end of the update means that you will no longer receive any new functions for the watch. Among other things, you will have to do without the new “vital signs” function, which summarizes your sleep data for you. Your watch cannot show you the new overview of training load either, and live activities and smart widget stacks are also not supported. Are the latest functions important to you? Then you need a new model.

Otherwise, you don’t have to do without the usual range of functions. Sports and sleep tracking should still be possible, as should controlling media playback on the iPhone, operating smart home devices or paying with Apple Pay.

The only drawback: missing updates can of course have a negative impact on the security of the Apple Watch. Security gaps are rare in the watch, but they do exist.

Sell ​​Apple Watch

If you would rather get a new Apple Watch, you can still sell the old model. All you have to do is unpair it from your iPhone first. This will delete all data. To do this, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap “My Watch” and then “All Apple Watches”. Here you tap the i symbol and select “Unpair Apple Watch”.

After that, Ebay is probably the best place to secure a small starting capital for the new smartwatch. Current auction prices for a Series 5 with a 44-millimeter screen are around 75 euros. You may be able to get more if you own the expensive Hermes edition. Things are less promising when it comes to selling the Series 4. Auctions with real bids are in the low double-digit range.

Trade in your Apple Watch at Apple

If you want to save yourself the hassle, you can also trade in your old Apple Watch directly when you buy a new one from Apple. On an overview page, the company shows what you can expect for your old watch. In the best case scenario, you can get 50 euros for a Series 4, and 75 euros for the Series 5 on eBay. However, it is not the bidders who determine the price here, but Apple itself. “The trade-in values ​​vary and depend on the condition, age and configuration of your qualified trade-in device,” the company writes in the small print. Translated, this means: If you have a lot of scratches on the display or the paint has already chipped off in several places, the trade-in value will also decrease.

Alternatively, the company offers to have a voucher issued for later through a partner. Here you enter the serial number and answer a few questions about the condition. It turned out that we would still get 65 euros for our old Apple Watch Series 5. However, the watch would still have to pass a quality check.

Give away Apple Watch and related items

If that’s not enough for you, you can always pass your smartwatch on to your children, parents or other relatives. You won’t get any money for this, but maybe a nice smile and a thank you for the free gadget.

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